AS California Alps Cycling increases its advocacy footprint, last month’s California Bicycle Summit was an especially well-timed event. I spent two days in April hanging out with bike advocates from throughout the state. It was a great vibe, and an opportunity to network, and most importantly, it was a time to learn from others who have had skin in the game much longer than I.
THE event kicked off with a plenary session hosted by CalBike Executive Director Kendra Ramsey, with special guest Jeanie Ward-Waller (Jeanie is CalBike’s advocate, aka lobbyist in the Capitol), who gave us a bit of a pep talk, too. As she pointed out, advocacy takes work, and effort, and sometimes leads to feeling a bit beat up and frustrated. This is perfectly normal, she reassured us. It was certainly good to hear; there have been some frustrating moments over the last several months, or years, as Mrs. CAC reminded me.
ADVOCACY efforts can be lengthy and if we’re getting on people’s nerves, she said, you’re doing something right. “Keep grinding” was our big takeaway. I was reminded of the dojo where I spent much of my youth. There was a sign above the entrance to the mat area, and it read:
You never fail until you stop trying.
SO true…
JEANIE spent a bunch of years at Caltrans and so provided some interesting insight into that organization.
WHAT’s wrong with Caltrans? Nothing, she opined. The organization is really good at its mission: building and maintaining our roadways. District leaders, for example, know highways and such. Bikes, not so much.
THAT’S not to say things can’t change, though, and from my personal experience working on the District 10 Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee (BPAC) I know that they can. We are making progress on rumble strips, and the proper installation thereof as it relates to bicycles. We’ve had honest and frank, and sometimes tense, discussions regarding highway maintenance and permit fees. And, after over a year talking about opening Ebbett’s Pass to bikes, hikers, fishers, and walkers, before it opens to vehicles, my colleague Rob Williams and I are cautiously optimistic that 2025 will be the year!
FROM a legislative perspective there are two bills pending that are of paramount importance:
- SB (Senate Bill) 960 – Wiener: Complete Streets on Caltrans’ Corridors. Click here to learn more about this vital bill, and how you can help.
- AB (Assembly Bill) 2290 – Friedman: Quicker and Better Bikeways. This bill would require Caltrans to do those “quick build projects” with maintenance funds. Learn more here.
REACH out to your legislators and let them know you support passage of these two key pieces of legislation.
OTHER highlights of the two-day event included a tour of bike infrastructure (by bike, of course) in San Diego, where, among other nuggets, I picked up on bike and pedestrian counters by Eco-Counter.
AS a data junky I was enamored by these lovely pieces of tech. and their ability to showcase the data. I was even more impressed with the stats that one particular counter illuminated: a 40% increase in bike usage on a newly built bike lane. Yes, if you build it, they will come!
EDITOR’S note: I’VE already reached out to Eco-Counter, and have talked with our Community Development Director, too, about putting in a counter (one that would be a bit more low-key than what’s pictured above) on Hot Springs Road here in Markleeville. The timing may just be right since that road is getting paved this fall. Fingers crossed…
THERE was an amazing presentation (rapped) by Buff Brown, Bike/Ped Advocacy Group Co-Founder of Claremont Streets for People; and a panel discussion by advocates from Culver City entitled: “Seniors Challenging Climate Change through Active and Public Transportation.”
YOURS truly did a rapid storytelling presentation about the Deathride and its impact on the community. I was proud to showcase the ride from an advocacy perspective. I.e., the volunteerism, the dollars that go back into the area non-profits and businesses, the pride that decades-long volunteers have in giving of their time, and more. As I told the audience, it’s not just one of the most iconic rides in the country, and world for that matter, it’s advocacy in action and demonstrates how bikes, and bike events, can bring people together to do good for their communities.
ON a more sobering note, or notes, we learned that pedestrian and bike fatalities are at an all time high;
THAT while there is $3 billion in funding available for bike infrastructure projects in the next 10 years here in California, only $280 million of those funds have been slotted in; and recently we’ve learned that we may be at risk of losing a big chunk of the dollars originally budgeted for our Active Transportation Plan. As Jared Sanchez, Policy Director for CalBike, wrote: “There is no need for this cut because there is no deficit in transportation funding.”
CLICK here to read Jared’s post in its entirety. There’s a handy-dandy form, too, that you can fill out to quickly email your legislators, and tweet them too if you so desire.
ADDITIONAL Resources:
https://www.calbike.org/how-to-be-a-complete-streets-ambassador/
https://www.calbike.org/california-e-bike-classifications/
https://www.calbike.org/invest-divest/
https://www.calbike.org/legislative-watch/
CLICK here to read a roundup piece Melanie Curry wrote for CalBike; and read this piece, too, for additional information from other CalBike staff.
”BIKES and other active transportation initiatives can make an impact on climate change, and lead to more healthy communities.”
– Editor’s other note: I can’t remember from where I obtained the above quote, but it isn’t mine.
I know you may have left some skin on some patch of pavement (or a trail) somewhere (I certainly have), but do you have skin in the game?
If not, please contribute some, k, because bikes don’t have any (and they can’t talk, nor write).