bicycles – Enviro Updates

SuzanneMarch 27, 2019March 30, 2019Transportationbicycle fatalities, bicycles, bicyclist safety, pedestrian, pedestrian safety, Vision Zero

Op-Ed: What will we do about Stony Point Road?

Eris Weaver, THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Richard Burns. Lusiano Garcia. Mathew Eck. Jennell Davies. Sidney Falbo. Three pedestrians and two cyclists have been killed by motor vehicles on Stony Point Road within the past eight months.

That’s one death, on this one street, in this one city, every six weeks. At this rate, we could expect another fatality sometime around Cinco de Mayo.

What are we willing to do to stop these deaths?

After each of these incidents, law enforcement officers call for pedestrians and cyclists to change their behavior: Be more watchful, wear different clothing, walk farther to a crosswalk. Why do we immediately blame the victim?

These soft, unprotected human bodies were struck by heavy, fast-moving machines. Why aren’t we calling for changes in how and where and how fast we operate the machines?

These deaths are preventable. Yes, some of the victims made errors in judgment. But people do.

The Dutch — residents of the most bike-friendly country in the world — recognize human error in their urban design principles. They acknowledge that small children will run around erratically, drivers will become distracted, and they design for it. They separate fast-moving entities from slow-moving entities.

People will always do stupid things, but designing safer infrastructure can keep them from getting killed. For example, requiring seat belts and airbags has saved lives.

We can alter the width of lanes and the timing of lights; add physical barriers between cyclists, pedestrians and vehicles; add controlled crosswalks at those spots where people are crossing anyway because it’s where they need to go and they don’t want to walk an additional mile, and that’s what people do.

Why aren’t we taking this approach to improving safety on Stony Point Road?

We don’t even have to look to the Dutch across the Atlantic for examples of a different approach to traffic safety. We can just look across the Golden Gate.

Within one week of San Francisco cyclist Tess Rothstein’s death, a protected bike lane along the stretch of Howard Street where she was killed was created with temporary barriers. San Francisco Mayor London Breed has made it a priority to fast-track traffic safety projects on the city’s high-injury corridors.

Five deaths in eight months, and we’ve done nothing.

Our community can do better. I urge our city officials to take action now to prevent more deaths on Stony Point Road.

Eris Weaver is executive director of the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition.

Source: https://www.pressdemocrat.com/opinion/9417564-181/close-to-home-what-will?sba=AAS

SuzanneDecember 12, 2017Transportationbicycles, fire recovery, Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition

Bikes for fire victims

Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition
For many kids and adults, a bike is an important mode of transportation and/or recreation. A number of organizations have been working to obtain donated new and/or used bicycles for North Bay Fire Victims, and recently began launching their programs to distribute bicycles to individuals and families in need. We hope that helping get bikes into the hands of those who lost so much will bring some joy and a sense of normalcy to the thousands of families affected by this disaster.
Check this page for a list of bike giveaway programs: http://www.bikesonoma.org/bikes-for-fire-victims/

SuzanneDecember 9, 2017Transportationbicycles, SMART

Proposed Sonoma-Marin program envisions 200-bike fleet at SMART train stations

Kevin Fixler, THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Plans are underway for the North Bay’s new commuter rail system to be outfitted with as many as 200 bicycles for use by SMART riders getting to and from stations and their final destinations.
A joint proposal by Sonoma and Marin counties netted more than $800,000 in grant funding last month from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Once the money is disbursed, it will help launch the first large-scale, taxpayer-funded bike share program in the region — at train stops in Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Cotati and Petaluma, as well as Novato, San Rafael and the eventual Larkspur station now under construction.
The financial boost comes as SMART, now into its fourth month of operation between Santa Rosa and San Rafael, faces an unexpected surge in riders bringing their bikes aboard, straining space on some trains. The bike share program, which if everything goes smoothly will be ready in mid-2019, could help ease that crunch, according to local transportation planners.
“The direction that we’re looking at is really to add another first- and last-mile solution between SMART and nearby destinations,” said Dana Turrey, a planner with the Sonoma County Transportation Authority. “There’s been a larger number of bicycles trying to get on the trains than was expected, so we’re really seeing this as another way to get back and forth to and from the train and on short trips without using a car.”
Read more at: Proposed Sonoma-Marin program envisions 200-bike fleet at SMART train stations

SuzanneOctober 5, 2017Transportationbicycles, commuters, SMART

SMART confronts crush of bike-toting commuters

J.D. Morris, THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
The North Bay’s new commuter rail line is proving popular among commuters with bicycles — so popular that SMART officials may eventually adjust the way they run trains to better accommodate passengers who bring their wheels on board.
Throughout September, SMART’s first full month of operations, trains usually carried about 250 to 300 bicycles daily on weekdays, and less than 100 daily on weekends, according to figures recently provided by the transit agency.
Those numbers scrambled expectations of some Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit leaders who thought more bicyclists would ride on the weekends and more commuters would choose to leave their bikes behind before hopping on a train.
“There are way more people riding their bikes than I expected,” said Deb Fudge, Windsor mayor and the chairwoman of SMART’s board of directors. “That’s a good thing. That’s exactly what we’re trying to do in Sonoma County, is get people out of cars. And they’re doing it. And they’re getting to the stations lots of different ways.”
Fudge expected to see more people use the system’s bike lockers, available at all 10 stations. But many of those lockers have sat empty as more commuters instead brought their bikes to use trains.
Read more at: SMART confronts crush of bike-toting commuters | The Press Democrat –

SuzanneMay 11, 2017Sustainable Living, Transportationbicycles, commuters, MTC

Bike to Work Day just another day for two Santa Rosa men

Derek Moore, THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

May 11 is Bike to Work Day in Sonoma County: Refueling stations will be set up across the county. Click here for more information.

