Performance Bicycle Employee Rides to Work!

In an unexpected turn of events, Fresno Bike News has learned that a Performance Bicycle Employee began commuting to work by bicycle several weeks ago.

"Just when it got over $4. Plus, I work here and everybody rides. Just seems like a more health conscious and environmentally friendly thing to do," Nick Morales said.

Fresno Bike News is of the opinion that, if Nick can do it so can you. And if not quite, you can augment your commute with a bus ride, for the very reasonable $1 fare each way.

If you have no idea how to begin, I'd recommend that you ask for advice. It's not as hard as it might seem at first.

The Coalition: info fresnobike org.
Tower Velo: Conveniently open after work, 5:30 to 7:30 PM Monday to Friday, and all day Saturday. Check out their blog and give them a call.
Your favorite LBS: The Local Bike Shop is where the action is at. They can help you select a bicycle that fits your body and the kind of riding you have in mind. The extra money you spend is well worth it. Read More......

Yoshi NOW! Hootenanny Flea Market

Hey now! FCBC will be holding court and holding forth tomorrow at the Fantastic Second Annual Yoshi NOW! Hootenanny. Come on down for freebies from us, freebies from others, and to get your official 2008 Fresno County Bicycle Coalition T-shirt, for only a modest donation. Consult your tax advisor about that donation AFTER you've finished partying down and hanging out with the Good Looking People tomorrow, Saturday the 17th, between 10 AM and 4 PM, at Yoshi NOW!, 648 Broadway, Fresno. Read More......

Bike Week 2008

Well, it's 2008. And it's May, which is Bike Month. And now it's going to be Bike Week. The only thing that can possibly be more exciting will be Bike to work day!

May is the month we live for here at the FCBC. It's a time for us to enjoy the fruits of our labour. All our advocacy work, encouraging local governments to build out the bike infrastructure. All our education work, showing cyclists how to safely drive their bicycles on the public roads. It's a great time of year, and time to show some new hands the ropes as we encourage people to get out of their cars and on to their bikes. Try it... you might like it!

On Wednesday is our famous downtown ride. We start at the Manchester Transit Center (show at eight, go at eight thirty) with a bicycle-police escort down Blackstone Avenue to downtown and the Fulton Mall, where we enjoy delicious food and beverages provided by our great sponsors, Cafe Corazon and Milano.

On Thursday is the Corporate Challenge. What, you haven't heard about the Corporate Challenge? You must the be the last person in Fresno. Check it out! This is our third annual Corporate Challenge, and this year it's bigger and better than ever. As usual we have great sponsors who have been very generous with the cash to organize the event and the awesome raffle prizes that every Corporate Challenge rider is eligible to win. Tri-Sport is giving away a $1,000 Soho Trek commuter bike. Stephen's Bicycles and Rubber Soul Bicycles are giving away piles of goods that you need for your ride; racks, panniers, lights, tires.

Most awesome and new for this year's Corporate Challenge will be the Energy Stations! You need energy to ride your bike, and we're not talking petroleum! Stop by for goodies and get all sugared up. It's a good place to meet your friends so you can ride in together. Or why not organize a tour of the energy stations? Who wants to go to work when you can ride around town with convenient rest stops and fun people?

• REI is sponsoring and manning an Energy Station outside their River Park Store.
• Fresno State is organizing an Energy Station near Cedar and Barstow.
• Fiesta Foods will be hosting a full-on party outside their store on Tulare at 2nd Street. We're talking food, prizes, and radio stations!
• Clovis. There will be an energy station on the Sugar Pine trail just south of the intersection of Clovis and Ashlan Avenues.
  

If you live in Clovis Monday night at 7 PM would be a good time to engage in Civics. Show up at the City Council meeting to hear May proclaimed Bike Month in the City of Clovis. FCBC will graciously accept the proclamation on your behalf.

If you live in Fresno, it's Tuesday morning at 8:30 AM. We'll see you in Fresno City Hall Council Chambers, where May will be proclaimed Bike Month in Fresno. FCBC will, of course, be there.

On Thursday at 6 PM it's time for our monthly Coalition meeting. I hope you'll stop by on your ride home from work. It's going to be a ride-away-from-work party!

For details on these and all the other Bike Month events, please see fresnobike.org.

Thanks to our sponsors!

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Re: [fresnobike] Re: Roundabouts at CSUF

Dear cycling friends,

Bicycles must use the right-most lane that serves their destination.
Therefore you cannot stripe bicycle lanes in roundabouts without
preventing bicyclists from ever doing anything but turning right.

You must merge into the through-lane, the center lane, if you want to
go straight or turn left.

These roundabouts are small enough that this is not a problem. Before
you reach the roundabout, check for traffic, signal, and merge into
the main travel lane. Negotiate the roundabout, achieve your
destination, and merge back to the right if appropriate.

Notice that the instructions provided by Fresno State (I have copied
the link below) support my position, and suggest to motorists that
they treat bicycles in the roundabout the same as cars.

Do not confuse the cars by improperly negotiation the roundabout on
your bicycle. Assume proper lane position for maximal vehicular
cycling pleasure.

