August 2024
The record-breaking heat is finally starting to break, and school is starting soon. With improved bicycle infrastructure in the Fresno-Clovis area, riding a bike to school is becoming a more viable option and beats the traffic jams with the lines of vehicles during drop-off and pick-up times.
In this month’s Newsletter:
The City of Fresno Active Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC) meets most months and provides an opportunity for those interested in bicycling and pedestrian issues to be involved.
A League Cycling Instructor (LCI) Seminar is being planned for next spring
The monthly Bike Station updates from Julie Congi.
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, August 15 at 6:30 and 7:00 pm, respectively.
City of Fresno Active Transportation Advisory Committee-formerly BPAC
The City of Fresno Active Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC) meets ten times a year, typically on the 4th Wednesday at 5:30 pm at City Hall, to discuss pedestrian and bicycling planning efforts, projects, and concerns. The meetings can also be attended via Zoom. ATAC was previously known as BPAC, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, which was formed in 2003.
ATAC consists of nine members. One is appointed by each of the seven councilmembers, and two are appointed by the Mayor. Two of the current members, Julie Congi and Edna Pedroza, are FCBC Board members. The Chair is Laura Gromis, Executive Director of U.S. Green Building Council Central California and good friend of FCBC. There are two vacancies, one for District 4, which is east central Fresno, and for one of the mayoral appointments. Applications for the vacant positions may be submitted online.
ATAC meetings typically have a public comment period, Board member reports, task force reports, presentations on various active transportation topics, a traffic safety report, and updates on grants and public work projects. ATAC provides a forum for those interested in being involved in local transportation matters. You can like and share the ATAC Facebook page here.
Weekly FCBC Rides with Rubber Soul Bicycles
The weekly Tuesday morning 15-mile ride to Sycamore Island with FCBC and Rubber Soul Bicycles is led by Jon Stewart with the bike shop. The ride is both on and off pavement, and it departs from the bike shop at the northwest corner of Blackstone and Nees Avenues at 8:00 am every Tuesday. From the bike shop, the ride goes through residential streets into Woodward Park. The ride proceeds on the old Highway 41 and along the San Joaquin River to Sycamore Island and then returns to the bike shop by 9:30 am. Sign up here for the weekly series of rides. After registering, you may attend any week of your choosing.
Fresno Bike Station
Meet Tina! She rides with that group the Cycling Sister and their Misters. She donated her old Trek and upgraded to a new bicycle. She heard about the bicycle Coalition and wanted to donate her bike. Thank you, Tina, and the many others who have donated bikes to Bike Station!
Late breaking August Bike Station update from FCBC Board Member and Bike Station Director Julie Congi:
"There won't be a Bike Station this month. The weather's been crazy hot too. But next month, we're having a bike swap meet on September 8th. The Bike Station will have our clinic and sell some bike stuff. We're also partnering with the Slowest Locals Ride. And on September 14th, we'll be at another event with the BMX Krewe for their Cali Connection Rideout. We'll be providing minor repairs before the ride. I'll send more details soon. I hope to see y'all. -julie"
Upcoming LCI Seminar
FCBC is making plans to bring the League Cycling Instructor (LCI) Seminar to Fresno early next year, tentatively in March. FCBC is partnering with Fresno County Department of Public Health and Fresno Council of Governments to increase the number of local bicycle safety instructors. LCIs teach Smart Cycling classes to adults and children, and the LCI Seminar provides the prospective instructors with the necessary tools and knowledge. The LCI Seminar includes 23 hours of instruction over a weekend. The registration fee is $500. A prerequisite to become an LCI is to take a Smart Cycling class, including an on-bike session, and passing a test. FCBC will be scheduling a Smart Cycling class prior to the LCI Seminar. Why become a league cycling instructor? More information will be forthcoming.
Legislative Update
The current legislative session is coming to a close, with the Legislature adjourning on September 14 and the Governor having another month to sign or veto bills. There are several bicycle-related bills working their way through the legislative process, as highlighted below:
Senate Bill 961 requires new vehicles beginning in the 2030 model year to have a one-time alert when traveling 10 mph over the speed limit. The bill is in the Assembly for a third reading.
Assembly Bill 1774 would prohibit a person from selling a product or device that can modify the speed capability of an electric bicycle such that it no longer meets the definition of an electric bicycle. This bill was signed by the Governor.
AB-1778 would would establish the Marin Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program that would, until January 1, 2029, authorize Marin County or local authority within Marin County to adopt an ordinance or resolution that would prohibit a person under 16 years old from operating a class 2 electric bicycle or require a person operating a class 2 electric bicycle to wear a bicycle helmet. The bill is in the Senate for a third reading.
AB-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 25 mph or less. The bill has been referred to the suspense file.
AB-2234 establishes an electric bicycle enforcement pilot program in the County of San Diego allowing the county or local authorities to prohibit a person under 12 years of age from operating a class 1 or class 2 electric bicycle until January 1, 2029. A report would be submitted to the Legislature by January 1, 2028 that details enforcement of the ordinance and changes, if any, in electric bicycle collisions and injuries. The bill is in the Senate for a third reading.
AB-2259 would require the California Transportation Agency, which is over the DMV, the CHP, Caltrans, and the Office of Traffic Safety, upon appropriations is to develop by September 1, 2025 a downloadable 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.
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 is in the Assembly for a third reading.
Next General Membership and Board Meetings
The next general membership meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 15 at 6:30 pm via Zoom. The general membership meeting is for members and nonmembers to meet with the Board prior to the official Board meeting to ask questions or raise issues for the Board to consider. After the meeting concludes, at 7:00 pm at the latest, the Board meeting will begin. Board meetings are restricted to members only.
If you would like to participate in the meeting, register here, and you will immediately get the Zoom link.