Newsletter of the East Bay Coalition www.ebbc.org

Volume 40 No. 4 April 2010 rideOn Calthorpe Associates, an urban 2010 Bike-Friendly Business Award Winners planning firm with a focus on To list all Bay Area bicycle friendly Being active turns into activism at the walkable, bikeable communities, is businesses, one would need to employ a Actual Café, this year’s winner in the the winner in the small non-retail device used by Jack Kerouac – the scroll. retail category. “The thing that I like about category. “The majority of our work Area leaders who care about also people in Oakland,” says Sal Bednarz, right now is specifically oriented tend to care about liveable neighborhoods, 41-year-old, soul-patch wearing owner of toward climate change,” says Joe being design-minded and creative, and the café, “is that we don’t spend a lot of DiStefano, principal at Calthorpe, getting things done through grit and time talking about how much good we do. founding firm of Congress For the gumption. Plans and profits don’t suffer in We just go out and do stuff.” New Urbanism. the process. The winners not only meet the basic EBBC criteria such as providing secure Bednarz’ Wild West hitching post design Garlynn Woodsong is a senior planner bike parking, EBBC maps, pre-tax bicycle for bike parking was noted by the New working exclusively on California commuter checks, and discounts for cyclists. York Times Bay Area Blog. He’s also projects. DiStefano and Woodsong are They also celebrate Bike to Work Day every received attention for laptop-free members of EBBC and various trails day by encouraging lunchtime rides, weekends at the café. “Everything that I councils. DiStefano rides with the showering at the office, conducting do,” Bednarz says, “is about trying to charmingly outfitted Knackered Tyres workshops, promoting safety, and including integrate into the neighborhood in various club and is on the board of Liveable spandex as a new option for casual Fridays. ways. Cycling is only a small piece of Berkeley. Woodsong is a member of that.” Other pieces are donating food Walk Oakland Bike Oakland to Youth Spirit Artworks, and (WOBO). reaching out to nearby senior center elders (who frequent McDonald’s) Aside from being a leader in designing with low prices and small portions. bicycle friendly communities around Who knows, maybe one of them will the world, Calthorpe meets EBBC’s try a vegan donut for the first time. criteria for the award, including passing out federal bike vouchers. “I Bednarz hopes that the success of his used mine for new tires,” says Actual Café experiment will lead Woodsong. When asked about caring other businesses to “see cyclists as a for communities, neighborhoods and potential revenue stream, instead of streets, they replied in unison, “ That’s cheap people who get in the way of all we do.” DiStefano adds, “It’s not cars.” an exaggeration to say we live, dream, Actual Café (by Mike Wade: flickr.com/photos/mikewade) (continued on page 6)

Next Member Meeting report on Vehicle Registration Fees and how they can help For this month’s member meeting you’ll bicyclists, and we’ll hear from have the chance to find out everything Jason Agar, EBBC’s much-loved you ever wanted to know about EBBC Lead Instructor for the Bicycle but were afraid to ask. Just in time for Safety Classes - our classes have Bike to Work Month, it’s the EBBC expanded this year, and the results Outreach Training. If you’ve ever are inspiring. wanted to volunteer at the myriad events EBBC attends - club rides, streetside Come on down to the Outreach stations, festivals - then this training is a Training - you’ll get all this, and must! Come to the EBBC Outreach some yummy snacks, too. Training and learn ways to engage people, how to sign up new members, April 21, 7:30 - 9pm, and more! Hard at Work: Acting Executive Director Rick Rickard Rockridge Library, 5366 and Outreach Coordinator Carrie Harvilla Tabling for College Ave, Oakland At the meeting, we’ll also have a quick Bike to Work Day 2009 2. rideOn April 2010 EBBC Announces Departure of Robert Raburn, Executive Director The Board of Directors of the East Bay strong organization that has influenced bil- organization dedicated to promoting bi- Bicycle Coalition officially announces the lions of dollars in transportation funding cycling as an everyday means of trans- resignation of Robert Raburn, the execu- and helped guide even State and National portation and recreation. Safeguarding tive director (ED) since 2002. Mr. Raburn policies to favor bicyclists. The role of the interests of bicyclists in thirty-three left the Bicycle Coalition in order to the bicycle advocate has evolved to the cities in Alameda and Contra Costa pursue other projects. point where we now often find our goals counties, the Bicycle Coalition makes integrated within the jurisdictions and bicycling in the East Bay safer, easier Mr. Raburn joined the EBBC in 1992 and agencies we urge to make improvements and more enjoyable. became the Chair of the Board of Direc- for bicycle access and safety. I am pleased tors in 1992. In 2002 he became the first to leave the East Bay Bicycle Coali- ED of the Bicycle Coalition. During these tion in an unprecedented position of 18 years, Robert Raburn worked tire- membership strength and financial lessly on a wide variety of bicycle-related solvency.” advocacy efforts. He played a major role in building the Bicycle Coalition from a The Board plans to review the orga- volunteer-run organization of 300 mem- nizational structure, and may seek bers to its present status with over 2500 a new full-time ED in the future. In members and four people on staff. the meantime, the Board has ap- pointed Rick Rickard as the Acting “The EBBC and cyclists throughout Executive Director to represent the Alameda and Contra Costa Counties have Bicycle Coalition and to oversee benefited greatly from Robert’s hard work operations. Rick has a long history over many years,” said Tom Ayres, the with the Bicycle Coalition. An active current Chair of the Board. “We will miss member since 1999, he has served on his knowledge, insight, and enthusiasm. the Board for the past six years and We are fortunate that the Bicycle Coalition represents the Bicycle Coalition on has a dedicated staff, board and volunteers Oakland Measure DD Coalition. to carry on our bicycle advocacy work.” Founded in 1972, East Bay Bicycle According to Robert Raburn, “We have Coalition is a membership-based, Cheers to Robert! come a long way together in building a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)3

