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MARIN COUNTY BICYCLE COALITION (MCBC)
WEEKLY BULLETIN
November 18, 2009
1. MCBC receives Marin Economic Commission Award
2. Proposed new FTA policy may increase bike/ped funding
3. SALE! 50% off giving this holiday season
4. Play it safe: bike/pedestrian path safety notice
5. Help save millions in funding for better bike access to transit
6. Download CycleTracks, the new iPhone Bicycle Planning App
7. Win a bike and help an injured fellow cyclist
8. Alliance seeks Advocacy Award nominations
9. 2009 Walk to School Day sets participation record
10. A comical look at poor bike lane design
11. 2010 Tamarancho Annual Passes now on sale
12. Winterfest party, fundraiser, and art show
1. MCBC receives Marin Economic Commission Award
Recognition for the economic benefits brought by bike/ped projects
The Marin County Bicycle Coalition was honored by the Marin Economic Commission for its contributions "to a vibrant and sustainable Marin County economy" at a luncheon on November 13.
Robert Eyler, chairman of the economics department at Sonoma State University, presented the award to MCBC and the other businesses honored with a slide show of images from each group’s activities. MCBC and the five other awardees were chosen from approximately 25 nominees.
MCBC's executive director, Kim Baenisch, told the 200 guests, “For our first ten years, MCBC has been working to legitimize cyclists’ right to our public roadways. To now be recognized for the economic benefits of the bike/ped projects we’ve brought to Marin and the bicyclists themselves who shop here, is a tremendous boost to our credibility and effectiveness!”
Mark Horick, chairman of the 10-member commission, said the six recipients were selected because they’ve been at the forefront of Marin's efforts to become more sustainable for many years already. The commission recognized the importance of recognizing “companies that have been around and focused on green tech and agriculture and giving back to the community, not so much in the business sense but more of how we are changing our environment."
MCBC is tremendously proud of this newest recognition and looks forward to finding new ways to illustrate the economic and health impacts of bicycling in our county.
2. Proposed new FTA policy may increase bike/ped funding
Comments on the new policy requested - please comment!
Great news – The Federal Transit Authority (FTA) has published a federal registry notice stating a proposed new project that would designate a bike/ped catchment area around transit stops, making bike/ped facilities within that catchment area eligible for FTA funding.
FTA is soliciting comments regarding the policy through January 10th, 2010.
MCBC will send comments but we encourage others to comment on their own as well. The more positive comments we generate the more likely the policy will be enacted as is. Directions on how to comment are in the notice here.
The guidance states the purpose is to help foster livable communities and discusses complete streets as well - all components of good bicycle and pedestrian projects, and all things that MCBC is working for here in Marin County.
Proposed Policy
"For purposes of determining whether a pedestrian or bicycle improvement has a physical or functional relationship to public transportation, regardless of whether it is funded as a capital project or public transportation enhancement, all pedestrian improvements located within one-half mile and all bicycle improvements located within three miles of a public transportation stop or station shall have a de facto physical and functional relationship to public transportation. According to a test of activity and use, pedestrian and bicycle improvements beyond these threshold distances may be eligible for FTA funding if the improvement is within the distance most people can be expected to safely and conveniently walk or bicycle to use that particular transit service."
3. SALE! 50% off giving this holiday season
Would you like to give $100 to MCBC this holiday season? Well now you can for just $50, thanks to a $10,000 matching fund offer from our friends at the Marin Cyclists. They are the bicycle club that puts on Marin’s biggest bicycle event, the Marin Century. They like what MCBC is doing so much, that they are offering to match your donation dollar for dollar, up to $10,000. Wow!
You’ll soon be receiving the Annual Fund letter we mailed this week. Did you read it yet? If not, please watch for it and give today, or at least place it at the top of the pile. Here are a few things we’ll be doing together in 2010:
- Riding our bikes through the NEW Cal Park Tunnel
- Riding our bikes though Samuel P. Taylor on a NEW road surface
- Riding our bikes locally, more often, to reduce our carbon footprint
But the big focus will be on getting the Alto Tunnel open to complete the North-South Greenway from Coverdale to the Larkspur Ferry and all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge. Your Annual Fund contribution will allow MCBC to continue working to ensure that these projects are completed, that the funds are not shifted elsewhere in this down economy, and that you will have more places to ride.
So help us get off to a great start in 2010 and give what you can today!
Thank you.
P.S. Expired members get a 1-year renewal with all gifts of $25 or more.
P.P.S. Membership includes discounts at bike shops, the Marin Bicycle Map, discounts at MCBC events and a 1 year subscription to the Pedal Press!
