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Support the Preferred Alternative

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On the evening of Tuesday, February 6 the San Luis Obispo City Council will have the opportunity to adopt the “Preferred Alternative” for the Anholm Bikeway plan (previously the Broad St. Bike Blvd). The Preferred Alternative includes protected bike lanes along Chorro St. while the less desirable Lincoln St. alternative relies heavily on sharrows. Both connect to the planned Safe Routes to School crossing on Foothill Blvd. Bike SLO County believes that the Lincoln St. alternative won’t do enough to raise ridership or increase safety for riders. You can learn more about the two alternatives at  https://www.peakdemocracy.com/portals/189/Issue_3444

Bike SLO County urges you to consider taking one or more of the following timely actions before Tuesday’s meeting. See below for email template and attached for additional points to consider for both written and spoken comments):

1. Write an email to the city council (emailcouncil@slocity.org) supporting the Preferred Alternative. To ensure that City Council receives and reads your email, submit no later than noon on Tuesday, February 6th.
2. Submit your letter and comments here: https://www.peakdemocracy.com/portals/189/Issue_3444/
3. Write a letter to the editor and send via email to the Tribune (letters@thetribunenews.com) and the New Times (letters@newtimesslo.com)

At Tuesday’s meeting:

1. Attend to show your support and raise your hand when comments are made supporting the Preferred Alternative. Meeting takes place at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California 93401.
2. Speak on behalf of the project.
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Email Template 

SUBJECT: Regarding Anholm Bikeway (Broad St. Bike Blvd)

Honorable Mayor and Council Members,

I’m writing to encourage the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo to adopt the Preferred Alternative of the Anholm Bikeway (Broad Street Bicycle Boulevard) proposal. The Preferred Alternative creates safer streets for everyone — people who drive cars, people who ride bikes and people who walk. The Lincoln St. Alternative doesn’t do enough to raise ridership or increase safety for riders.

Additionally, the Preferred Alternative will play a major role in providing Safe Routes to School for students attending Bishop’s Peak and Pacheco Elementary schools.

Thank you for working to make SLO a better place to live,

YOUR NAME

Stand up for the Broad St Bicycle Boulevard

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Tell the SLO City Council what you want

Monday, December 11, 2017

On Monday, Dec. 11th, there will be another community session to review the plans for bicycle improvements in the Chorro/Broad street corridor. Bike SLO County encourages you to attend the meeting to support safer bike and pedestrian facilities. If you are not able to attend, please spend a few minutes to send an email to the city council (emailcouncil@slocity.org) regarding the importance of this connector and safe route for all members of our community. Your email and/or attendance at the meeting will make a real difference.  There are people who don’t want to see the Broad St Bicycle Boulevard get built in any form and they have been very vocal about their opposition. Please take a few minutes to write to City Council or to attend the meeting on December 11th or both.

As it mentions in the information from the City of SLO below, you can read more about the project and past meetings here: (http://www.peakdemocracy.com/3444)
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Over the past year-and-a-half, the City has conducted numerous public engagement activities for the Broad Street Bicycle Boulevard Plan—a proposed transportation improvement plan with the goal of establishing a safe, low-stress through route for bicyclists and pedestrians connecting the downtown with neighborhoods, schools and other points of interest to the north. Most recently, a City Council Study Session was conducted on August 15th, 2017 to invite public input and evaluate potential alternatives for the most challenging segment of the proposed corridor—the middle portion between Lincoln Street and Ramona Drive.  The Study Session concluded with Council directing staff to complete the technical studies and concept designs for the corridor with the following alternatives:

• Preferred Alternative – Route alignment follows Chorro Street (Lincoln to Mission), Mission Street (Chorro to Broad) and Broad Street (Mission to Ramona). Eliminate on-street parking on one side of Chorro and Broad to provide width for dedicated protected/buffered bike lanes.
• Low-Impact Alternative – Route alignment follows Lincoln Street (Chorro to Mission), Mission Street (Lincoln to Broad) and Broad Street (Mission to Ramona). Route operates as bicycle boulevard (shared street) with markings, signage and low-impact traffic calming features to convey bicycle travel. Option includes no dedicated bike lanes or on-street parking removal.

