Summer 2014 • Volume 24 / No. 2

BuildingOur Future

SANTA BARBARA BICYCLE COALITION

SBSANTA BARBARA BICYCLE COALITION

BIKEHelp build our future / pg 11

A community cycling center for Santa Barbara

QuickRelease

2 Quick Release Summer 2014

BOARDMichael Chiacos, PresidentCarmen Lozano, Vice PresidentCourtney Dietz, Vice PresidentDavid Bourgeois, TreasurerByron BeckRobert CaizaHector GonzalezTim BurgessJohn HygelundMike VergeerDavid HodgesSue Carmody

STAFFEd France, Executive DirectorEd@sbbike.org

Christine Bourgeois, Education Directoredu@sbbike.org

Shawn Von Biela, Shop Managershop@bicicentro.org

Howard Booth, Membership/Volunteer Coordinatorvolunteer@sbbike.org

Omari Fuller and Sam Franklin, Connecting Our Community leadersomari@sbbike.org; sam@sbbike.org

GOVT. LIAISONS & ADVISORSMatt Dobberteen, AdvisorCounty of Santa Barbaramattdobberteen@gmail.com

Kent Epperson, AdvisorTraffic Solutionskepperson@sbcag.org

Teresa Lopes, AdvisorCity of Goletatlopes@cityofGoleta.org

Ralph Fertig, President EmeritusSb-ralph@cox.net

GRAPHIC DESIGNCynthia Stahl, info@cynstahl.com

EDITORHolly Starley, editor@sbbike.org

CONTACT US506 E. Haley St.Santa Barbara, CA 93103

PO Box 92047Santa Barbara, CA 93190

www.sbbike.org617-3255

CONTRIBUTEYour time: www.bicicentro.org/volunteerIn-kind: www.bicicentro.org/wishlistFinancially: www.bicicentro.org/donate

Our Vision

The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition (SBBIKE) vision is that Santa Barbara will be a

leader in creating a bicycle-friendly community and transportation system. Extensive

on-road and separated bikeways, a coordinated transit system, parking, and amenities

allow us to enjoy a culture where the majority of daily trips include a bicycle.

As a result, our community is healthier and encourages balanced living within our

resources. Universal cycling education for all ages supports the development of

safe and respectful road behaviors from both motorists and cyclists. Widespread

community and political support for bicycling is in place. By 2040, because it is a

cycling-centered county, Santa Barbara is both a great place to live and work and a

nationally acclaimed cycling destination, boasting a year-round calendar of successful,

fun, and inclusive events.

COVER PHOTO AND BACK IMAGE: Junior High Summer Camp participants gather at SBBIKE’s

Haley Street home to learn bike maintenance before heading out for a street ride. Photos by

Daniel Girard.

Letter from the Editor

P utting together this issue was a trek through the history of

Bici Centro that elaborated the stupendous growth and

beauty of vision that seeded today’s Bici and SBBIKE.

From a lemonade stand-esque sign in 2007 offering bike repair

help has grown a thriving, multi-armed coalition. From its

store-front headquarters on Haley Street, SBBIKE offers political

advocacy, outreach, and education, constantly expanding and innovating to get

the bikes, skillsets, and safety equipment to those who need them and to improve

infrastructure. Its DIY repair shop/bike store is booming, saving seven hundred

bicycles annually and offering cyclists a place to gather and fix their bikes at low cost.

When, recently, SBBIKE faced a new challenge, its leaders, true to form, transformed

it into an incredible opportunity. The headquarters was for sale. This meant the

coalition would risk needing to find a new home or rent increases it couldn’t control.

Or SBBIKE could purchase the building. With loans and donations from its own

community, the organization has gathered nearly 75 percent of the necessary funds.

Shop manager Shawn von Beila’s excitement about the prospect of ownership is

contagious. In his goose bump-inducing words, this would be only the beginning;

“Anything we dream up, we can make happen.”

I believe that. In this issue, see how joy and vision and extraordinary effort have

combined over the past seven years to become the tour de force that is Santa

Barbara’s cycling hub, bringing so many dreams to fruition. Read about SBBIKE’s

strides in advocating to connect the South Coast’s bikeways and its rapidly increasing

ability to reach more and more community members. Partake in an adventure told

by an unusual storyteller. Meet a new cyclist from City Hall. Learn how you can help

SBBIKE realize its dream of owning its headquarters. And imagine, together as a

cycling community, what we can dream up next.

