NEWS FROM THE SONOMA COUNTY BICYCLE COALITION

ISSUE 18· SPRING 2007 promoting bicycling for transportation and recreation

Get Ready For Bike and Walk to Work Day

Dave Ruggles
car to work. Take one of those weekend rides to
time how long you need to ride to work. Maybe
you’ll need to bring a change of clothes to work
the day before. Air up those tires, put some
fresh batteries in your lights, wake up a little
early and enjoy the cheating freedom of getting
in two bike rides…on a work day!
For some it will just be a day, a novelty.

A N
N DWWAALLKK Thursday,
D Hopefully for others, riding to work may become
A May 17 marksthe San something fun… the beginning of a great routine.
Francisco Bay Area’s 13th annual Sometimes life will get in the way, schedules will
Bike and Walk to Work Day. tighten or it will rain and the car will rumble
to life. Anything at all is better than
Come out and make it the day the commute ty
population notices the huge number of cyclists
never trying. Local businesses uni ce
m n
are getting together with
Co cha
m
sharing the road with those steel-caged souls on city governments and n ter for a !!! ion
their way to work.
Y! affle bike rmat
continued on page 10
E
RR R
HU rket’s in a ne ore in
Do you ride on the weekends? For one day pledge w fo
to throw out all the excuses you use to take the Ma to w for m
e5
pag
SONOMA COUNTY SHINES DURING S e e

