SCBC Protecting Cyclists’
Safety on Westside Road

On June first, our Executive Director Alisha O’Loughlin testified before the Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Adjustments regarding the Discretionary Use Permit Application for a new winery on Westside Road. Our primary concern was that the project’s access driveway would be located between two sharp curves on Westside Road with limited sight lines and minimal stopping distance available, presenting safety concerns for cyclists and other users. The traffic study completed for the project used stopping distance criteria to determine whether the project’s driveway intersection would be safe. O’Loughlin urged that the project applicant be required to use more conservative decision sight distance criteria for several reasons: Westside Road is a very popular bicycle route; drivers on this scenic roadway may be distracted by the many local attractions; and some drivers are likely to be alcohol impaired.

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July 12 Bike Expo at
Wednesday Night Market

2016/17 Safe Routes to
School Year a Success!

During the 2016-17 school year, our Safe Routes to School staff educated over 1,700 fourth grade students at twenty-seven schools in Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sonoma, Sebastopol, and Windsor. Our in-school Bicycle Rodeos are on-bicycle PE classes in which students learn the basics of bicycling. Students rotate through several skill-building courses with direct instruction and encouragement from our SRTS instructors. Low cost helmets, helmet fittings,  bike safety inspections and minor repairs are also provided.

A huge shout out to our partners at Mike’s Bikes, who not only provided bike safety inspections and adjustments to over 900 bicycles, but also produced this fabulous video highlighting our school Bike Rodeo program!  We also appreciate the 250 parents and community volunteers who assisted with helmet fittings and course monitoring, and the local law enforcement officers who provided “bike safety and the law” presentations and enthusiastic “patrolling” on the course. Special thanks to SCBC Member and long-time Bike Rodeo volunteer extraordinaire Les Haus (pictured above in the green vest), who volunteered at every single one of our bike rodeos this year!

The 2017-18 fourth grade Bike Rodeo seasons occur in the fall (September through early November) and in spring (March through May).  Let us know if you are interested in volunteering next year!

Tour de Cru August 13

In addition to their generous wine donation to SCBC, Notre Vue will be offering SCBC members discounted admission to this event; watch for details!

Awards Celebration

SCBC’s Bike Commuters of the Year, Team Bike Challenge participants, and Bike to Work Month volunteers celebrated in style Friday night, with appetizers & drinks donated by Community Market and Bottle Barn. Winners went home with prizes generously donated by Marmot Mountain and Camelbak.

Individual Team Bike Challenge winner Jorge Cruz (pictured with SCBC Outreach & Events Coordinator Eris Weaver and Executive Director Alisha O’Loughlin) pedaled over 1000 miles during the month of May! Our Challenge participants are inspirational role models to their coworkers, families, and friends; the more of us on the road, the easier it is for others to join in!

California Voters Want Safer Streets!

The California Bicycle Coalition has released a statewide poll in which voters were asked how they’d like to see local and state transportation departments build streets.  Nearly two-thirds of survey respondents said they would bike more often if they had protected bike lanes on streets in their neighborhoods that made them feel less threatened by traffic. Close to half stated that they supported funding for alternative modes of transportation equally or more important than funding for roads and freeways.

You can read more about the poll – including survey methods and the actual questions asked – here.

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