Happy dreaming,

Holly Starley, QR editor

www.SBBIKE.org 3

I n May, SBBIKE membership hit 600, our projected

goal for this spring. If you’re not yet a member (or

know a friend or loved one who’d love to be a part of

real, inclusive, long-term change in the community; get

great discounts; and join a great group of environment-

and health-minded folks), join now. Be a part of the

tremendous forward momentum that’s sweeping us

toward a connected coast where everyone can ride!

Find a membership form online at www.sbbike.org.

Bronze and Steel Members

Hazards Cycle SportPacific Pedalers/ Santa Barbara PedicabHoffman ArchitectureMesa Business AssociationService ObjectsHorny ToadPedal Born PicturesMesa ArchitectsREI

Marcia Burtt Gallery

Isla Vista Food Coop We Bike ElectricTailwinds Bicycle Club of Santa MariaRevolution Coaching LLCEbike Santa BarbaraThe Dirt Club Jones Precision WheelsKendrick ConsultingHelloHarvest

Chatenever CeramicsRincon Cycle

SBBIKE Membership Mushrooms!

projected Dec. 2014 850

June 2014 600

projected April 2015 1,000

Membership and projected

membership levels represented by the heads of Volunteer

Coordinator Howard Booth and Education

Director Christine Bourgeois. Let’s make

Christine’s head explode! See more stats, pages 6 and 7.

PLATINUM MEMBERS

GOLD & CARBON FIBER MEMBERS

TITANIUM MEMBERS

Santa Barbara Cruisers

SILVER & ALUMINUM MEMBERS

DIAMOND MEMBERS

The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition would like to thank all our supporters and

business members.

Want to read more and participate in the discussion? Visit sbbikelab.org.

SB LABSANTA BARBARA BICYCLE COALITION

BIKESBBC INTERACTIVE

4 Quick Release Summer 2014

BUILDING OUR FUTURE

T he Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition (SBBIKE) has reached an

important crossroads. Its current building—home of the Bici

Centro shop and community cycling center—is up for sale. In

order to build the future of the coalition’s work in the community,

SBBIKE’s board and leaders plan to purchase the building.

Not purchasing would mean risks, such as uncontrolled rent or

halting programming while relocating to a new space. More than

risks, though, the board sees tremendous opportunity. Here at its

current home (where SBBIKE moved just last year), the coalition has

seen its programs flourishing and growth booming. Here they see

the building of Santa Barbara’s cycling community’s future. “We

must have a viable site to operate and grow our programs,” they

decided. “This is the best opportunity to purchase a permanent

facility for our community offerings.”

Why purchase this building?

Years of research confirm

that SBBIKE’s store-front

home on Haley is the most

affordable and functional

space available to meet the

needs of the dynamic, growing

community cycling center

that is Bici Centro. The center

provides education programs

for thousands of students

throughout the county. It

houses classroom space,

advocacy and outreach offices, and a DIY bike repair shop serving

over 1,200 patrons and refurbishing 700 bikes each year.

SBBIKE TO PURCHASE THE BICI CENTRO BUILDING

WORK TO DATE• We have raised $700,000 in low interest loans

and $300,000 in cash donations toward a $1.2

million purchase.

• We have secured, pro-bono, a real estate

attorney-broker, Bret Stone of Palladin Law,

to represent us in the transaction.

• We have developed a business plan that

stabilizes rents and utilizes a minority of the

facility for a commercial tenant.

• Over time, the coalition will build equity and

actually reduce our facility expenses to focus

our efforts on growing operations.

• We have presented our plan to Tom Parker

of the Hutton Parker Foundation. He has

endorsed our effort and challenged us to raise

our down payment and close the remaining

financial gap.

506 E. Haley Street.

We must have a viable site to operate and grow our programs. This is the best opportunity to purchase a permanent facility for our community offerings.