Barbara Lee, and Pete Stark signed on as EBBC Goes to Washington co-sponsors of the Active Communities Why did three East Bay members of Congress sign on in support of pro-bicycle Transportation Act – please thank them legislation in March? Perhaps it was because the East Bay Bicycle Coalition paid if you live in their districts! them a visit at the Capitol. After an exhausting day of meetings, On March 9, over 700 bicycle advocates unrecognized: Walk Oakland Bike Oakland Summit participants gathered together from around the country descended on was awarded the Alliance for Biking and to celebrate our efforts with a Washington, D.C. for the League of ’s Campaign of the Year Award for Congressional Reception. There must American Bicyclists’ 10th Annual National their efforts to put bike lanes on Broadway. Bike Summit. The East Bay Bicycle have been something special in the air (or in the wine): Secretary of Coalition was on the scene with 4 delegates However, the biggest highlights of the Transportation Ray LaHood climbed from East Bay bike groups and several Summit were reserved for day three, when atop a table to thank us for our work, and industry representatives. we hit the halls of Congress to speak with to assure cyclists that “you have a full our Representatives and Senators. EBBC partner in Ray LaHood.” We couldn’t The Summit was packed with excitement, met with all five East Bay Congressional believe it – until the U.S. Department of from the launch of the new “People For offices as well as Senator Boxer’s staff. Transportation issued a new policy Bikes” campaign to remarks from Rep. The top ask for the Summit was the Active directive to consider bicycling and Earl Blumenauer about the Active Communities Transportation Act (see walking as equals with other Communities Transportation Act to the sidebar), but other topics such as Safe transportation modes the following demo of Google’s new online bike Routes to School and the Bay Bridge Bike week. mapping functionality. And despite all the Path were also part of our discussions. We (continued on page 6) national hubbub, the East Bay did not go are proud that Reps. George Miller, April 2010 rideOn 3.

We Are Traffic: ~UPCOMING SAFETY CLASSES~

Learn to drive a bicycle at Traffic Skills 101 classes Saturday, April 17 1:00-4:30pm What road rules apply to cyclists? Why is Bonnie Wehmann, another EBBC certified Albany YMCA annex a flashing light more visible than a steady safety instructor, said, “I thought I knew 1216 Solano Ave, Albany one? How do you know whether a bicycle everything” about cycling before she took is the right size for you? the course herself. ***

