Share the Ride - SLO Regional Rideshare

bike plans: national and local

The Adventure Cycling Association is part of an initiative to develop a national bike route system called the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBRS). The Adventure Cycling Association is working with AASHTO to develop a national corridor-level plan and designation system that transportation agencies can use for the development of bicycle routes.
You can read more about this here: www.adventurecycling.org/usbrs.

Here is a list of what's happening with local bike planning:

• San Luis Obispo County is updating the Regional Bikeway Plan, to be completed in 2009, the current plan can be viewed online here.

• The City of SLO has an award winning plan that you can view on their website here.

• The Cities of Paso Robles, Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, and Pismo Beach have all worked on and/or are considering bicycle master plans. 

Having a bicycle master plan that is approved by SLOCOG and Caltrans gives the city and county access to an additional $7.1 Million statewide from the Bicycle Transportation Account. Plus, it can ensure that the transportation needs of bicyclists are considered when new development happens in a community.

~ Jessica

Americans changing their driving habits

Check out this article in U.S.A. Today, which is a reflection of how people are still using the bus, carpooling, vanpooling, biking and walking to get around in San Luis Obispo County:

"Americans driving less, unmoved by lower gas prices"

Cindy

Unchained Bicycles

If you have ever been riding down the street and had your pants cuff ripped, there may be a revolution at hand.  Trek Bicycle is part of a movement to bury the finger-pinching, pant-munching, rust-prone sprocket and chain, and usher in an era of belt-driven bikes that might have the inventors of the self-propelled transportation Schwinning in their graves!

Wisconsin-based Trek is introducing two models this holiday season that are chainless, instead using technology most often found in things like motorcycles and snowmobiles.  While some small custom bike makers have used them before, Trek is the first to use the technology for mass-produced bicycles.  The largest U.S. domestic bike manufacturer is hoping to capitalize on a new group of urban pedal-pushers who are trading their cars for a low-tech way to get around because of gas prices as well as health and environmental concerns.

Check out the Trek website and take a look at these new models. 

Cindy

Rideshare is Hiring

San Luis Obispo Regional Rideshare is hiring a Program Coordinator with a closing date for applications on Monday, December 8, 2008 at noon. To view a full position description, visit http://rideshare.org/Library/News/Program_Coordinator_Job_Description.pdf.

Thanks for spreading the word!

-MNM

Moving in the Right Direction

It seems as though there may be a bright side to this recession. Since the 700 billion dollar bailout, things are looking less gloomy for cyclists in San Luis Obispo. First, as a direct result of the bailout, cyclists all over the nation will be eligible for a $20 per month fringe tax benefit from their employers starting in January 2009. This is something that has been on the bike advocacy books for quite some time. Second, the City of San Luis Obispo was just awarded $890,000 from Caltrans Bicycle Transportation Account towards the construction of the Railroad Bicycle Trail. Can I get a “Woo Hoo!” Congratulations to the San Luis Obispo Bicycle Coalition for their continued advocacy successes. Also, congratulations to every individual in San Luis Obispo County – whether you know it or not, whether you are a cyclist or not, you will feel the positive benefits of improved bicycle programs and infrastructure.

-MNM

Bicycle Commuter Tax Benefit
www.bikeleague.org
KEYT Report

Rail Road Safety Trail
SLO Bicycle Coalitions Press Release
KSBY Report

Bicycling as a Legitimate Commute Choice

I don't own a car (as previously mentioned) and this is borne both out of choice and necessity. I couldn't buy a car right now if I wanted one: it is simply too expensive. And I'm a commuter, so I wear my work clothes when I'm riding. That may include a skirt, heels, a tailored shirt, whatever. I dress up. Anyone who knows me knows that. So I'm a little ticked about 2 conversations I had this weekend:
The first was with my neighbor, who is adamantly NOT a cyclist. She is angry that she has to slow down (or even stop) for bicyclists who are in the lane ahead of her when driving on our local streets. She characterized bicyclists as "those girls in their miniskirts and high heels, listening to their i-pods". I get what she means: carefree, irresponsible, selfish; a contrast to how she would describe herself. It's the notion that bicyclists are all students with money and time to spare (also a misconception about students, I would say). Clogging up the streets to real commuters (in their cars) can't get where they need to go.
The second was with an acquaintance who drives to her job because she wants to look nice and she thinks that bicycling or walking (especially when it rains) makes that impossible. I understand this to mean: bicycle commuting is fine for students or people who don't have real jobs and have to be clean or well dressed or smell nice when they get to work.
Both of these misconceptions about bicycling (really, they're the same misconception) can be disproved everyday by people in our community. I'm an example, as are the 5 other bike commuters at SLOCOG, as is Aileen Loe (Deputy Director of Caltrans District 5) who rides her bike to work from Arroyo Grande, as are Kristina Seley at the Water Board and Mike Borger at Wallace Group. And there are more: Rideshare has 315 bike commuters registered in TripLink.
This is a viable commute choice! People in our community who think bicyclists are only what they see on the first Thursday of the month after Farmers' Market, need to open their eyes. Bicyclists are legitimate commuters: executives, administrators, teachers, regular people with 9-5 jobs and meetings, and we're not clogging the streets, were making them safer and cleaner by not getting into a big, loud, dirty car and driving it to our workplace.
~ jessica

View some well dressed bicycle commuters on my favorite fashion website
the sartorialist
Learn how to be a better bike commuter at a Bike Ed Class in San Luis Obispo (because you should know that riding while listening to an i-pod is illegal)