THE TOUR OF CALIFORNIA

Loretta Esparza

Hey! How Green

is your event?
Sonoma County is a great place to host environmentally
friendly events. But, really, how green can it be if you are
encouraging car driving and discouraging bicycle riding?
If there is no safe and secure place
for your event participants to
leave their bicycles, they will most
likely drive.
The SCBC Valet Bicycle
Pa r k i n g s e r v i ce i s
available for hire.
Valet Bicycle Parking is like a
coat check for bicycles. Patrons
Team Discovery’s Ivan Basso brings smiles and are issued claim checks in
cheers to fans of all ages! Photo by Carl Burchfiel exchange for their bikes. Our
The Amgen Tour of California was not only a bike staff guards the bikes in a
race swooping through Sonoma County, but an secure corral. Over 6000 bike
event sparking communication, cooperation riders have enjoyed safe, secure parking
and celebration. Planning and preparation for their bicycles.
were paramount to ensure success and safety.
In true community spirit, city of Santa Rosa This service helps fund the goals and mission of the SCBC
employees, local businesses, organizations and
hordes of volunteers created a professional Now you can encourage folks to
venue to be proud of. leave their cars at home.
continued on page 10
 Stay Home!!!
“Oh. We don’t want to encourage people to ride
there.” This was a Caltrans engineer’s response
to my asking why they weren’t
including bike lanes on a road
between Petaluma and Sonoma.
This is often how bike riders and
pedestrians are “kept safe” on
our roads. If the roads are made
EDITOR
Christine Culver uninviting and unusable, folks
will avoid them, mostly; self
COPY EDITOR
preservation and all. However,
Bunni Zimberoff
there are people in our society
CONTRIBUTORS who have no other options and
Timothy Bacon their work forces them to be on
Martin Clinton roads the rest of us avoid like the
Christine Culver
Vicki Duggan
plague. They, too, have a right to
Loretta Esparza these roads, and should be able to
Bill Oetinger use them safely. And we all have a
Dave Ruggles right to these roads, whether we
are using them for transportation,
PHOTOS
Richard Battles touring or recreation. We even pay
Scot Bilbro more than our fair share; read Bill
Carl Burchfiel Oetinger’s article in this newsletter
Dan Burden for more information on this topic.
Christine Culver This is what Caltrans told us about
SCBC BOARD OF DIRECTORS a decision to remove the sidewalk
Vicki Duggan (President) from the south side of 3rd Street in
Mike Eunice (Secretary) Santa Rosa; “Oh, it is not safe for
Tim Gonzalez pedestrians to cross the freeway
Ed Kirsch
on or off ramps.” This is the section
Deanna McKenzie
Misty Mesel (Treasurer) where Caltrans is widening the 101
Tom Maunder freeway. A comedy of errors allowed
Lou Salz a transformer for a development
Kathy Storin to be placed in the wrong spot and
Ken Wells (Vice-President) the solution created a narrower
Gary Wysocky right-of-way. Caltrans decided that
STAFF there wasn’t enough right-of-way to
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR keep all the car lanes, add planned
Christine Culver
MEMBERSHIP
COORDINATOR/
OFFICE MANAGER
Timothy Bacon SUPPORT SCBC BUSINESS MEMBERS!
STREET SKILLS Bear Valley Inn 415-663-1777 www.bearvinn.com
INSTRUCTOR
Martin Clinton Bici Sport Bike Shop 707-775-4676
www.bicisportusa.com
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL The Bike Peddler 707-571-2428
COORDINATOR www.norcalcycling.com
Chris Davis Bike Monkey www.bikemonkey.net
BIKE TO WORK ASSISTANT Cambria Bicycle Outfitter
COORDINATOR 707-579-5400 www.cambriabike.com
Dave Ruggles
Community Market 707-546-1806
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR www.srcommunitymarket.com
We welcome your comments. Dow House 707-494-3900
Empire Eye Doctors Medical Group 707-544-3147
Gary Wysocky CPA 707-575-3820
Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce
707-433-6935 www.healdsburg.org
Hightekbikes, Inc. 707-780-3335
The Law Office of Debra A. Newby 707-526-7200
Melo Mail 707-578-0880
Nor Cal Bike Sport 707-573-0112
www.norcalcycling.com
2 NorCal Velo Cycling Team
707-874-3120 www.norcalvelo.com
North Bay Commercial Real Estate
707-521-3500
bike lanes and
improve the
sidewalks.So
what do they do?
They remove the
facility that is
used by the most vulnerable of our society, the
pedestrians. Heaven forbid that they reduce
the width of the car travel lanes or, dare I say
remove an actual car travel lane?
It is high time we stop removing access to our
public roadways to “keep bikes and pedestrians
safe” and crack down on the true danger; cars
running red lights and inattentive and aggressive
drivers. If we want to do something about “traffic,
traffic, traffic” then we must make alternative
modes of transportation safe, convenient and
practical. Telling a disabled person to go a
block out of their way to get where they need
to go “because it is safer” is a barrier that
discriminates.
Bicyclists and pedestrians, especially, are greatly
ill-affected when forced to take a longer route. It
may seem like hardly any distance to a driver, but
adding a block to a pedestrians route may very
well be the barrier that keeps them at home, or
forces someone who doesn’t want to drive, or
shouldn’t drive, into a car.
It is time for our public officials to stand up
to the Caltrans and the developer bullies and
require that bicycle and pedestrian access be
safe, convenient and practical now.
Christine Culver, Executive Director
North Santa Rosa Physical Therapy
707-523-2848
Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy
707-571-7615
Port of Sonoma 707-799-7726
REI 707-540-9025 www.rei.com/stores/santarosa
Roger Gilbert Photography 707-546-7642
Santa Rosa Cycling Club www.SRCC.com
So Co Agricultural Preservation & Open Space
707-565 7360 www.sonomaopenspace.org
Sojourn Bicycling and Active Adventures
800-730-4771 www.gosojourn.com
Sonic.net www.sonic.net
Sonoma Valley Cyclists
www.sonomavalleycyclists.org
Soulcraft Bikes
707-775-2453 www.soulcraftbikes.com
SyCip Designs, Inc 707-542-6359 www.sycip.com
The Results Group 707-577-0818
Wine Country Bikes 707-473-0610
www.winecountrybikes.com
Wooden Spoon Technologies, Inc
707-523-2222 www.wooden-spoon.com
W-Trans 707-542-9500 www.w-trans.com
Inspiring Guest Speaker Brings Home The Message of Leadership at
the 2007 Board Elections and Annual Membership Meeting
Our annual guest speaker was Rick
Theis, President and Founder of the
Leadership Insitute for Ecology and
the Economy and past Santa Rosa
Planning Commission member.
An inspiring speech on how to be
a leader was delivered by Rick. He
spoke of the importance of community
involvement and how, if the bike
community wants change, we need
to create community leaders and get
them to the table when decisions are
being made.
On this note, it was very exciting to
see Santa Rosa City Council members
Susan Gorin and Veronica Jacobi,
both members of the SCBC and
graduates of the Leadership Insitute
for Ecology and the Ecomony, at our
Deanna McKenzie. They join re-
elected board members: Ken Wells,
Mike Eunice, Misty Mesel, Gary
Wysocky, Vicki Duggan, Lou Salz,
Tim Gonzalez, and Tom Maunder. SCBC CALENDAR
The board members stepping SCBC Board Meetings
down are Bernie Album, who was Regularly held on the third
honored as volunteer of the year, Wednesday of each month at
Doug McKenzie and Jeanna Menze. 6:30 pm.
613 4th Street
We wish to thank them for their Suite 203 A, Santa Rosa
valuable service on the board. (Upstairs in the Kress Building
opposite Wolfe Coffee). Open to
the public.
Street Skills Seminars
past students can retake for free!
Saturday, May 6
June 17
July 7
August 19
E-mail Skills@BikeSonoma.org,
or call 545-0153

membership meeting. LAF Spin-A-Thon 2007

April 27-29
About 70 members attended the www.lafproject.com/wst_page6
Board Election meeting on January
31, 2007 at the Santa Rosa Veterans
Cinco De Mayo
Building. There were three new Roseland
Board members elected. They Saturday, May 5
are Kathy Storin, Ed Kirsch and Free Valet Bike Parking
Rick Theis speaks to SCBC membership
Photo by Christine Culver Community Market
Bike Raffle Drawing