Bicycle Coalition member Laura McCamy The Bicycle Coalition recently offered its Thursday, April 22 found the answers to these questions and first all-women workshop. More than 30 6:00-9:30pm many more in the “Traffic Skills 101” women showed up to learn about road Kaiser Richmond Medical Center classes sponsored by the East Bay Bicycle rules, proper helmet fit and more from 601 Nevin Ave, Conference Room C3 Coalition. The free classes, offered instructors Serafina and Wehmann. throughout the East Bay, include a *** 3.5-hour classroom workshop and a Why a women’s only class? “We want to daylong road skills class. fill the streets with safe and confident Thursday, April 29 cyclists and to do this we need to do a 5:30-9:00pm “The majority of people who take the class better job in teaching to all our students, Dublin Civic Center Library feel much more confident,” said Diane and we feel that this new addition to our Dublin City Hall Serafina, an EBBC certified safety class offerings will help us improve our instructor, which allows them to have a other classes,” says Jason Serafino-Agar, Armed with this information, McCamy’s better riding experience. EBBC’s lead instructor. “The most fear of riding in the door zone overcame common reason that women cite for her fear of riding with car traffic. And an “It really helped me understand better how attending our classes is to increase their amazing thing happened: “When I rode can ride in the lane of traffic confidence. We also know that men and farther from parked cars, I became more without being inconvenient for drivers,” women are conditioned differently around visible to drivers and had fewer scary says Jennifer Ryan, who was taking the physical activity and that a male run-ins. Instead of coming home to relate class for the first time. She said she felt the dominated teaching environment can be the latest trauma of the driver who “almost knowledge she gained would make her a intimidating to new female cyclists. We ran into me,” I rode in a smooth and easy more responsible car driver as well as a are working to shift that dynamic with this way and made it home feeling calm and better cyclist. effort,” Agar added. relaxed,” McCamy confidently shared with us.

This is a step toward a different future, one in which we get around using more earth-friendly transportation. “We’re not just providing a service,” says Serafino- Agar. “Building and promoting bicycle culture is one of the most satisfying things I can do personally. Transportation is so important. It’s where our society functions and dysfunctions.”

He adds, “We have so much energy and money tied up in our transportation system now. What would we be able to spend that on if we had a different transportation infrastructure?”

Start building your own alternative transportation infrastructure – learn how to drive a bike!

Sign up for FREE classes at: www.ebbc.org/safety 4. rideOn April 2010

selected for Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Last year Jeff Kent from Lafayette and Laura McCamy from Emeryville were the winners. Who will win this year?

Take the Challenge! It’s time to break out your bike, oil the chain and gather your friends for Team Bike Challenge 2010! Join hundreds of teams from all corners of the Bay Area in a competition to ride their bikes for the most trips to work, school and errands. The Team Bike Challenge sign-ups start April 1st and the competition starts May 1st, 2010. Gather your friends, colleagues or neighbors to form teams and pedal during the month of May. Earn points for each day any team member rides, and compete Bike Commuter of the Year Award against teams across the Bay Area to win the most points. Nominations Open Points are awarded for riding to work, school, or errands. (Sorry, no points for recreational rides.) The team with the Do you know someone who is a dedicated cyclist and an most points at the end of the month wins a grand prize! Sign inspiration to others in their community? Does this person up at www.youcanbikethere.com. personify the health, environmental, social and economic benefits of bicycling? Share how this individual is *** committed to making every day “Bike to Work Day”. Visit New this year is the addition of the Team BART Challenge! www.youcanbikethere.com to nominate them for the Start or join a Team based on a BART station and you have Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Bike Commuter a chance to win a $50 BART Ticket. of the Year. Nominations close April 19th. A winner will be

Come out and play at these events benefiting the East Bay Bicycle Coalition! April 2010 rideOn 5. Meet some of the pedalers powering Bike to Work Day! Kim Lucas Wendy Nishikawa

What are you doing for Why do you like to bike around town? your internship? I have been a bike commuter since moving here in July 2008 I’m organizing Bike to and really like the strong bike community we have here. It’s Market Day. I’ve been great to get more involved in contacting local markets it through this internship. and asking them to participate with 10% What are you doing for Bike discounts for anyone to Work Day 2010? who rides a bike on I am organizing the Alameda May 22nd... we’ve County energizer stations been pretty successful! I’ll also be manning one of the outreach (roughly 60 of them). Also tables at Bike to Market Day. And on Bike to Work Day, I’ll be helping with product dona- volunteering at an energizer station in Berkeley. tions, marketing, and bag stuffing parties. What do you like about your internship? It’s fun to be contacting markets that are really on board because What are you looking for- they have customers and employees that are bicyclists. ward to for the big day? I participated in the event What are you most looking forward to for Bike to Work Month? last year (as a rider) and I’m I’m excited about the Bike Away from Work Party - I haven’t looking forward to helping been before. And of course, I’m looking forward to discounts on make it a successful event Bike to Market Day, just like every other cyclist. this year!