I believe enough Fresno State Cyclists are reading this that we can
achieve a positive impact by modelling the behaviour we would like to
see in others, both while in our cars and on our bicycles.

Thank you,

Ed
http://www.fresnostatenews.com/2008/04/Howtodrivearoundabout.pdf Read More......

League of American Bicyclists Names Portland, Ore.

League of American Bicyclists Names Portland, Ore.
a “Platinum” Level Bicycle Friendly Community.

The League of American Bicyclists congratulates Portland, Ore. on achieving
platinum Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) status – Portland is the first
large city in the United States to gain the designation and joins Davis,
Calif as the only other platinum BFC in the country.

More than 200 communities have applied for BFC recognition since 2003, and
84 currently have a bronze or higher designation. An announcement of
additional designations from the most recent round of applications is
scheduled for release Thursday, May 1, to mark the first day of National
Bike Month.

Portland’s BFC award is recognition of the incredible progress the
community has made to encourage more people to bicycle and to ride safely.
“When Portland received the gold award in 2003”, said Andy Clarke,
President of the League, “We challenged the community to increase ridership
to get to platinum. Bold leadership, community-wide involvement, and a lot
of hard work has resulted in a 144% increase in bicycle use since the 2000
Census – impressive results by any standard.”

“We are honored that the League has recognized Portland’s work to become a
better, safer place for people to bicycle”, said Portland City Commissioner
Sam Adams, who has spearheaded the initiative to achieve platinum status.
“This is integral to our broader vision of Portland as a world-class,
sustainable, and economically vibrant city that attracts families and
businesses because of the quality of life on offer to all. Bicycling helps
us achieve all that and more. We are not content to rest on our laurels.
Platinum status is just the beginning and we realize that the eyes of the
nation are now upon us to keep pedaling forward!”

BFC reviewers noted that Portland has coupled modest but smart investments
in infrastructure, with outstanding education, promotion and encouragement
activities to make bicycling a practical and safe option for many more
Portlanders than ever before. Education and enforcement programs are now
helping drivers and pedestrians interact more safely and predictably with
the increasing numbers of cyclists on the road.

Other highlights from the 27-page application included:

Portland’s bikeway network includes 270 miles of on-street bike
lanes, bike boulevards, and paved trails; another 40 miles of unpaved
trails offer mountain biking opportunities in city parks.
A city ordinance requires bike parking in new development and
redevelopment projects; another provides a huge incentive for
developers to provide showers and locker rooms
Six bike corrals have been installed, each replacing one on-street
car parking space with 12 bicycle spaces
400 bikeway destination signs have been installed (with 400 to come)
on the bikeway network
More than 1,000 traffic offenders (including cyclists) have been
through a two-hour “Share the Road” Safety Class
More than 400 bicycle light sets are distributed annually to
low-income bicyclists by the city, Tri-Met (the transit agency) and
the Community Cycling Center.
2,250 elementary students annually receive a 10-hour bicycle safety
course as part of a larger Safer Routes to School initiative. The
course is delivered by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and has
helped increase bicycling to school by 5% in just one school year.
The city distributes 35,000 citywide bicycle maps and another 35,000
local area maps. The citywide map is also reproduced in the Portland
phone book.
More than 9,100 people participated in the 2007 Bicycle Commuter
Challenge, including 1,700 first-time bike commuters
A Tri-Met survey found that three-fifths of area employment sites
provide bike parking and ten percent offer incentives to employees
who bicycle.
20,000 participants in the Providence Bridge Pedal make Portland home
to the second largest community bike ride in the United States (after
Bike New York)
2,000 hardy riders fill the annual Worst Day of the Year ride in
early February
The Bicycle Transportation Alliance boasts 3,000 members in the city
and is just one of many advocacy and riding groups that organize
thousands of rides, events and bicycling activities year-round
Creation of the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovations at
Portland State University will help ensure technology transfer and
much-needed research into innovative ways to encourage bicycling
The city boasts 40 bike shops and more than 150 bicycle-related
businesses that provide thousands of green-collar jobs and with an
economic benefit of more than $65 million (2005)

“Portland has had the courage to lead, to innovate, and to pursue a vision
of their community that emphasizes choice, equity and quality of life,”
continued Clarke. “The job isn’t done, however. Platinum status isn’t
forever, and it carries with it the responsibility of setting a high
standard for other communities to follow. We recognize that compared to
other world class cities for cycling, Portland still has a long way to go.”

Among the recommendations made by the League to the City to maintain their
platinum status are:

Ensure better access to city parks and recreation areas for off-road
riding
Strengthen ties to the police and enforcement community to ensure
motorists and cyclists are following the rules of the road
Increase investments in the city’s bikeway network, particularly bike
boulevards and signature projects that overcome major barriers, to
open up the city to cyclists of all abilities
Continue to innovate and demonstrate leadership with projects such as
the new bike boxes, colored bike lanes, and Sunday Parkways program


Andy Clarke
League of American Bicyclists
Help protect the rights of cyclists across the nation! Donate today!


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