June 2020

Summer is Almost Here

Bike Month is over, school is officially out, and the temperature is rising.  Traffic volumes on streets and highways have picked up because pandemic-related shelter-in-place orders have been lifted.  The nation is focused on racial injustice, with difficult but necessary conversations being had, and action to right past and current wrongs is being demanded.

There has been a long history of major transportation projects dividing communities and disproportionately harming segments of the population.  Over the past several years, social equity and environmental justice have increasingly been considered in the planning of public infrastructure.  However, still more public engagement is needed in the development of transportation projects to make sure that the needs of the community are addressed.  Enhancing active transportation facilities can be one way to help mend communities if the area residents feel safe using those facilities, and that includes being free from harassment.

PeopleForBikes City Ratings

PeopleForBikes recently released their City Ratings ranking of the top U.S. cities for biking.  The score measures safety, reach (how well the bike network serves everyone equally), biking network, ridership, and the city’s commitment to cycling.  The highest ranking city in the country is San Luis Obispo, which received a score of 3.5 out of 5.  Fresno fared only 1.3, and the score for reach actually declined over the past two years.  The low score shows that there are many opportunities for improvement.

Push for Fresno Slow Streets

Tony Molina, chair of FCBC, was featured in a Fresno Bee article regarding the City of Fresno Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee requesting the Fresno Mayor Lee Brand to direct City staff to increase opportunities for active transportation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The intent is to have several “pop-up” projects throughout the City to allow residents to be active on foot and bike while adhering to social distancing guidelines.  An online petition has been posted as well.

(Source:  San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency)

Next Board Meeting

The next Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 18 at 7:30 pm via Zoom.  There will be a discussion of Bike Match, which places donated bikes with needy individuals.  It has been implemented in many cities throughout the country, and consideration is being given to starting a Bike Match in Fresno.  Everyone is welcome to join the web conference.  If you would like to participate, please send an email to info@fresnobike.org, and the login information and call-in number will be sent to you.

Have a comment or suggestion?  Contact us at info@fresnobike.org