2010 Bike-Friendly Business Award Winners
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NEWSLETTER OF THE EAST BAY BICYCLE 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 cycling 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 Walking’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.