We need your support

In order to build the future of SBBIKE and Bici Centro,

we need your support to help purchase the building

that is key to our existence. To donate, see page 11 or

go to sbbike.org and click on Donate. For questions or

comments about this project, please contact Ed France,

executive director, 805-252-9064, ed@sbbike.org.

www.SBBIKE.org 5

BUILDING OUR FUTURE

F rom within the walls of SBBIKE’s home on Haley

Street come these programs:

For Adults:

• Four monthly Street Skills clinics

• Lunch and Learn for the workplace (offered

bilingually)

• Learn Your Bike! An eight-week series teaching

bike mechanics and repairs

• Bike education with Center for Lifelong

Learning

For Youth:

• Youth Earn-A-Bike program (Pedal Power):

Eighteen hours of “bicycle driver” training for

students

• June Cycling Camps: Kids age ten and up get

ready to ride to school!

• SBici (Santa Barbara High’s Bike Club): The

club wrenches bicycles and enjoys group rides.

In 2014, two youth and a mentor traveled to

New York City for the Youth Bike Summit.

• Service learning opportunities for youth

groups hosted at Bici Centro

• Bike education with use of a fleet of fifteen

bicycles

For Community/Family:

• SB Sports Drive: Bilingual education and

donation of refurbished bikes

• Bici Familia Events (Health Fair, Eastside

Rides, Family Bike Night): Bilingual education,

use of bike fleet, and donation of refurbished

bikes

• A Bike 4 Christmas: Bilingual education and

donation of refurbished bikes

• Monthly Safe Routes to School/Bike

Education committee meeting

To learn more about or sign up for any of these

programs, visit sbbike.org or contact education

coordinator Christine Bourgeois at edu@sbbike.org.

HELP BUILD THE FUTURE OF SBBIKE PROGRAMS

TOP: A Bike 4 Christmas, 2013 MIDDLE: Saving bikes, Fixing bikes. Photos by Christine BourgeoisBOTTOM: Summer Campers ready to ride. Photo by Daniel Girard.

6 Quick Release Summer 2014

THE BICI/SBBIKE STORY

How Far We’ve Come

2007 2008 2009 2010A strong vision and a lot of enthusiasm—the seeds of the Bici Centro story—were planted. With no space yet and using their own tools, founders (among them Ed France, now SBBIKE director; Dave Bourgeois and Robert Caiza, now board members; Erika Lindemann, former board president; and Joanna Kaufman) set out to help people fix their bikes and promote cycling. This motley crew set out a sign and wrenched on Saturday afternoons. This work was 100 percent volunteer. No money was exchanged.

Bici Centro had its grand opening at the space next to Casa de la Raza that would be the DIY shop’s home for the next five hears. Das Williams (then SB city council member, now state assembly member) attended and worked on his bike. Bourgeois set up the cash register. From the beginning, the shop was always busy.

The group turned its focus to education, hosting Bici’s first Pedal Power program (youth earn-a-bike skills class) at La Cumbre Junior High in the spring and putting on its first summer camp. In December, the education coordinator position was established, filled by Christine Bourgeois.

Bici Centro was going strong, but these wrenchers come advocators/educators faced high demand and limited resources. In 2010, CycleMAYnia was born, Bici Centro merged with SBBIKE, and France became SBBIKE’s executive director.

Classroom – SBBIKE’s Education and Meeting Room

May 2014: Family Bike Night at Adams Elementary School:

2012: 550

2013: 1,200

Bici Centro – SBBIKE’s DIY Repair and Bicycle Shop

Open Shop Patrons

Project for 2014: 1,500Bikes Saved/Recycled

2012: 300

2013: 500+ (sold 300, given to kids 200)

Project for 2014: 700Open/Volunteer Shop Days

2012: 164

2013: 250Projected for 2014: 300 11 new LCIs trained in April 2014

Events held at SBBIKE headquarters

2012: 210

2013: 425(education planning, classes, committee and board meetings, shops, Crane School, Open Streets meetings, Bike Builds, etc.)

