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Building a Bicycle Advocacy Force

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Your Bicycle Coalition has big plans for our expanded advocacy efforts in 2014 and needs your help to make it happen! We ask you to make a year-end donation to help the Bicycle Coalition build this stronger advocacy force. 

Advocacy makes it happen, if we don’t show up and ask, bicycle projects will not get built. Thanks to our dedicated advocates we completed major victories this year:

  • Achieved adoption of a new Bicycle Plan in San Luis Obispo including $64 million in projects.
  • Maintained that future Bob Jones trail segments be removed from roadway traffic.
  • Rallied community support for new bike lanes on Grand Avenue in Grover Beach.
  • Secured 4x funding for bicycle projects in San Luis Obispo.
  • Supported installation of new bike lanes on Rambouillet Road in Paso Robles.
  • And even more!

LeadingTheCharge

In 2014 we will inspire decision makers to lead the charge for better bikeways or otherwise be replaced. Our plan for next year is to focus on advocacy, directing our energy to move more projects from concept to completion. We will:

  • Cultivate an army of families advocating for young riders and safe routes to school.
  • Influence elections to achieve a bicycle friendly majority serving in elected bodies countywide.
  • Innovate our advocacy efforts through unique online tools and communications.

Make a donation of $25, $50 or $100 today; invest in the Bicycle Coalition and our ambitious vision for incredible bikeways in SLO County. Your generous support will make you an integral part of this shared vision. We are committed to making you a proud supporter again in 2014.

Read more about our Advocacy Force plan for 2014.

Sign the People for Bikes Pledge

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PeopleForBikesWhether you’re a bike commuter, a roadie, a mountain biker or just a casual rider, by uniting your voice with a million others, we can build a national movement to improve bicycling in our country. We can make a statement through our sheer numbers by raising public awareness and demonstrating our passion to our leaders in Congress and in cities and states throughout the country.

People for Bikes is hosting a national competition to see what state can recruit the most new supporters, help us propel California to victory! Their goal is to get one million people across the country to sign the pledge to support biking. Sign the pledge.

The goal of People for Bikes is to speak with one powerful voice of one million supporters—to let policy makers, the media and the public know that bicycling is important and should be promoted. As more of us join together, we can win more funding, better bikeways, and communities completely connected with safe bike routes comfortable for everyone.

Next-Gen Bike Lanes

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The following was originally published in our Spring 2013 Spoken Wheel newsletter.
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BIKE LANES 2.0
The next generation of bike facilities will blow your mind

BikeLanes2.0key

In all corners of America, we are seeing innovative solutions for bicycles on our roadways. The goal of many of these facilites is to create a safer more inviting space to get more people comfortable riding bicycles.

To share this incredible progress, we put together this quick guide for you. We hope it will inspire you to think big as we shape the future of bicycles in SLO County together!

GETTIN’ IT DONE IN SLO COUNTY

The road towards innovative spaces for bicycles in SLO County is long, but the Bicycle Coalition is in it for the longhaul. We are determined to make our communities beacons for bicycles in the golden state of California. Unfortunately, the drive and energy to pursue these successful strategies won’t come from our local leaders and government staff – it comes from you!

With your help, we can make these visions a reality. Join the Bicycle Coalition today to strengthen our voice for bicycles countywide. The more members we have, the faster we can move towards completing our bike paths and putting these innovative solutions to work in your neighborhood.

BikeBox

A bike box is a designated area at the head of a traffic lane at a signalized intersection that provides bicyclists with a safe and visible way to get ahead of queuing traffic during the red signal phase.

SEEN IN: Boston MA, Austin TX, Madison WI
COST: $
PROS: Greatly increases visibility of bicyclists.
Helps prevent ‘right-hook’ conflicts with turning vehicles at intersections.
Facilitates bicyclist left turn positioning during red signal.
Pedestrians benefit from reduced vehicle encroachment into the crosswalk.

BikeCorrals

On street bicycle parking spaces allow bicyclists to ride straight up to park their bicycles. One vehicle parking spot can accomodate over 10 bicycles. These corrals can be easily branded to promote neighboring businesses or areas.

SEEN IN: Long Beach CA, Missoula MT, Seattle WA
COST: $$
PROS: Decreases sidewalk conflicts between bicycles and pedestrians by preventing bicycle riding on the sidewalk and improper bicycle parking. Increases storefront visibility for businesses. One vehicle parking spot can accomodate over 10 bicycle customers.

Read more

Advocacy Alert

Help Secure Cap and Trade Funding for Safe Routes to School and Bike/Ped

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SRTS_NationalThe California Air Resources Board will be holding public hearings for input on the investment of cap-and-trade auction proceeds to support the State’s effort to reduce the greenhouse gases (GHG) that contribute to climate change.  Active transportation offers unique advantages to reduce GHG emissions and improve public health, reduce congestion, and improve public safety.

Increasing investments in Safe Routes to School programs, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and first-last mile connections to public transit will support the goals of AB 32 and SB 375.  We encourage the administration to set aside a significant portion of the cap and trade revenues for these purposes.

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Increased levels of bicycling and walking must play a part in reducing GHG emissions if
California wants to meet the targets set by AB 32.

A shift of automobile trips to bicycling or walking trips has a direct, positive impact in that trip emissions are reduced by 100 percent.  Approximately 60% of trips in California are under one mile, and are currently taken by automobile. These trips can easily be accomplished by walking or bicycling, drastically reducing GHG emissions.