Anne Wellington Bob Okumura How did you help out at Bike To Work Day last year? What’s the best part of volunteering for Bike to Work Day? I designed the back of the T-shirts for Bike-to-Work Day. Aside from the satisfaction I get from contributing to some- thing worthwhile and that will ultimately be beneficial to us all, What’s the best part of these volunteer events are fun and you get to hang with a bunch volunteering for Bike to of really nice like-minded people. Work Day? Knowing that I am con- Any favorite moments of Bike to Work Day 2009? tributing to getting cars The bike parking was right on Telegraph Avenue and we’d off the road and bicycles wave over bikers passing by to stop and join the party. Quite on the road. Also knowing a few people didn’t know that this event encourages about it and seeing the an attitude of acceptance smiles come over the faces for those of us who forego when I told them about all autos and use our bikes as the great stuff going on at serious transportation - not just as recreational vehicles. the party was priceless. Oh, and Cyclecide was hilarious. Any favorite moments of Bike to Work Day 2009? On Bike to Work Day, I was heartened at the number of cyclists What are you looking honoring that day, and have been encouraged with the steadily forward to for Bike to Work rising numbers of cyclists regularly riding. This increase, I Day 2010? believe, is due in no small part to the Bike-to-Work Day events Even more people biking to in our local communities. work!

You can make Bike to Work Day roll, too... call 510-533-RIDE or email [email protected] to help out! 6. rideOn April 2010

(cont. from page 1) wouldn’t get any exercise at all,” he says. Bike Friendly Business Awards “I really appreciate how Innovative removes the barriers to doing that.” Andy, also fifth place winner in the geared bikes with trailers category of the Supermarket Street Sweep Race, appreciates all that EBBC does for bike commuters, “allowing people to have fun, exercise, save money and keep the environment clean.” When asked about his priorities, Andy says, “If it weren’t fun, Joe and Garlynn of Calthrope Associates none of the others would happen.” breathe, work the non-auto world.” participate in the commuter check ~Terri Saul program. “Innovative doesn’t deduct this Innovative Interfaces, a library software money from our paychecks,” Andy Congratulations to the 2010 Bicycle company based in Emeryville, is the Cohen, 49-year-old software engineer Friendly Business Awards winners! winner in the large non-retail category. says, “they just give it to us – free Gene Shimshock, vice president of money.” Andy rides his bike to marketing, says, “We are the second largest work five days a week. On non- employer of librarians in the state. They rainy, non-cargo days, he rides a are a very socially aware group.” Among tinkerer’s dream, a rowbike, other benefits, they supply a large covered literally a machine on bike cage that is often full. They also wheels. “If I didn’t ride to work, I

EBBC Goes to Washington (cont. from page 2) It seems that a decade of bicyclists in •Rep. George Miller: Washington is starting to have an impact. 707-645-1888 The EBBC is proud to have been part of •Rep. Barbara Lee: 510-763-0370 the 2010 National Bike Summit, we look •Rep. Pete Stark: 510-494-1388 forward to continuing to partner with our national allies at the League and -Ask them to co-sponsor the bill Transportation For America to keep bikes because it would help make the Amy, Gene, and Andy of Innovative Interfaces high on the priority list for our federal East Bay safer and more navigable decision-makers. for bicyclists: The U.S. DOT Policy Directive on Biking •Rep. John Garamendi: and Walking WHAT YOU CAN DO 925-932-8899 On March 15, the U.S. Department of The Active Communities •Rep. McNerney: 925-737-0727 Transportation issued a policy directive Transportation Map of 2010 encouraging states and local government agencies to (H.R. 4722) consider “walking and biking as equals with other Introduced on March 2, 2010 by Rep. transportation modes.” Not Blumenauer (D-OR), the Active surprisingly, there has been Communities Transportation Act would some pushback from the auto create a competitive grant program for lobby and their allies in communities to complete bicycling and Congress, so we need to speak walking transportation networks, with up and show support for awards ranging from $5-$15 million. Visit Secretary LaHood! www.railstotrails.org for more information and to get updates. Read the full statement online at http://www.dot.gov/ Call your Representative about the Active affairs/2010/bicycle-ped. Communities Transportation Act html, and then write a letter to -Say thanks for co-sponsoring the bill and the editor of your local paper. encourage them to get their colleagues to co-sponsor: EBBC Board Member Dave Favello (L) with Ray Posey, Jr., ~Shannon Tracey owner of Ray’s Cycle April 2010 rideOn 7.