Over the course of the project planning process, the City has conducted three community meetings to encourage neighborhood engagement to guide development of the Plan. A fourth community meeting will be held at the City/County Library on Monday, December 11th, 2017 at 6:00 PM to present the latest project materials. The agenda for this meeting includes:

1. Review of project background, Council Study Session, and other work completed to date
2. Staff presentation of refined concept designs and analysis:
a. Middle Segment (Lincoln to Ramona)
– Recommended Alternative: Broad & Chorro Protected/Buffered Bikeway
– Low-Impact Alternative: Lincoln Street Bike Boulevard Alignment
b. Southern Segment (Downtown to Lincoln)
c. Northern Segment (Ramona to Foothill)
3. Project Implementation (Phasing) & Performance Monitoring Strategies
4. Upcoming meetings and next steps

The goal of this upcoming meeting is to invite public input on the recommended project concept designs and implementation strategies prior to returning to the City Bicycle Advisory Committee (January 2018) and City Council (February 2018) for submittal of the Final Plan for consideration. Two weeks prior to the December 11th meeting, direct notifications will be mailed to all properties along Broad Street, Chorro Street and along cross streets within the vicinity of the corridor. City-wide notification of the meeting will be provided by advertisement in the Tribune, the City’s website and social media platforms approximately one week before the meeting.

Those whom cannot attend the meeting are encouraged to visit the project website (http://www.peakdemocracy.com/3444) to review meeting summaries, project materials, provide comments, and subscribe to project updates.

If you have any questions, please contact Project Managers Jennifer Rice and Luke Schwartz via phone or email as follows:

Jennifer Rice
Transportation Planner/Engineer
(805) 781-7058
jrice@slocity.org

Luke Schwartz
Transportation Planner/Engineer
(805) 781-7190
lschwartz@slocity.org

Giving Tuesday 2017

Help make Giving Tuesday 2017 Great!

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Giving Tuesday 2017 (November 28th) is both a local and a global day of giving. It is also the official kick-off for Bike SLO County’s End of Year Fundraising campaign as we reach out to the bike community and ask you to support our efforts to inspire, educate, advocate and work to build a safe, healthy and connected community through bicycling.

Giving Tuesday 2017

This year we’re asking for your help in 2 ways:

  1. Make a donation, either a one time donation or a monthly recurring donation. Monthly: bikeslocounty.org/donate. One time donation:http://bikeslocounty.org/donate-3/one-time-donations/ Old School: Mail check to Bike SLO County, 860 Pacific St #105, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
  2. Host a one day Giving Tuesday online fundraiser on your Facebook page. It’s easy and a great opportunity because The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will match up to $1,000 from every one of our supporters who raises money on Facebook.

All you have to do is set up your fundraiser on Facebook and ask your friends to support it. Every dollar donated by you and your friends will be matched (up to $1,000 per fundraiser, for a total of $50,000 overall for Bike SLO County).

If you’re willing to help, just go to https://www.facebook.com/fundraisers/ and click on “Raise Money” to get started. It’s super easy and will just take two minutes. See our sample message below in orange, which you can feel free to copy or change entirely. (And if you like detailed step-by-step instructions, you’ll also find those below). Be sure to select “Bike SLO County” as your charity.

Instructions for setting up your fundraiser (this only takes 2 minutes):

To set up your fundraiser, you can follow Facebook’s simple instructions here, or our more detailed ones, below. (Or, if you’re tech savvy, just go to facebook.com/fundraisers and it’s pretty straightforward.) See our bolded message in orange below, if you’d like to use that.

Step 1: Go to https://www.facebook.com/fundraisers (You’ll need to be logged in to your personal Facebook page), and click “Raise Money,” then “Get Started”

Step 2: “Who are you raising money for?” Select “Nonprofit”

Step 3: Type in “Bike SLO County.” Facebook then asks how much money you want to raise. Enter $1000 (or more, if you prefer). Choose the date you want your fundraiser to end. If you want to just raise money on #GivingTuesday, the set the date to Tuesday, Nov 28, but there’s no harm in having the fundraiser last a few days.

Step 4: Fill in the title and description of your fundraiser. Here is sample text (feel free to just copy this text, or to personalize it by letting people know why this cause is so important to you):

Title: Support Bike SLO County on #GivingTuesday

Description: Join me on #GivingTuesday in supporting a charity whose work I care deeply about, Bike SLO County. On Tuesday, Nov 28th, #GivingTuesday, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will match up to $50,000 per charity, so your donation will be doubled!