VMT_info

Join us in providing comments to the administration on this important topic.  The Safe Routes to School National Partnership has developed the following talking points and nexus document for your information. (They are jam packed with information! Check them out).

We encourage you to submit a written comment here by March 8th to show your support for these funds to be used to help fund our bike/ped infrastructure and programs!

Caltrans Releases Highway One Resurfacing Statement

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Now that local, statewide and national groups have brought the recent resurfacing of Highway 1 to the attention of Caltrans officials, an official statement has been released regarding the Highway 1 chip seal project.

Caltrans officials are partnering with UC pavement researchers to find effective and affordable ways to make cycling a smoother experience along a recently paved section of Highway 1 in northern San Luis Obispo County. The Caltrans Division of Research and Innovation plans to tap the expertise of the University of California, Davis Pavement Research Center in response to local bicycle enthusiasts who say the chip seal project has made sections of the scenic route a rougher-than-usual ride.

“We’re looking for innovative solutions and are hopeful that this investigation will lead to both short and long-term improvements,” said Caltrans District 5 Director Tim Gubbins. “Caltrans plans to work closely with the local cycling community and UC experts as wesort this out.”

The news comes after an online petition circled by a group within the SLO Bike Club gained over 1,100 signatures in just a couple of weeks.

The UC Davis researchers are currently developing a scope of work to examine conditions on Highway 1 and offer recommendations about various cost-effective surface treatments and how they would service cyclists as well as all users of the highway. Over the next several months, researchers will consider any positive changes that can be made to the existing pavement surface. The investigation will also include any potential long-term improvements to our chip seal program statewide.

In the meantime, Caltrans will maintain its enhanced sweeping of Highway 1 and repairing potholes.

More information is also available online:

The Bicycle Coalition has met with local bicycle riders, bicycle travelers and attended local meetings regarding the issue. This is the first step towards restoring a bicycle friendly Highway One, we will be sure to keep you updated as the process continues.

Advocacy Alert

*UPDATE* Call for a Bicycle Friendly Highway One

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As a follow up to our post earlier this week regarding a recent resurfacing of Highway 1, this issue has gained attention on the local, state and national level from a few of our partners.

From the SLO Tribune, photo by Lyman Evans.

From the SLO Tribune, photo by Lyman Evans.

Local – On Wednesday, January 9th, at the monthly SLOCOG Board Meeting, over 60 people showed up to show support for a fix of this new road surface. Multiple local news stories have covered the issue, and the conversation is growing.

State – Our friends at the California Bicycle Coalition in Sacramento are aware of the issue, and we are working closely with them as well.

National – Adventure Cycling Association, a national group representing over 45,000 members, wrote an insightful blog post on the issue. They cite this Pacific Coast route as it’s most popular bicycle tourism route.

You – Add your voice to the nearly 600 people who have already signed the online petition, and we will be sure to keep you updated as the process unfolds.

Potholes, some several inches deep, are seen outlined in the bike lane after having been camouflaged by the repaving. SLO Tribune. Photo by Joe Johnston

Potholes, some several inches deep, are seen outlined in the bike lane after having been camouflaged by the repaving. From the SLO Tribune. Photo by Joe Johnston

Grover Beach – W Grand Ave Improvements Underway

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Construction signs are up, and the City of Grover Beach will be starting very soon with phase 2 of the West Grand Avenue Enhancement Project.

This project will be a major improvement for street and pedestrian conditions on West Grand Avenue between 8th and 11th Streets. Components of the project include sidewalk and street repairs, accessible pedestrian corner ramps, new striping, landscaped center medians, lighting, and more. The goals of the project are to enhance and clearly define the City’s downtown core.

Screen shot 2013-01-07 at 1.25.11 PM

Construction is set to last about three months to complete (weather permitting). For further details and contact information, you can view the City’s announcement here.

Advocacy Alert

Call for a Bicycle Friendly Highway One

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Join the incredibly strong voice of people in the Central Coast that want to see Highway 1 safe for bikes and sign this petition to express your concern to CalTrans. Petition here.

The Facts: 

  1. CalTrans resurfaced (thin layer of chip seal) a segment of Highway 1 North of Cambria in late 2012.
  2. The rock aggregate used in the resurfacing is rough and makes riding a bike challenging (see images).
  3. One person has already crashed as a result of the new road surface.
  4. CalTrans has stated that the roadway will become smooth over time and stands behind the resurfacing work for economic rationale.

The San Luis Obispo County Bicycle Coalition strongly supports the voice of hoteliers, restauranteurs, business owners, community members, nonprofits, and people who ride bikes that are asking CalTrans to provide a solution to this problem. Safe conditions for cycling on Highway 1 are essential to our economic vitality and community wellbeing through opportunities for recreational tourism, active local residents, and nonprofit fundraising endeavors. Together we can make Highway 1 great.

A few images of the new road surface: 

Zoomed way out (old surface top vs new surface bottom)

Zoomed way out (old surface top vs new surface bottom)

Zoomed closer (old surface top vs new surface bottom)

Zoomed closer (old surface top vs new surface bottom)

Super zoom (new surface only)

Super zoom (new surface only)

Sign the online petition to restore bicycle riding on Highway One in Northern SLO County here.