NEWSLETTER OF THE BICYCLE COALITION WWW.EBBC.ORG

VOLUME 39 NO. 7 JULY 2009 rideOn You’re Invited to an Evening with Jeff Mapes Musician David Byrne, writing in The New York Times book review, said Pedaling Revolution provides “great ammunition for those of us who would like to see American cities become more bike- friendly.” Hosted by EBBC and the Institute of Urban & Regional Development/University of California Transportation Center - Free Join us at 7pm, on July 20 at Wurster Hall Jeff Mapes, author of Pedaling government, and numerous Revolution: How Cyclists are local, state, and national cam- Changing American Cities, will paigns. He has won several jour- talk about his book at Wurster nalism awards and is also the co- Hall on the UC Berkeley Cam- author of a book on Oregon his- pus, at 7 p.m., Monday, July 20. tory. He is also author of the blog, Mapes on Poli- Jeff's book is the first tics. He lives in Port- in-depth look at the land, Oregon, where he fast-growing urban is a longtime bike hand. The chapter titled, “Portland Built it and bike movement in commuter, and his they Came,” offers a benchmark for success. He America and what it family's latest trans- spent considerable time examining the bicycling means to the health, portation purchase is a movement in many other cities across America livability and environ- cargo bicycle rated to and throughout the world (see chapter titled, ment of our cities. handle loads of up to “Learning from Amsterdam”). 400 pounds (although Jeff Mapes is a senior From his experiences in various locales Jeff political reporter for The Orego- he admits never carrying any- thing close to that weight). clearly comprehends the breadth of the bicycling nian. He knows about the politi- demographic. His observations resonate with our cal hurdles that bicyclists face in His thoroughly researched book own East Bay where bicyclists are everybody. getting government agencies to has been well received by advo- provide bicycle infrastructure. cates in his home town where he Don’t miss this event. You can purchase a copy He has covered Congress, state was often seen with notebook in in advance at www.ebbc.org to pick up at the event or office and the proceeds benefit EBBC.

Next Meeting EBBC’s General Member- EBBC Office at 3301 ship Meeting begins at 7:30pm on Tuesday, July 21 E12th St, Suite 143, Oakland, next at the Rockridge Branch Library, 5366 College to the Fruitvale Bike Station. Avenue in Oakland. EBBC meets on the third Tues- Wayne Jefferson (left) brightened day. Contra Costa bicyclists will want to attend to our day recently when he cele- participate in drafting comments on the Countywide brated his birthday with a ride from Bicycle Pedestrian Plan (CBPP). We will also pre- his home in El Cerrito to Fruitvale. pare comments for a public hearing on August 18 in Wayne established a new birth- Sacramento to amend the California Environmental day tradition that we greatly appre- Quality Act (CEQA) to permit installing bike lanes ciate and encourage others to near transit stations and in congested urban districts adopt: he renewed his EBBC to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Be sure to membership in-person. If you are check ebbc.org for the full meeting agenda. next, we’ll buy you a locally-made ice cream! 2. rideOn July 2009 Fruitvale Alive! bike lanes in $2.6 million project axed at last minute Oakland proposes to remove bike lane alternative from contract proposal and retain odd three-lane configuration on Fruitvale Ave between International Blvd and Foothill Blvd that is a barrier for bicycling and pedestrian safety. BART Profile Survey shows Fruitvale BART as bicycling leader for entire system!

