WHEEL PEOPLE Newsletter of the Humboldt Bay Bicycle Commuters Association P.O. Box 9054 Eureka CA 95502 JULY 2005 VOL. 24 NO. 4 THANKS TO THE NEW AND RENEWED MEMBERS FOR 2005 The HBBCA thanks the following new members and renewed members for 2005. New Members: Carl Cooper, Bayside** Steven Lazar, Samoa Craig Wilson, Eureka Gregg Gold, Arcata** Renewed Members: Sherri Dobay, Eureka*** Jen Rice, Eureka Wayne & Stella Hawkins, McK** Dave Ryan, Arcata** Michele McKeegan & Ed Olsgard, Eureka** Will Spurling, Henderson Center Bicycles*** Bob Ornelas, Arcata Ron Vetter, Eureka** Richard Heisler, Eureka Bruce Schneiderman, Arcata Rees Hughes, Arcata** A special thanks to those who gave a donation to the HBBCA, noted by **. Those with a *** gave $25 or more. NEXT REGULAR MEETING IN ARCATA ON JULY 25 The next regular HBBCA meeting will be held at Luzmilla’s Mexican Restaurant at 13th and H Streets in Arcata on Monday, July 25th. It will be a dinner meeting (dinner optional), starting at 6:00 p.m. The meeting is open to the public. Those who attend help set the agenda. One agenda item will be the lack of prosecution by the District Attorney of motorists who hit bicyclists when clearly at fault. SUPPORT THE TRAILS TRUST OF HUMBOLDT BAY BY Jen Rice For most of the nine years I’ve worked at the Redwood Community Action Agency (RCAA), I haven’t had a good answer for the amazing number of people of all stripes who constantly ask, “How can I help” with regional trails development efforts. I’m relieved to finally have an answer…..Support the Trails Trust of Humboldt Bay! A new fund has been established at Humboldt Area Foundation to raise financial and community support for multi-use trails in the Humboldt Bay region, starting with the Elk River Access project in south Eureka. Find out more about it, and sign up as a member by logging on to www.trailstrust.org BIKE TO WORK DAYS A SUCCESS In spite of rain the morning of the rallies, many bike commuters attended the rallies in Eureka and Arcata to demonstrate the viability of bike commuting in the Humboldt Bay region. Food and prizes were provided by: Los Bagels, the Co-Op, Ramone’s Bakery, Eureka Natural Foods, Henderson Center Bicycles, Pro Sports, Revolution Bicycle Repair, Adventures Edge, Sport and Cycle, and the HBBCA. Pro Sports and Revolution Bicycle Repair were on hand to help bicyclists who needed repairs to make it back to work. BIKE-SMART TRAINING CLASSES HAVE BEGUN If you would like to have your children participate (or know others who could benefit) in the HBBCA’s BikeSmart Training Program, contact Rick Knapp at 445-1097. This is the 10th year the free training has been conducted. Children go through helmet fitting, learn the rules of the road, and then practice them on the street with HBBCA trainers. Those who need helmets are given free helmets, thanks to generous donations from HBBCA members. If you’d like to donate to the program, please send contributions to HBBCA, P. O. Box 9054, Eureka CA 95502. NEW BIKE-SMART BROCHURE NEARLY READY Our new BikeSmart safety brochure is near completion. Our last one lasted for 10 years, but it was decided that the time had come to update and modernize it. It will be available in July. It will be used in our classes and will be made available to local bike shops, law enforcement, the DMV, schools, Humboldt County Public Health, and others who can get the information to parents and kids. HBBCA WEBSITE DUE IN JULY As reported in the last newsletter, the HBBCA’s website will be activated in July. The site will be www.humbike.org. The site will include past and present newsletters, event calendar, information and links to other bike organizations, Bike Smart Safety brochure and information on training classes, membership application, information on how to report road hazards, links to legislators and the Governor, and more. HBBCA POLICIES ADOPTED BY THE BOARD Following up on recent outreach efforts to members and interested organization, the HBBCA Board has adopted policies which will guide the Board in pursuit of the HBBCA Goal, which is to improve and encourage bicycle commuting. The policies are: The Goal of the Humboldt Bay Bicycle Commuters Association (HBBCA) is to: Improve and Encourage Bicycle Commuting. The following policies have been adopted to guide the HBBCA in pursuit of its goal. 1. Promote the personal and societal benefits of bicycle commuting. 2. Serve as an effective advocate for the interests of commuting bicyclists. 3. Work cooperatively with State, regional and local agencies to identify and secure improvements and maintenance needed by commuting bicyclists. 4. Assure that street, highway, and bike projects are developed consistent with State standards and the requirements of the California Vehicle Code. 5. Educate and advocate for the improvement of bike safety. HCAOG APPOINTS HBBCA MEMBER TO CITIZEN’S ADVISORY Mary Scoggin was recently appointed to the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG). Her appointment was recommended by the HBBCA Board. Mary is a member and a strong advocate for bicycle commuting, and will assure proper consideration is given to the bicycle mode of travel in transportation planning efforts by HCAOG. DISCOUNTS OFFERED TO HBBCA MEMBERS Members should show their membership cards and ask for discounts when purchasing bike parts or accessories. Since some clerks won’t know about it, just say, “I get a __% discount as a member of the Humboldt Bay Bicycle Commuters Association.” The following are offered: Sport and Cycle in Eureka and Fortuna 15% Henderson Center Bicycles…………… 10% www.Showerspass.com..................... 15% WHO TO CALL WHEN YOU SEE A SAFETY CONCERN (Revised 6/05) The HBBCA has checked with agencies in the Humboldt Bay region to determine whom to contact if you see a condition that needs to be corrected in order to improve the safety or convenience for cyclists. This might include a pothole in the bike lane, accumulated debris on a roadway shoulder, the need to re-stripe a bike lane, or the need to clear vegetation encroaching on the shoulder. Of course, if you see a condition that requires immediate emergency action, call 9-1-1. For other conditions, the following is provided: Caltrans Mark Suchanek, Deputy District Director 445-6393 Mark.Suchanek@dot.ca.gov County of Humboldt Wendy Meeks, Dispatcher 445-7491 wmeeks@co.humboldt.ca.us City of Arcata Monica Campbell, Public Works Administrative Assistant 822-5957 pubworks@arcatacityhall.org City of Eureka Susan Hutchison Public Works Administrative Assistant 441-4192 shutchison@ci.eureka.ca.gov HBBCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS President------------------------Scott Kelly 839-3614(h); 839-4336(w) Vice-President/Treasurer----Rick Knapp 445-1097(h) Director of Publicity-----------Will Dvorak 445-4229(h)-before 8pm; 441-8809(w) Director of Planning-----------Jennifer Rice 442-4630(h); 269-2060(w) JOIN THE HBBCA TODAY OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP FOR 2005 The HBBCA is working to improve and encourage bicycle commuting. Help make it happen by joining now or renewing your dues for 2005. Your $5.00 annual dues, paid on a calendar year basis, will help pay for helmets for kids, this newsletter, website, promotions, postage, etc. And, it will help demonstrate your commitment to our goal. If you prefer to receive your bi-monthly newsletter by email, please note below. Enclosed: $_____dues $_____donation Name____________________________________ Address__________________________________ __________________________________________ Phone______________ (h) ________________ (w) I’d rather have my newsletter sent by email: Yes____ No____ Email: ___________________________________ Mail to HBBCA, P.O. Box 9054 Eureka CA 95502-9054