May 2024

It’s Bike Month!  The month is full of biking activities, with favorites from the past and some new rides this year.

In this month’s Newsletter:

• The second annual Ride with the Mayor is on Wednesday, May 15 at 3:00 pm at Fresno City Hall

• Bike to Work Day is Thursday, May 16.  There will be two energy stations, at the Tower Theater and at Manchester Center, where you can get a snack from 7:00 am to 9:00 am.  There will be a ride from Rubber Soul Bicycles to Manchester Center beginning at 8:00 am that day.

• The Bike Extravaganza on May 18 beginning at 8:30 am will combine a Ride Through History in the Tower District with yoga, coffee, brews, tacos, and The Bike Station.

• FCBC and REI are partnering for a Woodward Park trail ride on Sunday, May 26 at 11:00 am.

• Coffee Outside will be on Monday, May 27, at 10:00 am at Trolley Park near Fresno High.

• Several bills related to bicycling are working their way through the State Legislature.

• The next FCBC general membership meeting and FCBC Board meeting are scheduled for Thursday, June 20 at 6:30 and 7:00 pm, respectively.

Ride with the Mayor

FCBC is co-hosting with the Fresno Active Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC) the second annual “Ride with the Mayor” bike ride with Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer.  The event will begin on Wednesday, May 15 at 3:00 pm in front of Fresno City Hall, located at 2600 Fresno Street.  After a few speeches, there will be a leisurely 5-mile ride to the Tower District and back.  Registration for the ride is required and can be found here.

The Ride of Silence

Also on May 15 is The Ride of Silence, a global event that honors bicyclists who have been killed or injured.  Locally, the ride is organized by the Fresno Cycling Club.  The ride is a 7.8 mile loop beginning and ending at Clovis West High School in northeast Fresno.  The gathering time is at 6:30 pm, with ride-off at 7:00 pm.  The ride is silent and travels at a maximum speed of 12 miles per hour, making it suitable for riders of all skills. Register here

Bike to Work Day is Thursday, May 16

FCBC will be setting up the customary energy station at the Tower Theater located at the intersection of Olive and Wishon Avenues from 7:00 am to 9:00 am.  At an energy station you can get a snack and rehydrate.  Caltrans will be setting up their energy station at Manchester Center behind the Starbucks from 7:00 am to 9:00 am.

At 8:00 am on Bike to Work Day, there will be a ride from Rubber Soul Bicycles located at Blackstone and Nees Avenues to the Caltrans energy station at Manchester Center and back to the bike shop.  Register here for the ride.  The weekly Tuesday morning 15-mile ride to Sycamore Island with FCBC also continue, and you can sign up here.

Bike to Work Day is on Thursday, May 16, but you don’t have to just bike to work.  You can bike to school, the store, or anywhere else.  Fresno Area Express will be providing free rides for anyone who boards a FAX bus with a bike. More on Bike (and Bus) to Work Day here.

At the Fresno City Council meeting on May 16, beginning at 10:00 am. Council President Analisa Perea, Council Vice President Mike Karbassi, and Councilmember Tyler Maxwell will be issuing a Proclamation for Bike Month.  

Bike Extravaganza Including Ride Through History

Ride Through History will explore the Tower District on Saturday, May 18.  This ride is sponsored by FCBC and the Fresno Historic Preservation Commission.  Docents will be on hand to explain the significance of numerous buildings in the Tower District.  The ride will begin at 9:00 am at Tower Yoga located at 1277 N. Wishon Avenue.  The Bike Station will be there from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm to help bike owners repair their own bikes.  Throughout the morning, there will be yoga classes at Tower Yoga. Register here.

REI Community Ride on May 26

FCBC is partnering with REI with a community ride along the trails of Woodward Park on Sunday, May 26.  Meet at REI at the River Park Shopping Center at 11:00 am, with a ride-off time of 11:15 am.  The ride will finish at BarrelHouse Brewery at the River Park Shopping Center.  Register here.

Coffee Outside

There will be a Coffee Outside gathering at Trolley Park, near Fresno High at Van Ness and Weldon Avenues, on Monday, May 27 at 10:00 am.  Bring your own beverage, and come celebrate Memorial Day and FCBC Board Member Edna Pedroza’s birthday.  Register here.

Legislative Update

There are several bicycle-related bills working their way through the legislative process, as highlighted below:

• Senate Bill 961 requires vehicles to have an alert when traveling 10 mph over the speed limit.  The previous requirement for truck side guards has been removed.  The bill has had its second reading.

• Assembly Bill 2290 establishes the Bikeway Quick-Build Project Pilot Program that requires each Caltrans district to implement a low-cost bicycle facility as part of the Caltrans Maintenance Program by the end of 2027.  Projects funded by the SB-1 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Program that include a bicycle facility if identified by a bicycle plan or active transportation plan.  It would also prohibit funding from the Active Transportation Program for Class II bike routes unless on a residential street with a speed limit of 20 mph or less.  The bill has been referred to the Assembly Transportation Committee.

• AB-2234 would prohibit anyone under 12 from riding an e-bike and directs the CHP to develop by June 30, 2025 a skills waiver that would be issued to e-bike riders who do not have a driver’s license.  Such e-bike riders would also be required to have in their possession the waiver and a California ID card while operating an e-bike.  The bill is in the Appropriations Committee.

• AB-2259 would require the California Transportation Agency, which is over the DMV, the CHP, Caltrans, and the Office of Traffic Safety, to develop and make available electronically and in print form by September 1, 2025 a bicycle safety handbook.  A similar bill was vetoed last year over concerns of the cost of printing the handbook.  The bill is in the suspense file, from where bills typically do not proceed.

• SB-1216 would prohibit funds from the Active Transportation Program to place Class III bikeways on roadways with speed limits of 30 mph or higher beginning in 2025.  The bill has had its second reading.

Next General Membership and Board Meetings

There is no FCBC membership or Board meeting in May.  The next general membership and Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 20 at 6:30 pm and 7:00 pm, respectively, via Zoom.

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.