Fruitvale BART has the highest abso- lute number of bicyclists per day (544), representing about 10-percent of the mode split. Fruitvale BART sta- tion serves both and Oakland residents. As well, the number of pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders at Fruit- vale BART exceed the number of pas- sengers who drive-alone! Smart growth, transit-oriented- development and the Bike Station all appear to be paying dividends! The largest survey of BART riders ever conducted – like BART’s version of the U.S. Census – reveals a treasure trove of data about how riders use and access the system that will help BART High school students on summer break drop by EBBC’s Fruitvale Village plan for the future. office during a Cycles of Change ride. They want bike lanes! The 2008 Station Profile Study is a How ironic that Oakland Public Works address automobile congestion. Green- massive compilation of statistics from proposed to eliminate the bike lanes house gas emissions were overlooked. a weekday survey conducted last proposed for Fruitvale Blvd on the spring to update data last collected in very day (July 2) that US Transporta- Even worse, Oakland proposes to pri- 1998. tion Secretary Ray LaHood visited oritize auto traffic over bicycle and pedestrian safety on a section of Fruit- More than 50,000 surveys were com- Fruitvale Village to discuss future fed- pleted by weekday riders during the eral spending in the area! vale Ave that includes a popular City Park & Recreation Center, an elemen- survey period between April 2 and EBBC and Cycles of Change will tary school, and a large church that May 8, 2008. attempt to salvage the Fruitvale Alive! hosts many activities. A major finding is that, compared to bike lanes during a July 14 hearing. WHAT WE WANT - Retain the follow- 1998, more customers are walking or “The overall goal of the Fruitvale ing description of Bicycle Amenities: bicycling from home to BART. Alive project is to create safe, accessi- These amenities include providing a con- The rankings after Fruitvale finds 24th ble, walkable and comfortable street tinuous “sharrow lane” along Fruitvale St Mission (423) and Ashby (387) in for pedestrians; a well-defined and (east of Foothill) with the inclusion of a the top three BART stations for bicy- safer route for bicyclists; and a thor- bike lane segment between E. 15th Street and E.18th Street; and ensuring a safe con- clists. These are followed by Macar- oughfare for buses and automobiles thur, Downtown Berkeley, 16th St where traffic flows in a slower but nection with the existing bike lanes from the Fruitvale Bridge and linking to the Mission, North Berkeley, Lake Mer- more consistent manner with less con- ritt, El Cerrito Plaza, Embarcadero, gested back-ups and blocked intersec- BART station. Key bicycle destinations along the corridor include the Fruitvale and West Oakland, which is rapidly tions.” BART station and the 1-580 Fwy. Park and ascending the rankings. All is fine with the above statement Ride lot for which added signage, kiosks until you get to “less congested.” Oak- and bike racks will be provided. The Overall, East Bay BART stations land appears to have appended the fed- planned bicycle routes will help fulfill the occupy the top echelon for bicyclists. City's Bicycle Master Plan and connect to However, lower numbers at BART eral goals for Transportation new proposed stripping and bike lanes Enhancement funding--intended for Stations located east of the hills reflect along MacArthur Boulevard, Foothill BART’s bicycle blackout policy. non-motorized transportation--to Boulevard and E.12th Street.

July 2009 rideOn 3.