4. Play it safe: bike/pedestrian path safety notice
We appreciate the public’s enthusiasm for the new bike and pedestrian path along the west side of Highway 101 in San Rafael and know that it may appear completed, however, additional construction work is still underway. Heavy equipment is active on the path, while several elements of the path are being completed.
To help ensure public safety, the trail will continue to be closed during construction. We ask the public to “play it safe,” and abide by the posted signage until the path is completed. This project is sponsored by the Transportation Authority of Marin, the California Department of Transportation, and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
5. Help save millions in funding for better bike access to transit
Safe Routes to Transit is a regional funding source administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) that builds important improvements for bicycle and pedestrian access to transit including secure bike parking, bike paths to transit stations, safety improvements and on-board bike capacity. Locally in Marin County, those funds are being used to build a north-south connection to the San Rafael Transit Center.
MTC’s Regional Transportation Plan adopted this spring promised $50 million in funding for Safe Routes to Transit over the next 5 years, but there is a vote on December 9th that would cut funding to only cover evaluation of existing projects with no money for new Safe Routes to Transit infrastructure improvements. Join Marin County Bicycle Coalition and the Bay Area Bicycle Coalition in our efforts to get this important funding back by taking 2 minutes to sign our petition.
Click here to Take Action Now!
6. Download CycleTracks, the new iPhone bicycle planning app
Calling all biking San Francisco iPhone users! Download CycleTracks, the free app that generates maps and statistics of your rides that you can share with friends. Time and route data is saved for you—and also transmitted to the San Francisco County Transportation Authority to improve the bicycle component of their travel forecasting model, helping planners better understand and serve the needs of San Francisco cyclists. You’ll be promoting Bay Area cycling with your iPhone! (All data collected will be kept confidential)
Win a $50 iTunes gift card!
If you download CycleTracks and use it for at least one trip by November 27th, you’ll be automatically entered in all drawings to win one of ten $50 iTunes Gift Cards*. Download CycleTracks or search for it in the iTunes app store. For more information about CycleTracks, visit www.sfcta.org/CycleTracks or our Facebook page.
*We’ll need your email address, but it won’t be shared with anyone, and we’ll keep you posted on the progress of the study. (See complete contest rules)
7. Win a bike and help an injured fellow cyclist
Raffle for a $2,000 Maietta bike will help Gabe Allen fly home to Boston
Back in August, New Yorker and avid cyclist Gabe Allen was in the Bay Area on vacation when a vehicle and his bike collided. Diagnosed with a severe traumatic brain injury, he remained unconscious for over six weeks. Gabe is now here in Marin County, receiving treatment at Kentfield Specialty & Rehabilitation Hospital. He is awake and beginning to show higher levels of awareness and cognition.
The flight back to the East Coast means a special-hired air ambulance. To defray the $20,000 cost, close friend and bicycle builder, Anthony Maietta, is raffling a custom-built Road or CycloCross frame and fork. 100% of proceeds will go to Gabe’s flight home, all labor and materials donated by Maietta Cycles.
Tickets are $20 and the raffle ends December 15, when Gabe himself will pluck the winning ticket. The winner receives frame, fork, and headset with custom geometry, paint, and tubing—a $2,000 value. He or she will be notified by phone and email. Tickets are available in Marin at Paradigm Cycles (San Anselmo), Sunshine Bicycles (Fairfax), and the West Marin Pharmacy (Point Reyes Station).
For questions and more information, please email BringGabeBackEast@gmail.com or call (917) 250-6226. You can follow Gabe on his road to recovery at www.getbettergabe.com.
8. Alliance seeks Advocacy Award nominations
The Alliance for Biking and Walking is now taking nominations for your favorite advocates and organizations (ahem!). The Alliance's Annual Advocacy Awards for excellence in bicycling and walking advocacy is accepting nominations in several categories, including Advocate of the Year, Advocacy Organization of the Year (cough!), and the Innovation Award. Nominations are due by December 16. Awards will be given in March in Washington, D.C. to coincide with the National Bike Summit.
Click here to learn about each award.
Click here to nominate whomever you like - really, it doesn't have to be us.
Source: The Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition (they deserve votes, too).
9. 2009 Walk to School Day sets participation record
According to an article in the September/October issue of Safe Routes Matters, "A record number of communities from all 50 states and the District of Columbia participated in Walk to School Day 2009. As of Oct. 28, a total of 3,369 Walk to School Day events registered through the National Center's Web site -- that represents an increase of 481 events (17 percent) over last year! And we know even more events were held than is reflected by this number. Walk to School Day continues to grow in popularity each year because of community members' commitment to encourage safe walking and bicycling to school.
"Local events received great media coverage around the country this year. In fact, over 375 stories have been written online and in print on "Walk to School Day" specifically since Oct. 1, 2009. (Over 24,000 stories cover walking to school in general in that same time period!) Important local, regional and national officials also joined in local Walk to School Day celebrations nationwide and helped create even more interest and excitement surrounding scheduled events..."