Local Scene
Wednesday, May 16

Bike and Walk to Work

Thursday, May 17
The Petaluma City Council recently
approved the mitigated negative Rose Parade and Festival
Saturday, May 19
declaration for a road diet on Free Valet Bike Parking
Petaluma Boulevard between
Lakeville Street and Washington SCBC Re-Cycle
Street. The street will be reduced to Swap Meet
Saturday, May 20
one lane of traffic in both directions Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial
and a two-way left turn lane. In doing Building parking lot.
so, the travel lanes will be widened,
Free Bike-In Movie
allowing bicyclists and motorists to Saturday, May 19
more safely share the road. Free Valet Bike Parking
Rialto Cinemas Lakeside
City of Cotati asked for bids on
Genevieve Navar and Donn Slizeski ride their refurbished
a bicycle crossing to connect the Schwinn Twinn near one of the new Santa Rosa Creek trail bridges. Community Bikes
Class 1 bicycle path across East Photo by Christine Culver Car-Free Days
Cotati Avenue. City of Santa Rosa is
First Sunday of every month.
Community Bikes is open Sundays
City of Cloverdale staff has reported that beginning its Bicycle from 1-5 and Thursdays from 5-9.
the City is ready to begin re-striping and re- Pedestrian Master Plan Do It Your Selfers welcome. Come
learn how to fix your bike! For
signing bicycle lanes. update. additional information 579-5811,
City of Healdsburg reported progress on Phase City of Healdsburg sammymnasr@comcast.net.
1 of the Foss Creek Pedestrian Pathway staff reported that they
project, The City has contracted with Coastland are completing a section of a Class 1 bicycle
Engineering to conduct engineering studies for path from Matheson to March Avenue. This
the site. is part of the Foss Creek path, and runs along
the rail line.
City of Sonoma is installing bicycle crossing
signs. A sign with a bicycle graphic will be Rumor has it that Old Redwood Highway in
installed to alert drivers. There will be no signals; Windsor is getting its “BIK LAN”s restriped. This
just markings. will allow the entire stencil of “BIKE LANE” be
City of Rohnert Park is looking at the next set
painted between the white line and the curb, not to
mention actually providing space for bikes. Thanks

of overlays and including bike lanes on Country
to Windsor Public Works for fixing this!
Club Drive.
 Don’t tell ME what to do!
Martin Clinton
If you think about it, most of the time drivers of last thing you want is for drivers to be faced with
trucks, autos, or bicycles are trying to GUESS what oncoming vehicles just when they’re alongside
all those other road users are going to do. Usually you; every instinct will make them pull to the
the best guess is that someone right just where you are!
will keep doing what they’re How should you help

www.pedbikeimages.org / Photo by Dan Burden

already doing, until they signal
that something will change.
They might show brake lights,
turn signals, or hand signals to
communicate their intention to
slow, turn, or change lanes. On
a bike when you’re riding with
other cyclists you can also TELL
them your intention: “Slowing”,
“Stopping”, “Turning right.”
This communication will avoid a
nasty surprise.
But what about overtaking?
In Europe drivers often flash
their main beam headlights
to show they want to pass,
but the decision to do so safely is always the
responsibility of the overtaking car. The slower
vehicle should be in an appropriate lane for their
speed, but that’s all they need do.
Bicycle riders sometimes are tempted to “help”
an overtaking car or truck by waving them
through. That can be a big mistake, particularly
on a winding road with poor visibility. You might
see there’s a gap in oncoming traffic but you
DON’T KNOW how ready the driver behind is to
make use of the opportunity. Maybe he or she is
in the wrong gear, is pulling a heavy trailer, or
just doesn’t have much accelerating power. The
overtaking? Glance back
(the shoulder check) so the
driver knows you’ve seen
the vehicle behind. When
you want to be overtaken
then move right a few
inches, still leaving yourself
plenty of room from the
edge of the road. If there’s
oncoming traffic then move
LEFT a little to dissuade
unsafe passing.
Suppose you’re in a long
line of bicyclists, shouldn’t
you wave drivers past then?
NOPE! If visibility is poor,
what you should do is to break that lovely pace
line into groups of two or three riders, leaving
space for an overtaking vehicle to pull over if
they can’t complete the pass. It might spoil your
mental picture of the Tour de France, but the
roads are closed there.
If you signal someone to pass and there’s a
crash, YOU might be found liable, so DON’T try
to tell them (or me) what to do!
[Martin Clinton is a Certified Cycling Instructor. He
teaches the Street Skills classes for SCBC.]