Project for 2014: 500Kids who learned skills and/or earned bikes through Pedal Power and Summer Camps

2012: 140

2013: 247Project for 2014: 300Adults served through cycling skills and mechanics classes

2012: 83

2013: 353Projected for 2014: 400

Active LCIs serving our community: 35

Outreach/Advocacy Offices

Lights distributed

2012: 400 sets

2013: 700 sets

Projected for 2014: 800

Number of people who completed a Connecting Our Community postcard at Earth Day & other events

278Participants at Bilingual Bici Familia family events

May 2013: Eastside Ride: 57September 2013: Health Fair: 97

www.SBBIKE.org 7

How Far We’ll Go

THE BICI/SBBIKE STORY

2012 2013 2014

Enter the Spanish Language Outreach Committee. Building on the founding vision of reaching out to the Spanish-speaking community, volunteers built the Taller Móvil (Mobile Bike Shop), which offered wrenching on the go. This year also saw the creation of Bike World, Bici’s booth at the Earth Day Festival, with bike-powered stage and valet parking. SBici, Santa Barbara High School’s bike club, was born. In Thanksgiving, some thirty volunteers gathered to build bikes for kids for a Christmas giveaway (the seed that would become the Bikes 4 Kids program).

Education was in need of help, as SBBIKE tried to keep up with the demand of both the community and its long-term vision and focused on helping SBici flourish.

Both an exciting and scary year for SBBIKE, 2013 saw Bici’s move from the former space to its new location on Haley Street (rent jumped from $1,000 to $3,200). Bici opened a shop manager position, filled by Shawn von Beila, and volunteers went to work on the new home.

This year, all of SBBIKE’s arms—Bici Centro, education, advocacy and the Connecting Our Community campaign, SBici, outreach—are exploding. The shop looks awesome. And numbers in every category are flying off the charts! Another nerve-wracking but thrilling opportunity has presented itself—SBBIKE’s new building is for sale.

SBSANTA BARBARA BICYCLE COALITION

BIKEBici Centro506 E. Haley St. • sbbike.org

In 2013, Bici and SBBIKE moved into their new home. Now, the building is up for sale, and the organization that started seven years ago with no budget, no space, borrowed tools, and a far-reaching vision plans to purchase the $1.2 million community center.

In its new home, says Bici shop manager Shawn von Beila, the coalition is making a much bigger impact in the community. “We went from a floor with holes in it to a solid foundation, multiuse space that not only fulfills all our needs but serves the needs of so many other organizations.

“I can’t wait to see what we can do with this space,” he adds. “Owning it is the tip of the iceberg. Whatever we can dream up, we can make that happen.”

Not purchasing could mean a blow to SBBIKE’s many ongoing projects, the risk of losing the space hard to fathom, the opportunities of buying tremendous. The coalition is well toward its $300,000 goal, the amount needed to secure the deal. SBBIKE is asking community members to help by donating to the purchase. To do so, visit sbbike.org or see page 11.

May 2014: Family Bike Night at Adams Elementary School:

Projected for 2014: 850

2011

Outreach/Advocacy Offices

Lights distributed

2012: 400 sets

2013: 700 sets

Projected for 2014: 800

Number of people who completed a Connecting Our Community postcard at Earth Day & other events

Participants at Bilingual Bici Familia family events

May 2013: Eastside Ride: 57September 2013: Health Fair: 97

250

Volunteers and Members – the unique individuals who are the true power behind SBBIKE

Volunteers

2011: 150

2012: 200

2013: 300Projected for 2014: 350Members

2011: 200

2012: 250

2013: 300

New logo based on John Hygelund’s design

8 Quick Release Summer 2014

ADVOCACY

S ince the launch of Connecting Our Community

(Connect) in January, the campaign has done much

to increase public awareness and engagement and create

the political pressure needed to improve the bicycle

network of Santa Barbara’s South Coast.

This summer, Connect will lead the 2014 Santa Barbara

South Coast Bicycle Count, the twelfth time since 1997

that SBBIKE volunteers have done a June bike count. It’s

been three years since our last count, but trends suggest

bicycling has increased, and we’ll be counting bicyclists at

thirty-seven intersections, near UCSB and in Goleta, Santa

Barbara, and Carpinteria. Although cities regularly do

traffic counts on cars, SBBIKE is the only organization that

has consistently done bike counts. Other entities regularly

request this data in support of their project analyses and

grant applications.