Click here for more information.
Click here to view photos of Walk to School Day in Marin County.
Source: Centerlines newsletter (National Center for Bicycling and Walking)
10. A comical look at poor bike lane design
Photos depict bike lane design ranging from amusing to dangerous
The Warrington Cycle Campaign's book of Crap Cycle Lanes is notorious among cyclists in the UK. From amusing and pointless to downright dangerous lanes, the book catalogues 50 of the worst examples of cycle facilities in Britain.
Check it out at http://tinyurl.com/ygclq39.
Source: The World Carfree Network
MESSAGES FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
11. 2010 Tamarancho Annual Passes now on sale
Purchase by January 15, 2010, and save $5.00
Danny Forer, Tamarancho Bike Coordinator, writes:
The 2010 Tamarancho Annual Passes are now on sale. The 2010 Pass is valid for unlimited riding until December 31, 2010. The cost for the pass is $45 for an Individual Pass and $60 for a Family Pass (2 adults living in the same household).
Save $5.00 off pass sales prior to January 15, 2010.
Click here to purchase a pass online, with a credit card.
If you want to pay by check, print out an application and mail to the scouts. If you wish to pay by cash, print out an application; the address for the scouts’ office in San Rafael is listed on the application. To print out a 2010 application click here.
Notes about the 2010 Annual Passes:
- A plastic pass will be sent to you via snail mail.
- Carry the receipt until you receive your pass.
Day Passes cost $5, and are available online (print out the pass on your own printer). For a day pass click here.
Also, you can purchase a day pass at the following bike stores:
Fairfax Cyclery and Sunshine Bikes (Fairfax)
Summit Bike (San Rafael)
Caesar's Bike and Paradigm (San Anselmo)
12. Winterfest party, fundraiser, and art show
SFBC annual party is December 6, at SOMArts Gallery
Carolina Barnes of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition writes:
Ride on down, valet your bike, and boogie into Winterfest 2009. After grabbing your complimentary New Belgium beer, enjoy a festive evening filled with 1,000 other bike-friendly party folk. Score deals on amazing local art, bike gear, local goodies and bike crafts. Winterfest is the best place to find the new bike of your dreams at a great price. DJ's and food vendors all night long.
$15 for SFBC Members, or join at the door for $40 (Includes 1-year SF Bicycle Coalition membership + admission)
When: December 6, 2009; 6:00 pm – 10:30 pm
What: Winterfest Party, Fundraiser and Art Show
Who: San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (SFBC)
Where: SOMArts Gallery, 934 Brannan St. at 8th St.
Website: http://www.sfbike.org/winterfest
Marin County Bicycle Coalition
P.O. Box 1115
Fairfax, CA 94978
Office Location: 733 Center Blvd., Fairfax, CA 94930
(415) 456-3469 – phone
(415) 456-9344 – fax
http://www.marinbike.org
The MCBC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. You donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
We are a membership-supported group. If you are not already a paying member, please join today. Printable membership forms are on our website, http://www.marinbike.org.
Thank you for being a part of the solution.
To reach the MCBC Staff:
- Kim Baenisch, Executive Director, 456-3469 x 1#, kim@marinbike.org
- Tom Boss, Membership Director, 272-2756, tom@marinbike.org
- Jo Ann Richards, Volunteer and Activities Coordinator, 456-3469 x 7#, joann@marinbike.org
- Bob Trigg, Administrator, 456-3469 x 3#, bob@marinbike.org
- Deb Hubsmith, Advocacy Director, 454-7430, deb@marinbike.org
- David Hoffman, Director of Planning, 456-3469 x 4#, david@marinbike.org
- Andy Peri, Advocacy Outreach Coordinator, 457-0802, andy@marinbike.org
- Wendi Kallins, Safe Routes to Schools Program Director, 488-4101, wendi@marinbike.org
- Laura Kelly, Safe Routes to Schools Project Coordinator, 456-3469 x 2#, laura@marinbike.org
- Peggy Clark, Share the Road Program Manager, Safe Routes to Schools Project Coordinator, 456-3469 x 8#, peggy@marinbike.org
- Aviva Joseph, Safe Routes to Schools Teen Coordinator, 456-3469 x 5#, aviva@marinbike.org
- Gwen Froh, Safe Routes to Schools Teen Coordinator, 456-3469 x 5#, gwen@marinbike.org
- Frances E. Barbour, Safe Routes to Schools Instructor, 577-4601, frances@marinbike.org
- Heather Crawford, Safe Routes to Schools Instructor, 456-3469 x 6#, heather@marinbike.org
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