CONTACT EBBC C OALITION PARTNERS 510 533-RIDE (7433) AFFILIATED RIDE CLUBS Bicycle-Friendly Berkeley Coalition (BFBC) www.ebbc.org www.bfbc.org Berkeley Bicycle Club www.berkeleybike.org CA Association of Bicycling Organizations Executive Director ...... Robert Raburn Bicycle Trails Council of the East Bay http://www.cabobike.org/index.htm 510-533-7433 [email protected] 510-466-5123 www.btceastbay.org California Bicycle Coalition (CBC) www.calbike.org Cherry City Cyclists Steve Yoder 510-357-3045 Outreach Coordinator . . . . . Carrie Harvilla K.C. Butler, Exec Dir 916-446-7558 Fruitvale Village, 3301 E12th St,#143 http://www.cherrycitycyclists.org Cycles of Change www.cyclesofchange.org MAIL: PO Box 1736, Oakland 94604 Delta Pedalers Dave Stoeffler 925-634-1793 www.greenbelt.org http://www.deltaped.org Cristina Wong [email protected] EBBC OFFICERS & Diablo Cyclists http://www.diablocyclists.com PTownBikeAdvocates (Pleasanton) BOARDMEMBERS Different Spokes Derek Liecty 510-339-2345 James Van Dyke 925-462-0706 Fremont Freewheelers Jeff Girard [email protected] Chair Dave Campbell ...... Berkeley 510-414-0114 http://fremontfreewheelers.org Richmond BPAC www.richmondbpac.org 510-701-5971 [email protected] Grizzly Peak Cyclists Al Forkosh 510-655-4221 TransForm http://wwwtranscoalition.org Vice Chair “BikeDave” Favello Walnut Crk http://GrizzlyPeakCyclists.org Stuart Cohen, Exec Dir 510-740-3150 Urban Ecology www.urbanecology.org 925-939-9462 [email protected] Cyclists http://www.goldengatecyclists.org Walk Oakland Bike Oakland (WOBO) Secretary Tom Ayres ...... Kensington www.walkoaklandbikeoakland.org 510-528-4941 ...... [email protected] Hikanbyke Niels Poulsen 510-375-1521 http://www.hikanbyke.org Waterfront Action www.waterfrontaction.org Treasurer Rick Rickard ...... Oakland Oakland Yellowjackets 510-986-9011 510-482-5968 [email protected] http://www.oaklandyellowjackets.org COMMUNITY REPS & ADVOCATES Leo Dubose ...... Oakland Velo Raptors (Montclair) BART Bicycle Advisory Task Force Craig Hagelin ...... Walnut Creek Ron Scrivani [email protected] http://www.bart.gov/guide/bikes Eric McCaughrin ...... Berkeley Santa Rosa Cycling Club CoCoCo Reps: Mary Norton ...... Oakland Bill Oetinger [email protected] Dave Favello (Chair) [email protected] Bruce “Ole” Ohlson ...... Pittsburg Strada Sempre Duro Rick De Gette 925-944-7049 Craig Hagelin [email protected] Bill Pinkham ...... Richmond Valley Spokesmen Jim Kohnen 925-828-3623 Alameda Co Reps: Mike Jones [email protected] Steve Ardrey ...... Concord http://www.valleyspokesmen.org Eric McCaughrin [email protected] AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS Fremont Michael Graff 510-713-7441 EBBC VOLUNTEERS Albany Strollers & Rollers 510-525-4841 [email protected] Hazard Elimination Reports Ian MacDonald Nick Pilch [email protected] Lamorinda 925-299-1522 510-832-6300 [email protected] Bay Area Bicycle Coalition www.bayareabikes.org Bart Carr [email protected] Membership Coordinator Mary Norton Andrew Casteel, ED [email protected] Livermore Amador Valley, Trails Council 510-655-9945 [email protected] Bay Trail Project http://www.abag.ca.gov TCLAV www.tclav.org EBBC Map Distribution Derek Liecty Laura Thompson, Exec Dir 510-464-7935 Martinez Dick Anderson 925 372-5889 510-339-2345 [email protected] BikeAlameda http://www.bikealameda.org Pittsburg Bruce “Ole” Ohlson 925-439-5848 Web Eric McCaughrin [email protected] Lucy Gigli 510-595-4690 [email protected] -Grassroots “Spokespeople” Wanted -

EAST BAY BICYCLE COALITION annual membership form Membership Type Keep current! Send your tax-deductible donation to EBBC, PO Box 1736, Oakland, CA 94604 Sustaining ($25) EBBC’s accounting methods assure that your early payment will extend your membership by a year. Household ($40) ______Half-century ($50) Name Century ($100) ______Address Introductory ($12) ______Living Lightly ($6) City, State, Zip Endow ($______) ______Phone/Fax ______New E-mail Address (EBBC guards your privacy) Renewal ______Workplace/City Never share my name with others ______Only share with Commuter Utility Recreation Touring Transit User Other bicycling interests? EBBC affiliates EAST BAY BICYCLE COALITION Non-Profit US Postage POST OFFICE BOX 1736 PAID Oakland, CA Permit #847 OAKLAND, CA 94604

EBBC membership card

Newsletter Notes: rideOn is published monthly by the East Bay Bicycle Coalition, a non-profit tax-exempt organization dedicated to promoting bicycling as an everyday means of transportation and recreation throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties since

1972. Logo design by Martha McNulty.

Printed on 100% recycled paper

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rideOn 4. July 2009 July