Upcoming Connect projects include:

• Helping businesses realize bike corrals, improving

accessibility and economic gain

• Working with graphic design students of the Brooks

Institute in Ventura to create a range of bicycle

infographics

• Publishing a library of useful bicycle data and maps

• Organizing a series of bicycle lectures

• Hosting Winning Campaigns Training with our

partners at COAST

WE HIT $100K!On May 20, SBBIKE’s Connecting Our

Communities campaign met its $100,000

year one advocacy program funding goal,

with a $25,000 contribution from the McCune

Foundation.

TO CITY HALL

H ead from the West Side to City Hall and you may see

a familiar face waving from her new bike. SB City

Councilwoman Cathy Murillo is now commuting by bicycle.

Environmental responsibility was a prime impetus for her decision.

The change hasn’t been without challenges. For one, though she

does yoga and dances for exercise, “Sometimes, I have to stop and

rest,” she said. “And I’m not embarrassed to say that.” After all, she’s

no longer a single driver making a daily trip in a car.

Needing to dress up is another challenge she’s handled like a ride

in the park. She brings a second pair of shoes, has learned to avoid

brushing up against the chain guard, and keeps a curling iron at

work. Murillo says these minor troubles are worth it. “I just feel so

much better. And I’m getting in shape.”

Cycling also better positions the councilwoman to help

constituents. She understands when people talk to her about

the challenges of commuting and is even more committed to

creating an alternative transportation-friendly city. “We need more

crosstown bikeways,” she says, noting the city’s small streets

present challenges. “But we will find ways to implement the

improvements we need.”

SB Councilmember Cathy Murillo heads out for her daily commute.

CAMPAIGN

www.SBBIKE.org 9

ADVOCACY

“C leaner air, happier citizens,” “to see wildlife,” “so my

daughter can walk or bike to school more safely,” “for my

health”—just a few of the reasons South Coast residents are asking

for better cycling infrastructure.

On May 31, elected officials heard their requests. SBBIKE and

Traffic Solutions hosted “Connecting Our Communities in

Tandem,” a thirty-seven-mile ride along the Coastal Bike Route

from Goleta to Rincon at the Ventura County line. At two- to four-

mile segments, a representative or dignitary climbed aboard the

back of a tandem.

Electeds received nearly three hundred handwritten postcards

from constituents who are choosing bicycling and asking for the

infrastructure to keep up.

At the halfway point, Congresswoman Lois Capps, First District

Supervisor Salud Carbajal, Assembly Member Das Williams, and

Santa Barbara Councilmembers Gregg Hart and Cathy Murillo

gathered around Connect’s eighteen-foot long, interactive map of

the South Coast. During CycleMAYnia, residents had drawn in their

routes and highlighted trouble areas. Traffic Solutions director Kent

Epperson was thrilled to see the electives “bragging about new

bike facilities” and “challenging each other to help build more.”

SBBIKE director Ed France appreciated the public showing of

support (some sixty community members joined the ride). France

hopes In Tandem, which symbolized the need for jurisdictions to

work “in tandem,” solidified the importance of coherent, complete

infrastructure and highlighted “what a resource these routes are

not just for our residents but for visitors—for our tourism industry.”

Joining the ride, along with Carbajal, Williams, Hart, and Murillo,

were Goleta Councilmembers Paula Perotte and Jim Farr, Planning

Commissioner Meg West, and Mayor Michael Bennett; UCSB

representatives Dennis Whelan and Stephen Conner; Assistant SB

County CEO Dennis Bozanich; Carpinteria Councilmember Gregg

Carty; Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett; and several city

staffers, transportation engineer Derrick Bailey, Rebecca Bjork,

and Rob Dayton from Santa Barbara, Teresa Lopes from Goleta,

and Jim Kemp from the Santa Barbara County Association of

Governments. Also along was a group from the county’s Air

Pollution Control District.

ELECTEDS RIDE “IN TANDEM”

Congresswoman Lois Capps receives Connect’s 278 postcards from constituents.

SBBIKE director Ed France and Assembly Member Das Williams ride in tandem.

Elected officials discuss bikeway updates, using the 18-foot Connect map. Photos by Daniel Girard.