Bike SLO County’s mission is to inspire, educate, advocate and work to build a safe, healthy and connected community through bicycling.

Bike SLO County makes the Central Coast a better place for people who ride bikes—and for everyone. Friends, I hope you can help them make this match today!

Step 5: For your cover photo, you can use one of Facebook’s suggested graphics (the one with the happy people in a green park seems to best fit Bike SLO County), or use a photo of you on your bike, or feel free to use the photos linked below. Click “edit” in the lower right hand corner of the FB graphic, then click “Upload new photo,” and choose a photo from your computer. To use our attached photo, you must download it first, and then find it in your downloads folder once you click “Upload new photo.”

Photo 1: Kid on Bike
https://www.flickr.com/photos/slobikelane/24811667058/in/dateposted-public/
Photo 2: Group shot at Bikes & Beauty
https://www.flickr.com/photos/slobikelane/24811695298/in/dateposted-public/

Step 6: Click “Create” and your fundraiser will be published!

Finally, please let your friends know about your Giving Tuesday 2017 fundraiser! It’s best to let them know late Monday night or very early on Tuesday morning, since the match is only good on #GivingTuesday. To invite your friends, go to
https://www.facebook.com/fundraisers/ and click on the title of your fundraiser over in the left hand column under “Shortcuts” (you can also edit your fundraiser here). Click on “Invite” and choose any or all of your friends with whom you wish to share your fundraiser.

If you have already donated, THANK YOU!
Giving Tuesday 2017
Thanks from everyone at Bike SLO County!

WTF! Women Trans Femme Night

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WTF! Women Trans Femme Night at Bike Kitchen

Bicycle maintenance has traditionally been an overwhelmingly male-dominated area. It is our goal to help teach women, trans, and femme individuals who have been intimidated or marginalized in this setting to be knowledgeable and confident working on their bikes.

On a daily basis, Bike SLO County strives to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for all, while also recognizing the benefits of offering women, trans & femme-specific evening hours as a stepping stone to achieving greater confidence working in our space at any time.

Women’s Night and WTF Night are for:

Women: A person who identifies as a woman.

Trans: Transgender, genderqueer, gender non-conforming, gender creative, anyone whose gender identity is fluid, transgressive, and/or transitioning.

Femme: A gender identity in which a person of any gender embodies a feminine appearance, expression, or identity.

Bike SLO County’s WTF (Women/Trans/Femme) Nights take place the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month from 5 – 8:30 PM in the Bike Kitchen at 860 Pacific St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (map).

If you are not WTF identified, please BECOME AN ALLY:

  • Respect the space: Come during our regular hours, don’t ask for an exception, and don’t hang around the entrance during Women’s Night or WTF hours.
  • Respect People: During Bike Kitchen’s regular hours, treat all female & trans mechanics and patrons as you would any other person (don’t assume they’re less knowledgeable, don’t call them “sweetie,” and NEVER take a wrench out of their hand!)
  • Get Educated: Learn about the issues facing women and trans communities.
  • Educate others: About why and how to be an ally!

(Big thanks to DIY bike cooperative, BICAS in Tuscon, AR and Sacramento Bike Kitchen in Sacramento, CA from whom some of our Women’s Night/WTF Night language was cribbed.)

Bike Safe! Drive Safe!

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Bike Safe Everyday

While you should always bike and drive safe, on Thursday October 5th, 2017 the San Luis Obispo Police Department will step up bicycle safety enforcement operations with focused enforcement on collision-causing factors involving both people driving cars and people riding bicycles. Special patrols will be deployed to crack down on all people who violate traffic laws meant to protect all roadway users.

The SLO Police department has mapped out locations from over the past 3 years where bicycle involved collisions have occurred and noted the violations that led to those crashes. SLOPD officers will be looking for violations made by people driving automobiles and people riding bikes that can lead to life changing injuries.