A little bit about the new 2007 SCBC board members

We asked each of the new 2007 SCBC
Board Members a series of questions.
Tom Maunder
My bicycle advocacy began in 2003 with a three-year term
on the Petaluma Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisory Committee. 
I joined SCBC in 2004 because I was impressed by the
enthusiasm and experience of its volunteers.  I want to be
on the board not just to give Petaluma a voice but also for
Photo: by Tom Maunder

the opportunity to work with our active directors on some

weighty issues.
My favorite ride is a toss up—either a ridge trail in Annadel
or the gritty asphalt of Chileno Valley Road.  My favorite
frame material is steel.  I have a 1998 Voodoo Bizango
hardtail made of Reynolds 853 steel and I have a 2002
Merlin XL Compact titanium road bike.  My current dream
bike is the Co-Motion Nor’Wester Co-Pilot, but when I’m
awake I continue to search for a versatile steel commute
bike on Craigslist and eBay.
 My passion is sharing cycling with kids, especially my two grandsons.  It gives me pleasure to assist
with Bike Rodeos and my goal is to see SCBC become the lead Sonoma County contractor for the
Safe Routes to School program.  I’d like our members to know that fundraising is the lifeblood of a
nonprofit and volunteerism is its DNA.
More board answers on on page 6
 Thank you
Sonoma County Bike &
Walk to Work Sponsors!

N D WA LK
AA

Bike To Work Raffle -

Win this Bike!!
In honor of Bike To Work Day Community
Market is raffling a brand new Trek 7100
hybrid bicycle, courtesy of the Bike Peddler!
Proceeds from the raffle will be donated
to The Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition, come on in to Community Market at 1899
sponsors of Bike and Walk To Work Day. Mendocino Ave. in Santa Rosa and enter
for your chance to win this beautiful bike.
5
Tickets are $5 each or 5 tickets for $20.
The drawing will be on Wednesday, May Any questions- call Hope Bohanec at
16, the day before Bike to Work Day. So Community Market (707) 546-1806.
 BIKE RODEO Meet the Board
continued from page 4
by Tom Maunder
In 2005 I had the good fortune to attend a couple
of Bike Rodeos run by Herb Greenberg. After
he passed away, I became more involved with
the Sonoma County Safe Kids Coalition as their Kathy Storin
Bike Rodeo guy. With the help of Janice Eunice, Q. Why did you want
I assembled a bike rodeo kit and participated in to be on the SCBC
12 Bike Rodeos at schools and parks throughout board? A sugguestion
Sonoma County in 2006. Anyone interested was made to have
may borrow a Bike Rodeo Kit and apply for a member north of
free kids’ helmets by contacting Beth Dadko at Santa Rosa, so I
Safe Kids Sonoma County, 565-6678 or www. thought I could be of help as I have lived in
safekidssonomacounty.org . Windsor for eleven years. I enjoy the ablity to
have bike lanes and awarness of bicycling so
being a member of the board would give me
the oppurtunity to work on behalf of cycling
community.
Q. Do you have a favorite ride? Eastside at
sunset, Westside on a clear day (no cars) West
Dry Creek. I’m sure I would love any ride in
Italy although I haven’t been there!
Q. How long have you been involved in bicycling
advocacy? Two years.
Q. Do you have a favorite bicycle and what type
is it? Still looking.
Q. Do you have a particular interest/project that
SCBC Board member Mike Eunice discusses the finer points of stop signs.
Photo by Christine Culver you would like to see SCBC conquer? To get
Although each Bike Rodeo is different depending more people in the Street Skills class.
upon the venue and the number of volunteers, Q. Anything else you’d like to tell our members?
the kids always have a good time. A good Bike It’s never too late.
Rodeo would include the following: continued on page 9

