November 2022
It’s getting towards the end of the year, but there are still plenty of events before the beginning of the holidays. Read more about them below.
In this month’s Newsletter:
Bike Café is on Tuesday, November 8 at 7:00 pm, and FCBC Board Chair Tony Molina and Nick Yovino Jr. will be presenting an update on their plans for the Bike Summit planned in Fresno for fall 2023.
Fresno World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 2022 will take place on Sunday, November 20.
FCBC will be hosting a Smart Cycling class with virtual classroom and on-bike sessions on November 19 and 20.
Nominations to the FCBC Board are open and will also be taken at the next Board meeting on November 17.
FCBC Bike Café
The monthly virtual Bike Café allows FCBC members and others to socialize and discuss bike-related topics of interest.
For this month, FCBC Board Chair Tony Molina and Nick Yovino Jr. will be presenting an update on their plans for the Bike Summit planned in Fresno for Fall 2023. Nick Yovino Jr. will also be sharing his experiences with European bicycle infrastructure on his recent travels.
Tony and Nick are working with the City of Fresno to develop Fresno's first Bike Summit as a Fresno/Muenster Germany sister city sustainable communities project.
Register here to get the Zoom link. If you have questions about using Zoom, registration for the event, or any other questions, email us events@fresnobike.org.
Fresno World Day of Remembrance Event
The City of Fresno Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) is organizing a World Day of Remembrance (WDOR) event on Sunday, November 20. The purpose of the event is to remember the millions of individuals who have been killed or seriously injured on the world’s roads and to acknowledge the suffering of all affected victims, families and communities. The event also pays tribute to the first responders to road crashes.
The event will also include a call to the City of Fresno to adopt a Vision Zero resolution committing to reducing all Fresno traffic deaths to zero by 2050. Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy and equitable mobility for all. It represents a paradigm shift for cities by acknowledging the many factors contributing to crashes including roadway design, speeds, behaviors, technology, and policies. It takes a systemic, data-driven approach by bringing together stakeholders to develop and implement evidence-based and cost-effective solutions.
The November 20 event will begin at 3:00 pm with a memorial bike ride from Fresno City Hall to the Tower District and back to City Hall. It will be a 6-mile bike ride on low-stress streets. At 4:00 pm, there will be invited speakers with a reading of the draft City Council Vision Zero resolution. Then at 5:00 pm, there will be a vigil procession with a short walk from City Hall to the Fresno Water Tower for a remembrance ceremonial lighting.
The event is sponsored by Fresno Councilmember Mike Karbassi, in collaboration with members of the Fresno BPAC. Additional information can be found here.
Fresno Bike Station FYOB Event
The Fresno Bicycle Station had successful Fix Your Own Bike events on October 15 and November 5. Keep an eye out for the next FYOB event to be held at the regular spot at 1440 N. Van Ness Avenue in the Tower District. The Fresno Bike Station is sponsored by FCBC and allows bike owners to learn how to repair their own bikes with help from experienced mechanics, including FCBC member Julie Congi and Tower Velo owner Chris Eacock. Special thanks to FCBC member Gwen Oviedo for donating a Park Tool bike stand that is being put to good use.
Upcoming Smart Cycling Class
FCBC League Cycling Instructors (LCIs) will be teaching a full, uncondensed version of the Smart Cycling class over two days on November 19 and 20 in coordination with Southern Sierra Cyclists with the goal of developing additional LCIs in the Central Valley. The class will be open to everyone, with the Part I virtual classroom session on Saturday, November 19 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm (register here for Part I) and the Part II in-person on-bike session on Sunday, November 20 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at Shannon Ranch Elementary School in Visalia (register here for Part II).
The 3-hour Part I virtual classroom session may be taken by itself and includes basic information like where to get a bike, parts of a bike, helmet fitting, different types of bikeways, lane positioning, and riding in the dark and inclement weather. The course will include many local examples and discussion of California laws related to bicycling. Attendance of Part I is required for participation in Part II.
The Part II on-bike session is limited to 20 participants, who must bring their own bike. Participants learn bike handling skills, including for collision avoidance. This is followed by a 10-mile bike ride on city streets where students will practice proper lane positioning and safe turning maneuvers. Participants will take a written test and receive a certificate if they pass. The cost is $25 and includes the Smart Cycling manual. If there is sufficient interest, a Part II on-bike session will be scheduled in Fresno in the coming weeks.
Part I may also be done by viewing videos on the League of American Bicyclists website and taking the quiz online. The videos do not contain any content specific to California, and there will not be the interaction of a virtual classroom or the ability to ask questions.
A certificate of completion of a Smart Cycling course is a prerequisite to attend an LCI Seminar to be trained to become an LCI to teach Smart Cycling classes. The LCI Seminar includes 23 hours of instruction over three days and is taught by LCI Coaches. An LCI Seminar can be scheduled if there are at least 8 qualified paying participants, and the intent is to have an LCI Seminar in the Fresno or Visalia areas sometime next year. The LCI Seminar was last offered in Fresno in 2018.
Upcoming FCBC Board Elections
Nominations are now open for the FCBC Board, and voting will begin after nominations are closed at the FCBC Board meeting on November 17. FCBC is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and Board members set the direction, plan the activities, and manage the resources. FCBC currently has seven Board members, but there are nine positions including Chair, Vice Chair, Past Chair, Secretary, Membership Coordinator, Treasurer, and three Members at Large.
Voting will be done online, with results announced at the December general membership meeting scheduled for December 15. FCBC members are encouraged to nominate other FCBC members or themselves for any of the Board positions except Past Chair. There are no specific requirements to be a Board member other than being a FCBC member and resident within Fresno County. More information regarding the duties and election process can be found in the FCBC bylaws, and any questions can be directed to info@fresnobike.org. Nominations may be emailed to elections@fresnobike.org up until nominations are closed at the FCBC Board meeting on November 17.
Next Board Meeting
The next Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 17 at 7:30 pm via Zoom. Everyone is welcome to join the virtual meeting. If you would like to participate in the meeting, register here, and you will immediately get the Zoom link.
Have a comment or suggestion? Contact us at info@fresnobike.org.
If you are not yet a member of FCBC or need to renew, please visit https://fresnobike.org/join to become a member or renew your membership.