The following safety tips can save lives and traffic citations:

People who drive Motor Vehicle Drivers:

– ‘Share the road’ with people on bicycles
– Be courteous; California law now mandates at least three feet of clearance when passing a bike rider
– Look for people riding bicycles before opening a car door or pulling out from a parking space
– Yield to people riding bicycles at intersections and as directed by signs and signals
– Be especially watchful for bicycle riders when making turns, either left or right

People who drive bicycles:

– Wear properly fitted bicycle helmets every time they ride. If under 18 years of age, it’s the law
– A helmet is the single most effective way to prevent head injury resulting from a bicycle crash
– People riding bicycles are considered vehicle operators; they are required to obey the same rules of the road as other people driving motor vehicles, including obeying traffic signs, signals, and lane markings.
– When cycling in the street, people riding bikes must ride in the same direction as traffic.
– People riding bikes should increase their visibility to drivers by wearing fluorescent or brightly colored clothing during the day, and at dawn and dusk
– To be noticed when riding at night, the law requires a front light and a red reflector to the rear
– For additional safety, use a flashing rear light, and use retro-reflective tape or markings on equipment or clothing

Another cyclist has died: It’s time to act

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The following op-ed from our Executive Director Mike Bennet appeared in the San Luis Obispo Tribune on September 2, 2017:

Upon arriving to work on the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 30, I received a message from a friend alerting me that a cyclist had been killed the night before on Foothill Boulevard in San Luis Obispo.

A search online confirmed the tragic news. Later in the day, updates to the sad story informed the community that Kennedy Love, a 22-year-old Cal Poly student, had been struck and killed by a car driven by a 17-year-old Los Osos resident who fled the scene of the crash. The driver later admitted to police that she had been drinking prior to hitting and killing Kennedy.

At almost the same time that Kennedy was struck and killed, two Central Valley residents were killed in a single vehicle crash on Cuesta Grade. The two passengers were ejected from the car when the driver lost control and the car went up the embankment. They were then struck by several cars and killed. The driver of the vehicle was arrested on suspicion of DUI.

On Wednesday afternoon, I stopped by the location on Foothill Boulevard where Kennedy was killed. I placed some flowers nearby and thought about the reasons behind the needless deaths of three young Americans. Looking at the place in the road where Kennedy breathed his last breath, I spent some time thinking about what would have broken the chain of events that led to his death. My first thought was that protected bike lanes—which place a physical barrier between cyclists and motorists—on Foothill might have prevented his death. Protected bike lanes on this stretch of road have been discussed, and this event highlights that now is the time to make them a reality. In conjunction with other Safe Routes to School projects, protected bike lanes on Foothill and elsewhere will help make cyclists and pedestrians of all ages safer.

In the Marine Corps, and particularly in Marine Corps Aviation where I spent most of my military career, each member of the organization is charged with recognizing when they need to act to break the chain of events which can lead to a mishap. So how can we each work to break the chain of events that can lead to tragedy in our daily lives?

We start by obeying the rules of the road. The vehicle code is there to protect us and to make our roadways function as efficiently as possible.

If you are a pedestrian, please employ all the senses you were given by the good Lord in order to help you survive; watch where you are going, don’t look at your phone while crossing the street or train tracks and don’t use ear buds when, for your own personal safety, you need to be aware of your surroundings.

If you are a driver, be focused solely on the task of operating your car or truck; please give cyclists the three feet of clearance the law requires and give that motorcyclist in your rear view mirror a little room to pass.

If you are a cyclist, please obey traffic signals and signs, and if you are riding on a road without a bike lane, don’t ride two abreast. It does nothing to improve the relationship between drivers and the community of cyclists to which you belong.

Consideration for all road users is a must to ensure safety. If you are a cyclist, respect the driver pulling a load of hay, grapes or horses; he or she is likely just trying to get home after a 14-hour day to see the kids for a few minutes before trying to get a couple hours of sleep.

If you are a driver, please keep an eye out for motorcyclists and pedestrians, and please keep in mind that the cyclist riding down the road with you may be the ER doctor who eased your child’s pain last week; the manager of the winery across the valley where you had such a great time last weekend; a retired police captain who leads bike rides to help people stay active and healthy in retirement; or an old Marine helicopter gunship pilot who moved to the Central Coast after a quarter century of serving his country in peace and in war, and just wants to get a little exercise with his wife and friends. He’ll be the one giving you a smile and a wave and hoping for the same in return.

Hard Core Cider Tour returns to SLO

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Drink Cider – Benefit Bikes

The Hard Core Cider Tour, which brings together some of the world’s top craft hard cider makers, is returning to San Luis Obispo’s El Chorro Regional Park on Saturday October 21st. Tickets are available through Bike SLO County and we benefit from this annual event.