• Registration
• Safety Pep Talk and Demonstration Awesome Fundraising
• Helmet Fitting efforts!
• Bike Inspection and Repair
• Riding Skills Course Thanks to all the
• Written or Verbal Quiz racers at Boggs II 8
• Bicycle Drivers License Photo ID issued Hour Race. They raised more
upon completion
than $1,500 for the SCBC! And
Although the kids may thanks to Carlos Perez of Bike Monkey
disagree, the Safety Talk for putting on a great event!
is an important feature.
Martin Clinton and Laurel
Green each are excellent Gail Burchfiel
presenters. Tim Gonzalez was the
has developed an “Egg
event’s biggest
Drop” demonstration that
entertains while teaching fundraiser and
the benefits of wearing a won a very cool
helmet. Bianchi SASS
The skills course is the single speed
heart of the Bike Rodeo. mountain bike
SCBC Board member Tim Gonzalez’ “Egg Drop” The goal is to create a fun donated by
demonstrates how helmets protect our heads.
Photo by Christine Culver
layout with chalk, cones, Breakaway Bikes
and traffic signs where in Rohnert Park!
young riders can practice riding in a straight line,
stopping, starting, signaling, scanning for traffic,
avoiding obstacles, and turning with control. Thanks to REI
Santa Rosa for
Photo by Scot Bilbro
Several SCBC members provided outstanding
service at Bike Rodeos in 2006 including donating funds from
Martin Clinton, Chris Culver, Janice Eunice, the Banff Film Festival to the SCBC!
 Mike Eunice, Tim Gonzalez, Laurel Green,
Claire House, and Jim Keene (with his NorCal Carlos Perez also donated a brand new
staff). New volunteers are encouraged to call Dell All in One Printer to the SCBC!
Tom Maunder (707-338-4333).
SONOMA COUNTY AND MANY CITIES TO REVISE BIKE PLANS
The Sonoma County Transit Authority is updating
the SCTA Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian
Master Plan. Individual plans of the participating
jurisdictions, Sonoma County, Cloverdale, Cotati,
Healdsburg, Rohnert Park, Sebastopol, Sonoma
and Windsor, will be developed concurrently
and will be formatted for compilation into the
countywide plan. Both Petaluma and Santa Rosa
are updating their plans in a separate planning
effort. Both cities are working with the Sonoma
County Transit Authority (SCTA) on mapping and
coordination of plans.
One objective of the project is to guide
development of a primary non-motorized
transportation system in Sonoma County. There
are several major efforts involved in the update
process including bike planning, pedestrian
planning, public outreach, and the development of
a unified Geographic Information Systems(GIS)
mapping database.
The contract for the work of updating the plans
was awarded to W-Trans of Santa Rosa in
December 2006. The source of funds was the
Transit Development Act which allocates some
money for bicycle related projects.
WHO PAYS FOR OUR ROADS?
Bill Oetinger
A few years ago, I had one of those stupid
run-ins with an irate motorist that are all too
common on our otherwise peaceful rides. I was
working my way slowly up a hill, well over onto
the shoulder of the road, when a guy in an SUV
pulls up behind me and lays all over his horn,
then pulls alongside me and starts jawing at me
through the open passenger window.
I should have let it go, but I yelled back, “I’m
already in the gutter here... where do you want
me to ride, off in the tall weeds?” Which is of
course exactly what he did want: for me to get
the hell off HIS road. He appeared so enraged
that I finally just stopped, before he decided
to use his vehicle to reinforce his argument.
He eventually drove off, and I was left there,
standing over the bike, fuming.
Then I noticed a man standing a few yards away.
He’d been puttering in his front yard and had
watched our little contretemps. And he says to
me, “You know, I’d be a lot more sympathetic
toward you cyclists if you paid registration fees
to use the road, like the rest of us.” I was so
surprised at this barb that the only thing I could
think to say was, “Listen, if paying a registration fee
on my bike would stop jerks like that from hassling
me, I’d be the first guy in line at the DMV!”
I wish I’d been able to respond with something
really witty, or better yet, with some facts that
would have refuted his assertion. But at the
W-Trans and SCTA staff have recently held a series
of meetings with public works departments and
other affected agencies in all the jurisdictions
involved in the updates. At the meetings data on
existing conditions was gathered and discussions
were held on bike/ped issues and opportunities.
Four public workshops concerning development
of the plans are tentatively scheduled to be held
in Rohnert Park/Cotati, Windsor, Sebastopol and
Sonoma, likely in early June. Public input will be
sought on the county wide elements of the plan
as well as the individual city plans.
After the public meetings, the plans will be
prepared and submitted for review by the Sonoma
County Board of Supervisors and the individual
city councils. There will be an opportunity for
public comment at these hearings as well. These
hearings will likely be in December 2007.
For more information on the project contact Josh
Abrams of W-Trans at 707-542-9500.
SCBC members should contact the SCBC if you
have questions about the process or concerns
about the plans, and be sure to watch the E-
Updates for information about the date, time
and locations of the public meetings.
time, I wasn’t all that clear myself on the details
of that point. I wasn’t entirely sure he wasn’t
right. Had I known then what I know now, I would
have been delighted to disabuse him of his smug
little notion...to debunk that particular myth.
“Cyclists don’t pay their own way on the road
because they don’t pay registration fees or other
use fees such as gas taxes.”
This opinion is frequently thrown in the face
of cyclists, not only in roadside confrontations
such as my little tiff, but in meetings of county
supervisors and city staffs and others formulating
transportation policy. What’s more, it is an
opinion accepted by many cyclists as true. In
fact, not only is it not true, it isn’t even close
to being true. The real facts support a much
different reality. 
Many studies have been done in recent years on
the subject of how much it costs to build and
continued on page 11
 SCBC Leglislative Action Corner
2007 is shaping up to be a very exciting year for
bettering bike access through the legsliative process!
AB 1358 - Complete Streets Act of 2007
(Assembly member Mark Leno): Sponsored
by the California Bicycle Coalition, this bill would
require, commencing January 1, 2009, that the
legislative body of a city or county modify the
circulation element upon revision of the general
plan to specify how this element will provide
for the routine accommodation of all users
of the highway, defined to include motorists,
pedestrians, bicyclists, individuals with disabilities,
seniors, and users of public transportation. Routine
accommodation is defined to mean that, in the
planning, design, construction, reconstruction,
or operation of highways and other transportation
infrastructure, local agencies fully consider and
accommodate all users of the highway as needed to
provide for reasonably safe and convenient travel.
AB 57 - Safe Routes to School (Assembly
member Nell Soto): Sponsored by the Safe
Routes to School National Partnership, this bill
would extend California’s Safe Routes to School
program indefinitely and continue to direct 1/3
of California’s safety funds to the construction of
bicycle and pedestrian safety and traffic calming
projects that improve routes to schools. Assembly
member Soto sponsored similar legislation in
1999, 2002, and 2004; the legislation needsto
be renewed now as the program will sunset at
the end of this year. It’s critical that California
remain a leader on Safe Routes to School, as the
Golden State was the first to designate funding
for the program.
AB 534 - Bicycle Transportation Account
(Assembly member Smyth): This bill would
increase the amount of funding apportioned
each year to the Bicycle Transportation Account
from $5 million annually to $12 million annually.
This would continue until the later of January
31, 2012, or the date on which all moneys in the
Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality,
and Port Security Fund of 2006 (Proposition 1B)
have been expended. The Bicycle Transportation
Account is the only dedicated source for bicycle
funding through the State of California, and Prop
1B did not include funding for bicycling.
AB 478 – Bicycle Illumination Bill (Assembly
member Wolk): The California Vehicle Code
currently regulates the safe operation of bicycles
on highways and roadways requiring the use
of an illuminated lamp and certain reflecting
devices (to not travel with such illumination is a
crime). This bill would expand the places where
the operator of a bicycle is required to use an
illuminated lamp and certain specified reflecting
devices to shared use pathways. The bill would
expand the requirement that the operator of the
bicycle have reflectors on each pedal to include
the option of having reflectors on his or her
shoes or ankles. The California Bicycle Coalition
 is a co-sponsor of this bill with the Sacramento
County Sheriff’s Association.
AB 437 – Public Health, Planning and
Transportation (Assembly member Jones):
Existing law permits the establishment of
the position of county health officer for the
performance of various duties and powers relating
to public health, but currently health officers
have no official standing in terms of commenting
on transportation and planning projects, and
it has been shown that the built environment
affects public health and opportunities for
physical activity. This bill would authorize the
county health officer to provide assistance to
cities and counties with regard to public health
issues as they relate to local land use planning
and transportation planning processes.
AB 60 - Three Foot Passing Law (Assembly
member Pedro Nava): Under existing law, a
driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle
or a bicycle proceeding in the same direction is
required to pass to the left at a “safe distance”
without interfering with the safe operation of the
overtaken vehicle or bicycle, subject to certain
limitations and exceptions. A violation of this
provision is an infraction punishable by a fine not
exceeding $100 for a first conviction, and up to a
$250 fine for a third and subsequent conviction
occurring within one year of two or more prior
infractions. This bill would recast this provision
as to overtaking a bicycle by requiring the driver
of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle that is
proceeding in the same direction to pass to the
left at a safe distance, at a minimum clearance
of three feet, without interfering with the safe
operation of the overtaken bicycle. The bill would
make a violation of this provision an infraction
punishable by a $250 fine. The bill would make it
a misdemeanor or felony if a person operates a
motor vehicle in violation of the above requirement
and that conduct results in substantial physical
injury, or death to the bicycle operator. Similar
laws exist in five other states including Arizona.
SB 33 - Wireless Telephones and Mobile
Service Devices (Senator Simitian): Starting
on July 1, 2008 this bill would prohibit a person
possessing a valid instruction permit, student
license, or provisional license, from driving a
motor vehicle while using a wireless telephone
or a mobile service device, including a handset
equipped with a hands-free device. This is
important, as studies have shown that young
and inexperienced drivers have the highest
proportion of collisions. The bill would prohibit a
law enforcement officer from stopping a vehicle
for the sole purpose of determining
whether the driver is violating
this prohibition, and would
prohibit a violation point from
being given for a conviction of
violating the prohibition.
For more information see
www.calbike.org.
Meet the Board
continued from page 6

