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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.

Advocacy Alert

Pismo Beach Complete Streets Plan Approved!

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Yesterday evening the Pismo Beach Planning Commission enthusiastically approved the Pismo Beach Complete Streets Plan featuring incredible bike paths, sidewalk improvements, roundabouts, and trees. We were very excited to hear such great support from the community and commissioners and thank everyone who has been involved throughout the process.

It is tentatively schedule to go to the Pismo Beach City Council for review and comment on February 19, 2013. We will keep you posted.

Take a look at the plan here.

Help Expand Our Bike Education Program with a Year End Gift!

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2012 has been a year of incredible progress for the SLO County Bicycle Coalition. With 641 members and growing, the voice for bicycles in SLO County is the strongest it has ever been. This 20% increase in membership comes in tandem with an increased public interest in bicycles and the role they play in SLO County. We know that our work is certain to inspire more people to take to the streets on two wheels and we welcome everyone into our joyful community.

In our ideal world, people aged 8 to 80 would feel comfortable riding on streets and paths designed specifically to help everyone ride their bike more often. This is our vision, but we also know that knowledge is power. In 2012 over 30% of our members told us they want more bike education to empower people with the confidence to ride on our existing roadways. Help us expand our Bike Education program by making a year-end gift to the Bicycle Coalition.

The Bike Education program is our longest standing program. It has brought the message of safe riding to thousands of people through community workshops, business lunches, and school assemblies. Our plan for a bigger and better program has been in the works for months and recent developments have assured us we are on the right path. The Bicycle Coalition recently received numerous local grants, bolstering our ability to reach high-risk groups like college students and low-income communities. Your additional contribution will empower us to capitalize on the momentum created by grant funding.

We have ambitious plans for the Bike Education program in 2013 that will have a long lasting impact for bicycle riders of all ages and abilities in SLO County.
     ENHANCING the educational element of Kidical Mass will help make smart riding a family activity giving more moms the confidence to ride with her kids to the park.
     INCREASING educational efforts to Cal Poly and Cuesta will make incredible safety improvements for the age group that is most likely to be involved in traffic collisions resulting in injury or death.
     IMPROVING our existing materials and resources so they can be shared across language and socio-economic barriers to deliver important information to underserved populations.

Your donation will make you an integral part of the legacy that establishes bike education in schools, businesses, and throughout our great community. 

Our ambition, innovation and drive are on behalf of our members; we can’t wait to make you proud again in 2013.


Dan Rivoire
Executive Director

Click here to make your donation online, and to find information to mail your donation. All donations are 100% tax-deductible.

2012 Election Questionnaires

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The Bicycle Coalition sent the following questions to all candidates running for office throughout the Central Coast:
  1. In your opinion, how do biking and walking fit into the transportation system in your community/district?
  2. Would you like to increase or decrease the number of people biking and walking for transportation and recreation in your community/district, why?
  3. What steps would you take to increase or decrease the number of people biking and walking for transportation and recreation in your community/district?
  4. What specific accomplishments/qualifications demonstrate your capacity to improve the transportation system in your community/district?
  5. What else should members of the San Luis Obispo County Bicycle Coalition know about you before going to the polls?

All questionnaires returned to the Bicycle Coalition can be viewed/downloaded as a pdf, sorted by jurisdiction by clicking here. (Simply click on the right hand column to view the answers from any given candidate)

The SLO County Bicycle Coalition does not and has not endorsed any candidate running for office.

The information contained in this pdf is intended for informational purposes only.

$10 Off Memberships Today!

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We are so excited for this Friday’s Bikes & Beauty party, we are offering $10 off memberships just for today*! The only way to join in on the fun Friday night is to be a current member of the Bicycle Coalition. Luckily, we’ve got a special deal, to make it even easier:

  1. Fill out the form below
  2. Enter coupon code members2012
  3. Get $10 off!

In addition to great food, beer, wine and music… There will be a Snap Cubby photobooth, the Arkeg, and a special curated digital fashion show! The show will feature some of the best videos from amazing designers who have included bicycles in their beautiful videos. You can see a bit of what’s in store in our trailer video here.

[youtube=https://youtu.be/cw3jGTYI8Uw?hd=1]

WHEN: Friday September 28, 6:30 – 10:00 pm
WHERE: SLO Grange Hall, 2880 Broad St (map)
HOW: $5 door entry, great deals on food & drinks!

Fill out my online form.

Got questions? We have answers online here.

This event is all for our members, it’s our way of thanking them for their continued support and incredible enthusiasm for bicycles in SLO County and beyond. In addition to an invitation to the Bikes & Beauty party, your membership comes with other Bicycle Coalition member perks, including 4 free visits to the Bike Kitchen, 25% off our t-shirts, and more!

*Offer ends at 11:00 pm PST on Wednesday September 26, 2012

Concerts in the Park

Bike Valet at SLO GranFondo

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Our Bike Valet will be at The SLO GranFondo this October!

Where: Mission Plaza, San Luis Obispo
When: Saturday October 20th, 7:30am – 4:00pm (Bike Valet from (9:00am – 4:00pm)

Our Bike Valet is back for the annual SLO GranFondo, presented by SLO Alpha and Hearst Cancer Resource Center at French Hospital Medical Center. The Bike Valet will be located in the Mission Plaza.

Check out their website for more information on joining us for a beautiful ride on the Central Coast.