If you attended last year you know what to expect: UNLIMITED 2 oz. samples amazing cider, mouth watering food from the Cubanissimo and Hurricane Kitchen food trucks (food sold separately), Live Music from the Redemption Brass Band, and super fun Jumbo Lawn Games!

The Hard Core Cider Tour’s mission is to celebrate the revival of craft hard cider making. As one of America’s long lost alcoholic beverages, the Tour strives to reintroduce the joy of imbibing hard cider to all!

*NEW THIS YEAR*: Purchase your favorite bottles to take home at the Cider Store Tent!

TICKETS: To enjoy world class cider and benefit Bike SLO County, purchase your tickets online at this URL (tickets purchased directly from the Tour don’t benefit Bike SLO County so please use and share this URL): https://nightout.com/events/hard-core-cider-tour-san-luis-obispo/tickets?a=bike-slo-county

You’ll also be able to purchase paper tickets at the Bike Kitchen starting on Saturday September 2nd.

Tickets are $40 online or at the Bike Kitchen ($50 at the door). There are also group rate tickets for groups of four or more for $30 a ticket. Designated Driver tickets will be available for $10 at the door.

TICKET ADMISSION INCLUDES:
* UNLIMITED 2 oz. Tastings
* Signature Keepsake Mason Jar
* Unlimited Selfies & Goodtimes … #hardcorecidertour

Parking: Riding your bike? Our free Free Bike Valet will be there to watch your bicycle during the event. Limited Automobile Parking will be available on-site. There will be a $5 Cash Only Parking Fee.

This is a 21 and Over ONLY event.

Ciders to enjoy at the event:

CIDERS: Common Cider Company, Tin City Cider Co., Red Branch Cider Company, Jean Marie Cidery, Bristols Cider House, Ace Premium Craft Cider, Cider Brothers, 101 Cider House, South City Ciderworks, Humboldt Cider Company, Two Broads Ciderworks, Reef Points Hard Cider, CiderBrothers, William’s Orchards, Krazy Farm Cider Co., Meraki Cider

WHEN: October 21st 1 – 4 PM

WHERE: El Chorro Regional Park

Advocacy Alert

San Luis Obispo Advocacy Alert

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Stand up for the Broad St. Bike Boulevard and Safe Routes to School

The San Luis Obispo City Council will be meeting on Tuesday, August 15 to discuss three proposed concept plans for making the Broad/Chorro/Lincoln Street corridor safer for bicyclists. This project ties into the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) connections that will make our children safer. Your help is needed to help make sure that the streets of our community are safe for people who ride bikes, people who walk and people who drive cars – everyone.

How can you support Safe Routes to School and the Broad St. Bike Boulevard project?

1. Write a letter of support (see template below for a sample – please add your own personalization).
2. Attend the city council meeting (Tuesday, August 15. Items 15 and 17 on the agenda) — your simple attendance at the meeting and indication of your support will send a needed message to the City Council.
There are some residents of the neighborhood that want no change. The City Council is listening – let’s make sure we voice our support for safe riding for cyclists of all ages.
Sample  Letter Template (you can email it to the Mayor and City Council Members by clicking this email address:  emailcouncil@slocity.org )
Dear Mayor Harmon and City Council Members

On August 15, you will be asked to consider plans for a Broad Street Bike Blvd and other Safe Routes to Schools Plan improvements proposed for the Bishops Peak/Pacheco Elementary School area of town.  These plans are important to the long term residents and homeowners of the immediate area surrounding the two schools, Broad and Chorro Streets, as well as to people throughout SLO seeking to access the Foothill area from downtown and beyond. The Broad Street area and the SRTS Plan (which includes safe crossing options for Foothill Blvd. at Ferrini) should accommodate cyclists and pedestrians safely.

Through your leadership, this area can become safer for residents, cyclists, and pedestrians and help meet many City goals, including Vision Zero and those in the Climate Action Plan.  The planning has continued long enough and staff have done a great job of creating a thoughtful and participatory process. Now is the time to act on their work. If the City is serious about increasing multi-modal transportation and reducing car trips by 20%, we must connect downtown and the Foothill area with more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly routes.

Thank you

(Your Name)
(City of Residence)

SLO City Council Meeting
Tuesday August 15th Meeting begins at 6 PM
City Council Chamber, City Hall, 990 Palm Street, SLO (map)