Ed Kirsch

I wanted to join the SCBC Board so that I might channel energies

into positive outcomes for other cyclists, especially children for
health reasons. My background is as a health & wellness pharmacist
with exercise as a key component which is so important for children
today. SCBC has achieved success in many areas & I’d like to be
part of the future.
My cycling passion is touring across the country without a schedule
for weeks and months. I probably have two favorite rides depending
on overall conditioning. One is the Healdsburg loop (SR-Chalk Hill-
Alexander Valley-Healdsburg-Windsor) & the other is the Cavedale
loop (SR-Bennett Valley-Sonoma Mountain-Glen Ellen-Cavedale-
Trinity & return).
Bicycling advocacy has been one to one for many years including
my two sons who have done some bike commuting. In recent
years, with more community involvement and political activism I’ve
wanted to join my passion for cycling with advocacy.
My primary bike is my favorite bike- Trek 520 Touring bike.
The project of safer roads/routes for children is important because
that is how my own interest in cycling and health began. Never have
been disappointed with the adventures that cycling has provided,
and wanted to support the bike riding skills education sponsored
by SCBC.
Message to members would include: Participate in community
discussions about transportation issues, including mass transit and
alternatives such as cycling. Cycling and hiking are consistent with
the national campaign of “No Child Left Inside.”

