Advocacy Alert

Johnson Ave Road Diet

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Join us on Tuesday, July 19th, 6:00 pm at San Luis Obispo City Hall, 990 Palm St, to show your support!

This project has been carefully thought out by City staff for nearly six years, and is important to improve visibility and safety of bicyclists and pedestrians near this dangerous intersection of Johnson Ave and San Luis Drive.

View the proposed plan in a detailed graphic showing the benefits of the project: Johnson Ave Road Diet Infographic

Due to it’s proximity to SLO High School, Cal Poly and downtown SLO, this area is high traffic, and high speed. The combination of young drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists from the high school, and people using Johnson Ave to get to downtown, is extremely dangerous for all road users. A ‘road diet‘ will greatly calm traffic, and provide increased visibility for vulnerable users.

In the past, San Luis Obispo has created a similar ‘road diet’ on South St, which received a statewide award for it’s efficiency in calming traffic in the neighborhood. Borrowing on techniques and successes from this project, the Johnson Ave proposal is sure to provide similar results.

The Coalition asks that you join us at the next City Council hearing to express your support for this project in order to increase the safety of biking and walking in this area!

Check out a video of Johnson Ave to see how fast vehicle traffic is in this area, without a bike lane!

View our detailed Johnson Ave Road Diet Infographic

July 16 FREE Bike Ed Workshop

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You have a legal right to be on the road and we’ll give you the tools to make it easy. Our workshops teach traffic psychology and techniques that will empower you while you ride.

When: Saturday, July 16th   8:30 am – 1:00 pm

Where: Coalition Office, 860 Pacific St, Suite 105, San Luis Obispo [map]

Why: With confidence, bicycling is a safe and enjoyable way to travel. Join the movement!

How: More details and registration can be found online here.

Advocacy Alert

Support Bike Facilities with a Note!

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Do you want more bike facilities in your neighborhood? Do you think they would help you or your neighbors get out on bikes? Do you think they add to the health and well being of your community? Let our elected officials know!

This handy note we created is the perfect way to show your support for bicycles in your neck of the woods. Here at the Coalition, we think that hand-written letters are more effective than emails, everyone loves getting notes!

Get creative! Drawings, photos, personal stories, anything you want to let our local leaders know how important bike facilities are to you. These notes will be hand delivered by the Coalition at various council meetings across the County to show how much our community values improved bike facilities.

 

Here’s the deal:

  1. Print out the form letter to our elected representatives.
  2. Let our elected representatives know how more bike facilities will improve your life. It doesn’t matter what type of pen you use, what you draw, write a haiku if you want, it’s up to you!
  3. Return it to us at the SLO County Bicycle Coalition.

It’s super simple.

Print some letters out for your friends, family or neighbors to fill out too, that way you can get more messages across with just one stamp! We’ll have letters available for you to pick up/drop off at various events throughout the County too.

Spread the word as we advocate for the future of bicycles in SLO County!

Advocacy Alert

Update: Senate Bill 910

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An update on SB 910, the safe passing bill:

Today SB 910 passed the Assembly Committee on Transportation.  It was a narrow victory 8-5 with one abstention. Our very own Katcho Achadjian (representing the 33rd district, which includes SLO County) DID NOT vote to approve SB 910.

He is your elected voice in the State Assembly, it is important to let him know that this issue is important to you. Please take the time to contact the assemblyman to let him know as a constituent, you wanted him to vote yes on SB 910, in order to protect the safety of bicyclists on the road. You can find information about how to contact him via email, phone or mail on his website here. Feel free to use the following text in your letter:

Dear Assemblyman Achadjian,

As a constituent from the 33rd District and I am excited that SB 910 was passed by the Assembly Committee on Transportation, but am extremely disappointed that you did not vote in support of this important issue.

Cyclists too often face dangerous conditions on California’s streets due to motorists passing too closely. This type of collision is the leading cause of adult bicyclist fatalities in California and the U.S. Requiring motorists to give bicyclists at least 3 feet of space when passing, we can minimize a leading cause of deadly collisions and help more people feel comfortable about choosing to ride their bikes.

