September 2024
California Clean Air Day is Wednesday, October 2. Bicycling, of course, is one of the cleanest forms of transportation, and you can make every day a Clean Air Day when you choose to ride your bike instead of driving to your destination.
In this month’s Newsletter:
A bicycle swap meet will be held at Goldstein’s Mortuary and Delicatessen on Sunday, September 8 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, and The Bike Station will be there to help bike owners repair their own bikes.
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The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which provides standards and guidance for traffic control on streets and highways, is being updated for California.
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FCBC jerseys and Tee shirts are available for purchase on the FCBC online store.
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The Governor has until the end of September to sign or veto several bills related to bicycling.
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The next FCBC general membership meeting and FCBC Board meeting are scheduled for Thursday, September 19 at 6:30 and 7:00 pm, respectively.
Bicycle Swap Meet with Fresno Bike Station
On Sunday, September 8 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, a bicycle swap meet will be held at the shaded patio of Goldstein's Mortuary & Delicatessen, located at 1279 N. Wishon Avenue. You will be able to buy, sell, or trade bikes or anything else bike-related. If you would like to sell anything, you must send a message to @slowestlocals on Instagram to reserve a spot.
Fresno Bike Station will be there for minor repairs such as brakes, shifting issues, and flat tire repair. The Bike Station is sponsored by FCBC and allows bike owners to learn how to repair their own bikes with help from experienced mechanics, includingFCBC member Julie Congi and Tower Velo owner Chris Eacock.
MUTCD Updates
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) defines the standards used by road managers nationwide to install and maintain traffic control devices on all streets, highways, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and site roadways open to public travel. The MUTCD has been in existence since 1935, and it has been administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) since 1971. The 11th Edition of the MUTCD became effective January 18, 2024, and states have two years to adopt it. States may have their own MUTCD, but it must be in substantial conformance with the national MUTCD. Substantial conformance is needed so that traffic control in one state is consistent with that in another. A public entity that places or allows to place nonconforming traffic control risks loss of federal funding or exposure to liability should a crash result from the nonconforming traffic control.
The California Department of Transportation, or Caltrans, has multiple subject matter expert (SME) workgroups reviewing the national MUTCD to assess for potential inclusion in the updated California (CA) MUTCD, which is to be released in January 2026. Some deviations are required from the national MUTCD because of California statutes, such as in California Class iV separated bikeways are not considered bike lanes, which are mandatory use facilities. Therefore it would be inappropriate to use a “BIKE LANE” sign for a separated bikeway.
Here are two examples of new signs that are in the national MUTCD and are being considered for the CA MUTCD:
The R9-20 “Bicycles ALLOWED USE OF FULL LANE” sign may potentially replace the “Bicycles MAY USE FULL LANE” sign. The R9-21 “Bicycles USE SHOULDER ONLY” sign is being considered for use on freeways where bicycles are not prohibited. However, the sign is directing bicyclists to use only the shoulder on freeways, but California statute does not necessarily restrict bicycles to shoulders.
The public will have the ability to comment on the proposed updated CA MUTCD. As each SME workgroup completes the review of one of the nine parts of the MUTCD, the draft of the proposed updated CA MUTCD part will be posted online. Drafts for only two of the nine parts have been posted so far. Traffic control for bicycle facilities, Part 9, has not been posted yet. More information can be found here.
California Clean Air Day is October 2
The Coalition for Clean Air, an organization that advocates for clean air and promotes clean transportation, designates the first Wednesday of every October, which is October 2 this year, as California Clean Air Day. They have a pledge formwhere individuals or organizations can pledge to do various activities that day to clean the air, such as riding your bike instead of taking your car.
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.
FCBC Jerseys and Tee Shirts Available for Purchase
You may have noticed FCBC members wearing an orange and white FCBC jersey or Tee shirt on an FCBC group ride. These high-quality jerseys and Tee shirts are made by Voler and were designed by FCBC Board member Edna Pedroza. The cost is $65 for a jersey and $50 for a Tee shirt. The performance fabrics are breathable and quick drying. The FCBC store can be found here.
Legislative Update
The Governor has until September 30 to sign or veto any remaining bills that were passed by the Legislature in the current legislative session. There are several bicycle-related bills working their way through the legislative process, as highlighted below:
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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 has been sent to the Governor.
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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 has been sent to the Governor.
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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. The bill did not pass the Legislature and died.
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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 has been sent to the Governor.
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would require the California Transportation Agency, which is over the DMV, the CHP, Caltrans, and the Office of Traffic Safety, 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 did not pass the Legislature and died.
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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 been sent to the Governor.
Next General Membership and Board Meetings
The next general membership meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 19 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.
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.