Deanna McKenzie
Q. Why did you want to be satisfaction when I zip past all the cars
on the SCBC board? Because backed up on Fulton Road during my
I appreciate the good work commute.
the SCBC does and I wanted Q. How long have you been involved
to become more involved in in bicycling advocacy? This is my first
their activities. The SCBC adventure in formal advocacy, but I’ve
supports many of the issues always encouraged my friends and
I believe in so I wanted to families to ride their bikes.
support it in return.
Q. Do you have a favorite bicycle
Q. What is your cycling and what type is it? I try not to play
passion? Personally, it’s favorites. My bikes have different
getting out and enjoying functions so my favorite is whichever
the outdoors and getting one is best suited for the ride I’m
some exercise while I’m at doing.
it. In a more community
minded way, I believe Q. Do you have a particular interest/
activities like cycling and project that you would like to see SCBC
walking encourage people conquer? I think the “Safe Routes
to get to know their fellow to School” projects is particularly
citizens better. Being out important because it will start children
and about and being able on the path to thinking of transportation
to make eye contact with that doesn’t include getting into a car.
others helps one think of Lessons learned early will really take
their fellow road users as root. This is our best hope for a future
people and not as “other with less dependence on automobiles.
cars on the road.” It’s too late for many adults to be
“retrained” but for those considering
Q. Do you have a favorite riding bicycles, a complete network 
ride? I love all the backroads of safe bicycle routes, including the
in Sonoma Country, but trail included in the SMART plan is
I get a great amount of essential.
 Bike and Walk to Work!
continued from page 1

the SCBC to provide incentives to ride on this the day’s events

special day. There will be 20 Energizer stations the Bay Area Bike
on bike routes throughout the county to greet and Walk to Work
morning riders with a smile, refreshments day organizers
and awesome goodies. Check the link on are hosting two
www.BikeSonoma.org for an interactive map additional activities
of station locations and leave a bit early to stop to honor cyclists.
The Team Bike
Challenge where
teams compete to
see who can travel
the most days by
bicycle during the
month of May. The
NorCal Bike Sport’s Jim Keene hands out
team with the most
Bike to Work swag. points wins a grand
prize. The Bike
Commuter of the Year Award honors a resident
from each county who is committed to making
every day a “Bike to and Walk to Work Day”.
Sonoma County Mental Health Employees Tim This person epitomizes and actualizes the health,
Tuscany, Cherin Willet, Doug Uyehara and Lyle
Keller stop at the County Center station. environmental, social, and economic benefits of
bicycling. See our website at BikeSonoma.org for
by one. Each station will be hosted by smiling more information.
volunteers with drinks, snacks and goodie-bags. Enter to win on Bike to Work Day! Visit 511.org
We want to honor every kind of bicyclist out there. for raffle prizes and other bike related information.
May is National Bike Month and in addition to Shift gears! Hop on your bike and go!

Tour of Californa
continued from front page
Downtown Santa Rosa beamed as a destination,
a desirable place to be for its citizens. The
normally traffic-choked streets were freed
from auto noise and fumes, and people walked
the sidewalks in anticipation of the appearance
of sleek bike racers and their shiny bikes.
Merchants emerged from the confines of their
stores, joining the happy spectators on the
sidewalks to sell their products.
The expo and stage provided amusement and
entertainment for hours before the Monday Tour of California Winner Levi Leipheimer
race stage finish. The Slow Ride got Santa Photo by Carl Burchfiel
Rosa politicians on their bikes with Mike Martini
winning—by finishing last--and Susan Gorin walked about or appeared on stage. Some folks
finishing last with the fastest time. had not seen a professional bike race in such an
intimate manner before.
Even away from downtown, families and friends
gathered along the race route, ate picnics, bicycled The celebration extended beyond the actual race
to a vantage point, settled in lawn chairs and days to include the BMC Launch Party at Seven
brought signs and cow bells to cheer the riders on. Ultralounge beforehand. The Bohemian and local
Team BMC sponsored the party as a fund-raiser
The Tuesday race start in Railroad Square gave fans to help offset costs to the city. Other happenings
a chance to see professional riders and assorted included school assemblies and the preparation
celebrities in a more relaxed atmosphere as they of bike decorations for Railroad Square.