A specified passing distance provides a more objective and easily understood measure of what constitutes “safe” and gives law enforcement and the courts a more objective basis for enforcing California’s safe passing requirement. Most importantly, it helps emphasize a motorist’s special responsibility to safeguard more vulnerable road users like bicyclists.

In the future, I would like to ask that you vote yes on SB 910 when it returns to the entire Assembly later this year. Thank you for your time and consideration.

The Coalition will continue to provide you, our reader, with the most update information about this issue. Thanks so much for your support, we couldn’t do it without you!

Safe Streets Save Lives

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The Safe Streets Save Lives initiative in South Carolina has produced some great PSAs to promote safer roads for all users. One of our favorites is the clip showing how to drive your bicycle to make sure everyone stays safe.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfCNAIA7v_k]

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZMJIGPxPqI]

Remember: be predictable and visible when you ride, we’re all in this together.

Kidical Mass is Tonight!

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We hope this video gets you excited for the Kidical Mass ride tonight!

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaIvk1cSyG8]

Advocacy Alert

Support Bicycle Safety, Support SB 910

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This week, a bill will be voted on in the California Senate to amend the California Vehicle Code on “overtaking” (passing from behind), specifically as it relates to motorists passing bicyclists, by requiring a minimum distance of 3 feet when a motorist passes a bicyclist from behind.

The SLO County Bicycle Coalition, along with other advocacy groups across the state, urge you to show your support for such a law which promotes bicycle safety.

 

SUPPORT SENATE BILL 910:

  •  Authored by Sen. Alan Lowenthal of Long Beach.
  • Co-sponsored the California Bicycle Coalition, the City of Los Angeles, and Bike Coalitions around the state.

THE LAW:

  • Amend California Vehicle Code Sec. 21750 about passing from behind as it relates to motorists passing bicyclists.
  • Require a minimum distance of 3 feet when a motorist passes a bicyclist from behind.
  • Legalize the current practice of crossing the double yellow centerline, when clear, in order to pass a bicyclist.
  • Set a $220 base fine for a violation that injures a bicyclist (equal to the lowest fine for reckless driving with great bodily injury). For non-injury violations the base fine is $35 (equal to the fine for unsafe passing).

THE REASON:

  • Safety is the #1 barrier to cycling. Clarifying and enforcing the rules for safe passing can help encourage more people to choose bikes for transportation.
  • Passing-from-behind collisions are the leading cause of bicyclist fatalities in California.
  • Current state law is too subjective. Specifying a 3-foot passing distance provides an objective definition of “safe.” The California Driver’s Manual already recommends a 3-foot passing distance as one of its “rules of the road.”
  • If we show our support, and the Governor signs the bill, California will join 18 other states in the country who have passed similar bills.

Click the photo above, click the link here, or call (805) 549-3784 to contact Senator Sam Blakeslee and ask him to support SB 910 in order to increase the safety of bicyclists in California. Simply fill out the form to show your support. Below is text you can use in your request to the Senator:

Dear Senator Blakeslee,

I’m a constituent from the 15th District and I’m writing to ask you to vote yes on Senate Bill 910 (Lowenthal), which will be heard by the Senate in coming days.

Cyclists too often face dangerous conditions on California’s streets due to motorists passing too closely. This type of collision is the leading cause of adult bicyclist fatalities in California and the U.S.

Requiring motorists to give bicyclists at least 3 feet of space when passing, we can minimize a leading cause of deadly collisions and help more people feel comfortable about choosing to ride their bikes.

A specified passing distance provides a more objective and easily understood measure of what constitutes “safe” and gives law enforcement and the courts a more objective basis for enforcing California’s safe passing requirement. Most importantly, it helps emphasize a motorist’s special responsibility to safeguard more vulnerable road users like bicyclists.

Once again, I would like to ask that you vote yes on Senate Bill 910. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Bob Jones Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

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Join us for a ribbon cutting of the latest extension of the Bob Jones trail leading out to Avila Beach! This new 1/4 mile section extends the existing trail from San Miguel St to 1st St in Avila Beach, allowing for a safer transition into town off of the trail.

Where: San Juan St & 1st St map

When: Friday May 27, 11:00 am