CycleMAYnia, started five years ago by SBBIKE and Traffic Solutions, is a month-long celebration of cycling—events and rides that connect us as a cycling community.

10 Quick Release Summer 2014

By Moo Cow

S o, I’m on the property,

chilling with the roosters

and pig. All of a sudden,

these humans roll in on two-

wheeled contraptions called

bicycles.

Soon, there’s like thirty of them, all grins and raving about the

fabulous views and strenuous climbs of the day. Apparently,

they’d hopped on a train in Santa Barbara to Guadalupe, from

which some of them saw whales breaching for the first time

(call me jealous!). Then they rode to my caretakers’ [Nate and

Bekki Siemens] land, around thirty-five miles, each carrying all

they needed for the weekend on bags attached to their bikes

called panniers. Some had fancy, bright yellow ones [donated

by Ortlieb]. And they were more pumped than Sugar when Nate

and Bekki give her steak leftovers.

Next thing I know, this gorgeous woman (taken, go figure; she’s

the tour organizer’s [Mike Vergeer] wife [Maggie]—and a few

studly men head to the kitchen and cook up a delicious feast of

fish tacos and salad [fish donated by SB Fish Market].

The rest unload their gear and set up canvas contraptions, which

they go inside. I tried to ask one of them what he was doing in

there, but he didn’t seem to understand.

That evening, the group gathered around a fire, roasting sticky,

gooey white balls on sticks; chatting; and playing beautiful

music before climbing inside their canvas nests and falling

asleep.

The morning started with more delicious-smelling food. The

humans were excited about the sixty some miles of scenery,

climbs, and exhilarating downhill stretches that awaited them.

FEATURE

TOUR DE TENTERS RIDE A CENTURY

Thank You 2014 Tour de Tent Sponsors

LEFT: The thirty plus riders of Tour de Tent 2014 prepare to head out, day RIGHT: On the Road. Photos by Christine Bourgeois.

Earth Trine Farm and B. D. Dautch (veggies)

SB Fish Market (fish)

Ortlieb and Jeff Scully (panniers)

Old Man Mountain and Channing Hammond (racks)

Fat Uncle Farms and Nate Siemens (facility/truck use)

Trader Joes (groceries)

Traffic Solutions

SBBIKE

Thanks also to Nate and Bekki Siemens for allowing the

Tour de Tenters to set up camp on their property.

Tou

r de Tent

When I heard they’d be stopping at Refugio Beach, where

more cycling friends would join them for the ride home, I

decided I’d join. How big are those panniers anyway?

I discovered—joy of joys—I was already going in a way.

The cyclists donned their Tour de Tent T-shirts [designed

by Cynthia Stahl and printed by Table Salt Screen Printing].

Guess who was featured? None other than yours truly. I

gave them my cheeriest farewell and sent them on their

way. Moooo!

Will someone call me for next year’s ride, please?

Photo by Kyle Richards

www.SBBIKE.org 11

HELP BUILD OUR FUTURE

SBSANTA BARBARA BICYCLE COALITION

BIKE

Contribute to SBBIKE’s purchase of its headquarters

name

(organization)

address

city,state,zip

e-Mail

phone

Make check payable to the Santa Barbara Bicycle CoalitionPO Box 92047Santa Barbara, CA 93190-2047www.sbbike.org

The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation, so donations are tax deductable as allowed by law.

Help Build Our Future: The Bici Centro Building

O Level One Contribution, $50O Level Two Contribution, $250O Level Three Contribution, $500O Level Four Contribution, $1,000O Other Amount

Largest Bilingual Family Event Yet

1. A bilingual class – For more than 250 students and parents at Adams Elementary School. 2. On the blacktop – Kids practice safety avoidance skills 3. Free tune-ups – Courtesy of volunteer mechanics from Bici Centro and SBici. 4. For the first time – Ten learn to ride. 5. Grand Finale giveaway – Eighteen kids receive brand-new rides courtesy of Deckers (See Deckers Decks Out Bikes at sbbike.org.) Photos by John Rousseau.

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Santa Barbara Bicycle CoalitionPO Box 92047Santa Barbara, CA 93190-2047

SBSANTA BARBARA BICYCLE COALITION

BIKE