With supplies for his kindergarten class strapped to his bicycle and a pacemaker keeping things orderly in his chest, Steve Bush leaves his home in Santa Rosa’s junior college neighborhood for his morning commute.
The 54-year-old schoolteacher pedals north on Old Redwood Highway before crossing over Highway 101 on Airport Boulevard. The 7-mile journey to Sonoma Country Day School near Windsor is one Bush has made daily for years, rain or shine.
He has few alternatives. About a decade ago, Bush and his wife, Meredith, sold their car. It’s been two-wheels traveling for the couple ever since.
“It’s nice to wake up in the morning with a bike ride and to relieve all the tension in the evening on the way home,” Bush said this week. “It makes my life better.”
Thursday is Bike to Work Day across the Bay Area. But for some, like Bush, it’s just another day to keep doing what they do as a matter of routine and passion.
In recognition of Bush’s dedication, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission named the Santa Rosa man Sonoma County’s bike commuter of the year.
Bush shares the honor with Shaun Ralston, regional program manager for Sutter Health, who cycles to work from his home in the McDonald Avenue area to Sutter’s hospital at Mark West Springs Road, a one-way trip of about 4.5 miles.
Read more at: Bike to Work Day just another day for two Santa Rosa men | The Press Democrat

SuzanneAugust 31, 2016Transportationbicycles, bike parking, SMART, train stations

SMART seeks input on bike parking planned at train stations

Derek Moore, THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

View the report here. Input on where there should be more bike parking scan be submitted to LMeckel@SonomaMarinTrain.org.

In the not-too-distant future, the phrase “bike-to-train” will be introduced to the North Coast lexicon for the first time.
But as the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit Authority ramps up for the start of passenger service later this year, there are concerns whether the rail agency has enough parking for those who will get to and from stations on two wheels.
Under current plans, SMART will offer parking for up to 100 bikes along the entire 43-mile route extending from north Santa Rosa to downtown San Rafael. Each of the 10 train stations will have five inverted “U-racks,” with each rack accommodating two bikes, a total of 10 bikes per station.
SMART released a draft plan about 10 days ago outlining the need for additional bike parking. But some SMART board members, as well as cycling advocates, fear those proposed upgrades won’t happen in time to meet initial demand.
“We feel that it’s critically important that what’s proposed in the investment plan is on the ground at the start of train service,” said Alisha O’Loughlin, executive director of the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition.
Read more at: SMART seeks input on bike parking planned at train stations | The Press Democrat

SuzanneSeptember 17, 2014TransportationbicyclesLeave a comment

3-foot buffer zones for cyclists takes effect across California

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Californians will now need to take extra care to steer clear of cyclists.
Under statewide regulations taking effect Tuesday, drivers must give bikes a buffer zone of at least 3 feet while passing.
Cited violators will face a fine of $35, which could turn into $220 if a collision occurs in the buffer zone.
California Highway Patrol spokesman Officer Edgar Figueroa tells the Los Angeles Times (http://lat.ms/1uFgV9K ) that officers will be watching cars and cyclists and have been trained to gauge distances by sight during their training.
Cyclists may legally use a full traffic lane on California roads but must follow the same laws as cars, including stopping at red lights and stop signs.
California is the 24th states to enact the 3-foot passing law.
Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com
via 3-foot buffer zones for cyclists takes effect across | The Press Democrat.

SuzanneJune 21, 2014Local Organizations, Sustainable Living, TransportationbicyclesLeave a comment

Cyclists band together to track down stolen bikes

Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition Bike Theft page
Bike thefts jump in Santa Rosa

Jamie Hansen, THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

When Janelle Rossi’s road bike was stolen earlier this year from the garage of her Santa Rosa apartment building, her response, aside from contacting police, was to launch a search on her own.

She posted fliers, listed the bike on a stolen cycle registry, and kept an eye out on Craigslist.

Other local bike theft victims like her have turned to another, new source of help, a web-based group that enlists the eyes of fellow cyclists to track down stolen wheels.

The effort, called Sonoma County Bike Watch, was launched last year on an open Facebook page that now has nearly 500 members.

Theft victims can post pictures or descriptions of their missing bikes. Others post sightings of suspicious behavior or bikes they think have been stolen.

via Cyclists band together to track down stolen bikes | The Press Democrat.

Environmental Center of Sonoma County

Tag: bicycles