VOLUNTEER 5/4 Bike to Work Day Bag Stuffing, EBBC STAFF Berkeley REI, 10a-2p (free burritos) Acting Executive Director. . . . .Rick Rickard Spring into volunteering! To help out at any 510-533-7433 . [email protected] 5/13 Bike to Work Day Energizer Stations of these events, email carrie.harvilla@ebbc. Outreach Coordinator . . . . . Carrie Harvilla org or call 510-533-RIDE. There’s sure to 7-9a (various locations) 510-533-7432 [email protected] be an event and volunteer shift that works Program Director ...... Dave Campbell for you. 5/13 Bike Away From Work Party, Uptown 510-701-5971 [email protected] Oakland, 4:30-9:30p Program Associate...... Erik Jensen 510-533-7433 [email protected] If you complete a shift for one or more of Education Coordinator. . . . Isaac Rodriguez our spring outreach events, you’ll be invited EBBC EVENTS 510-533-7432 [email protected] to a special volunteer appreciation party in June, with food, drinks and prizes for our 4/12 New Member Meet & Greet wonderful volunteers. Thanks - we couldn’t (see back page) EBBC VOLUNTEERS do it without you. Hazard Elimination Reports Ian McDonald 510-832-6300 [email protected] 4/21 EBBC Outreach Training, Rockridge 4/13 EBBC Volunteer Night, EBBC office, EBBC Map Distribution Derek Liecty Library, Oakland 7:30-9p 510-339-2345 [email protected] Fruitvale Village 5-8p (Free dinner) 4/23 Bike-In Movie Night at Whole Foods, 4/23 Bike-In Movie Night at Whole Foods, Oakland, 6-11p* AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS Oakland, 6-11p Albany Strollers & Rollers www.albanystrollroll.org Bay Area Bicycle Coalition www.bayareabikes.org 4/27 40th Street Bike Lane Organizing Bay Trail Project http://www.abag.ca.gov 5/1 & 5/2 Oakland Museum of California Meeting, Temescal Creek Cohousing, 322 BikeAlameda http://www.bikealameda.org Reopening, 11a-6p 45th St, Oakland, 630-8p Bicycle-Friendly Berkeley Coalition (BFBC) www.bfbc.org 5/2 Urban Assault Ride, Berkeley, 7:45a- CA Association of Bicycling Organizations 5/2 Urban Assault Ride, Berkeley http://www.cabobike.org/index.htm 3:30p (free beer, food and a T-shirt for 9a-3:30p* California Bicycle Coalition (CBC) www.calbike.org volunteers!) Cycles of Change www.cyclesofchange.org *Your participation benefits EBBC Greenbelt Alliance www.greenbelt.org 5/2 Bike SL, San Leandro Time TBD Richmond BPAC www.richmondbpac.org TransForm http://wwwtranscoalition.org For a full listing of bicycle related events in Urban Habitat http://urbanhabitat.org 5/3 Bike To Work Day Bag Stuffing, the East Bay, see ebbc.org/calendar Walk Oakland Bike Oakland (WOBO) Berkeley REI, 3-9p (free burritos) www.walkoaklandbikeoakland.org Waterfront Action www.waterfrontaction.org

East Bay Bicycle Coalition annual membership form Membership Type Keep current! Send your tax-deductible donation to EBBC, PO Box 1736, Oakland, CA 94604 EBBC’s accounting methods assure that your early payment will extend your membership by a year. Sustaining ($25) Household ($40) ______Half-century ($50) Name Century ($100) ______Address Introductory ($12) ______4hr Pledge ($6) City, State, Zip Endow ($______) ______Phone/Fax ______New E-mail Address (EBBC guards your privacy) Renewal ______Never share my Workplace/City 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 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

rideOn

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