Tour of Californa volunteers parked over 550 bicycles, helped with the kids events and held
down the fort at the SCBC booth: Albert Bruin, Avi Ballo, Barbara Drucker, Barbara
Moulton, Carol Kolnes, Dave Ruggles, David Ballo, Diana McKenzie, Eric Fiedler, Gary
Wyscocky, Jack France, Jim Kaumeyer, Jim Williams, John Kolnes, Jon Dick, Kathy
10 Storin, Loree Angel, Loretta Esparza, Michael Teller, Mike Eunice, Nancy Rappolt,
Richard Battles, Susan McCabe, Tim Bacon, Tim Gonzalez, Tom Helm, Tom Maunder,
Vicki Duggan, Wade Belew, Jan Coulter, Janice Eunice, W-Trans employees and Boy
Scout Troop Order of the Arrow; Ben and Stefan Leroy, Joe Zini and Bryce Strickland.
Who Pays?
continued from page

maintain our roads, and who pays the bills. The on my bike), and yet I have to pay the same
numbers I will cite below come from the Victoria registration fee on that car as the fellow who
Transport Policy Institute, which has pulled logs 10,000 or 15,000 or more miles in his car.
together statistics from many of these studies. If you divide the registration fee by the number
If you want a more in-depth analysis of this of miles, it’s easy to see the full-time motorist is
question than you’ll get from my short column, getting a much better deal than I am. Wouldn’t it
you can crunch numbers til your eyes cross at be nice if our registration fees could be pro-rated
their website: www.vtpi.org/whoserd.htm on the number of miles driven?
Briefly, here is the gist of the facts: studies Finally, remember that these studies on road
estimate that motor vehicle users pay an average expenses are only dealing with dollars in federal,
of 2.3 cents per mile in user charges such as gas state, and county budgets. If you also consider
taxes, registration fees, and tolls. However, they the larger “costs” associated with motorized
impose 6.5 cents per mile in road service costs. travel in terms of pollution, congestion, and
In contrast, cyclist impose road service costs accidents, and the dramatic relief in all those
averaging a miniscule 2/10ths of 1 cent per mile. areas provided by switching to cycling, then the
question of who is paying their fair share to use
If I’m reading and understanding the studies
the roads is even more compelling.
correctly, this 6.5 cents per mile represents costs
for infrastructure--roadway acquisition, design I’m not climbing up on a soapbox here to declare
and construction of roads, bridges, tunnels, that all cars should be banned. I appreciate
etc., and maintenance of same. I don’t believe having and using my car when I need it. All I am
it covers other, associated costs such as law trying to say is that cyclists should never have to
enforcement, emergency services, etc. Further- be apologists for taking up their little bit of space
-again, if I’m reading these studies correctly-- on the side of the road. Aside from the fact that
the disparity between user fees and actual costs the Vehicle Code guarantees us the right to be
is even greater on local roads...the ones most there, we are more than paying our fair share of
commonly used by cyclists. the price of admission, and don’t ever let anyone
try to tell you otherwise.
So, we have a shortfall of over 4 cents per mile
in user fee revenues to cover the expenses of Bill is a regular writer for BikeCal.com and long
building and maintaining our roads. Where does time member of the Santa Rosa Cycling Club.
the money come from to make up the difference?
It comes from the general tax rolls:
property, income, and sales taxes. All
of us--cyclists and motorists alike--pay BIKE ROUTE SURVEY
these taxes, so we’re all contributing to
the construction and upkeep of our roads,
regardless of how much or how little we The Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition asks for
use them, or how much our particular your input to identify bike route priorities (county
vehicle imposes in costs on the system.
wide) for SCBC advocacy efforts. Mail to
In fact, when you consider the extremely SCBC, P.O. Box 3088, Santa Rosa, CA 95402 or
low costs associated with non-motorized
travel, the case can be made that cyclists send an e mail response to timb@bikesonoma.org
are actually paying way more than their
fair share of road costs. Or to put it another
NAME
way, if we’re all sharing the burden of
road expenses equally (on average), then
those imposing lower costs on the system
(cyclists) are in effect subsidizing those
EMAIL
who impose greater costs (motorists).
Consider further that the average cyclist
logs many fewer bike miles per year than What do you consider your most important bike
the average motorist logs in his car, so routes i.e. “NE Santa Rosa to Rohnert Park via
that the per-mile disparity is multiplied Mendocino Ave. and Petaluma Hill Road”. What
many times over by the difference in total
improvements are needed on these routes?
miles on the road(s).
Bear in mind too, that although we might Start:
wish it to be otherwise, most of us who End:
cycle a great deal still own a car, or live
in a household with at least one car in Via:
the garage. I own a car, but because I 11
work at home and ride a bike as much Improvements Needed:
as possible, I only put about 3000 miles
a year on it (less than half what I put
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BICYCLE COALTION PERMIT No. 25
PO BOX 3088
SANTA ROSA, CA
SANTA ROSA CA 95402·3088

707·545·0153
WWW.BIKESONOMA.ORG

promoting the bicycle for transportation and recreation

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