July 2023

The mild summer weather so far has been nearly ideal for bike riding, but it’s about to warm up.  Ride early in the day if you can, and carry plenty of water for when it warms up later in the day.

In this month’s Newsletter:

 

• Bike Café will be in-person on Thursday, July 13, at 6:00 pm at Gazebo Gardens

• The City of Clovis has a workshop for the Enterprise Trail bridge over the State Route 168 freeway east of Temperance Boulevard

• The next Bike Station Fix Your Own Bike Event is on Saturday, July 29 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm in the Tower District.

• The Fresno Council of Governments (COG) is updating the Regional Active Transportation Plan

• Several bills related to bicycling are working their way through the legislative process.

• FCBC assisted with a League Cycling Instructor (LCI) Seminar in Visalia last month

• The next FCBC Board meeting is on Thursday, July 20 at 7:30 pm

FCBC Bike Café

For this month, FCBC will be holding a first-ever live in-person FCBC Bike Café on Thursday, July 13 at Gazebo Gardens, located at 3204 N Van Ness Boulevard from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm.  The earlier than usual time will allow you to enjoy dinner from a food truck, if you so choose, during Bike Café and ride home before it starts getting dark.

The gathering will be informal and without any presentations.  However, there will be a discussion topic of “What fun bike rides should FCBC organize in the coming year?”  We would like everyone to share their ideas on themes, their favorite local meeting spots, destinations, and best routes to get there by bike. 

We will also briefly acknowledge the contributions of outgoing Board member Dr. Juan Flores to show our deep appreciation for his service as FCBC Membership Coordinator, help in developing FCBC's strategic plan, and work on numerous grant submissions.  We will also be welcoming back to the Board Edna Pedroza Alkurdi to take on the role of FCBC Membership Coordinator.

If you have questions or suggestions for Bike Café, email us events@fresnobike.org.

Enterprise Trail Bridge Workshop on July 12

The City of Clovis is planning to build a signature bicycle and pedestrian bridge over the State Route 168 freeway as part of the Enterprise Trail, just east of Temperance Avenue.  To get community input on the type of bridge, which may cost $25 million or more, the City of Clovis is holding a workshop on Wednesday, July 12 at 6:00 pm at the Miss Winkles Pet Adoption Center located at 85 N Temperance Avenue in Clovis.

The Bike Station

A highly successful Fix Your Own Bike (FYOB) event was held on June 25 in the Tower District.  

The next FYOB event is scheduled on July 29 between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm at 1440 N. Van Ness Avenue.  The 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.

Fresno County Regional Active Transportation Plan Update

The Fresno Council of Governments (COG) is updating the Regional Active Transportation Plan (ATP), which encompasses the entirety of Fresno County with the exception of the Cities of Fresno, Clovis, Coalinga, and Reedley, which have their own ATPs.  The previous plan was from 2018.  The public may take a survey or use an interactive map to make comments on bicycle or pedestrian facility needs until July 31.

For those who live or work in the Fresno-Clovis area, of particular interest may be the County islands, whose locations can be viewed on this map.

Legislative Update

The Legislature adjourns on September 14, and the Governor has one month beyond that to sign or veto bills.  Here are the more notable bicycle-related bills working their way through the legislative process:

• Assembly Bill (AB) 73 brings back the proposed “safety stop,” commonly known as the Idaho stop.  It would apply only to a two-lane roadway approaching a one or two-lane roadway with an all-way stop.  Last year Governor Newsom vetoed the similar AB 1713.  The bill passed the Assembly and is in the Senate Transportation Committee.

• AB 251 would require the formation of a task force to study the relationship of vehicle size to injuries and fatalities to vulnerable road users and the degradation of roads.  The bill passed the Assembly to the Senate but is in the suspense file.

• AB 361 would allow the pilot usage of video enforcement for parking violations in bicycle lanes.  The bill passed the Assembly and is in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

• AB 413 would prohibit parking for 20 feet on either side of a marked or unmarked crosswalk, or within 15 feet where there is a curb extension, for sight distance.  The bill passed the Assembly and is in the Senate Transportation Committee.

• AB 1188 would require the California Transportation Agency, which is over the DMV, CHP, Office of Traffic Safety, and Caltrans, to develop a Bicycle Safety Handbook by September 1, 2024.  The bill died in the Assembly over concerns of the $4.1 million cost, primarily for production and printing.

• Senate Bill (SB) 381 would require the Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University to conduct a study of the safety of e-bikes by January 1, 2026.  The bill passed the Senate and is in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

• SB 538 would require Caltrans to appoint a Chief Advisor on Bicycling and Active Transportation.  The bill passed the Senate and is in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

LCI Seminar in Visalia

Last month, four FCBC Board members who are also League Cycle Instructors (LCIs) assisted LCI Coach Les Leathem, from New Orleans, to train and equip 12 new LCIs in Visalia.  The LCI Seminar takes place over three days and includes both classroom and on-bike instruction. Most participants were from the Visalia area, but there were also a few from the San Francisco Bay Area and San Luis Obispo.  The new LCIs are certified to teach the Smart Cycling curriculum of the League of American Bicyclists (LAB), as education is an important component of the League’s Bicycle Friendly America framework, which also includes equity and accessibility, engineering (infrastructure), encouragement, and evaluation and planning.

A LCI Seminar may be scheduled in Fresno next year if there is sufficient interest.  It takes a minimum of 8 paid and qualified candidates, who are required to complete a Smart Cycling course and pass an exam.  There are about 7,000 LCIs in the United States.  Anyone who was previously an LCI but let their certification lapse may be reinstated by becoming current in their LAB membership and LCI dues.

Next Board Meeting

The next Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 20 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.  If you would like to participate in the meeting, register here, and you will immediately get the Zoom link.

Membership

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.

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