NOCBAC

Workshop for the OCTA Commuter Bikeway Strategic Plan

2008-06-29T11:59:00.000-07:00

July 12 workshop for the OCTA Commuter Bikeway Strategic Plan update is fast approaching!

All are welcome..
We will be getting together a ride to Santa Ana for this workshop probably from Fullerton with a stop in Anaheim then down the river trail. Please feel free to organize your own ride or we will make plans to meet up with your group.
There is also an online survey OCTA wants everyone to take. PLEASE TAKE A SEC AND FILL IT OUT
..

Long Beach to get a Bike Blvd??

2008-06-22T11:55:00.000-07:00

LONG BEACH - Biking across town will soon get a little easier.

City officials are planning to create two bicycle boulevards - one running east-west and the other north-south - and a bicycle master plan.

WEDNESDAY MEETING/RIDE

2008-06-22T11:50:00.000-07:00

It's Summer and I don't want to spend my beautiful evenings sitting in a meeting so..
We will have our first NOCBAC social ride/meeting.
Grab your city/clunker and come out for a short ride (a few miles). We will be riding our proposed Wilshire Bike Blvd to the Cal State area where we will find a coffee/tea/yogurt/real food place that has a patio where we can hang out and have a casual meeting/get to know you. You could bring a kid or two if they ride. I am open for a suggestion on a place to stop or we will just wing it.
Thanks Mike

When: Wednesday June 25th Meet at 6:30pm ride at 7:00pm
WHERE: Behind Bannings Bikes
WHAT: Social event/bike ride in place of NOCBAC meeting.
HOW: Bring a Bike and lights (city/clunker fine)

MEETING TONIGHT

2008-05-28T09:32:00.000-07:00

There will be a short NOCBAC meeting at Banning’s at 6 PM Wednesday May 28. We will discuss our recent events and future directions. OCTA, County and BUSC updates will be provided.

There is an important Planning Commission meeting at 7 that evening which several members wish to attend ( Amerige Court and GP Housing Element approval, neither of which directly pertains to bicycles).

Ride of Silence Reminder Wednesday May 21st

2008-05-16T10:16:00.000-07:00

The Ride of Silence this year is being organized North Orange County Bicycle Advocacy Coalition NOCBAC.org. We will meet at the Downtown Plaza in Fullerton. The same place we have met the last few years. It is locate on Wilshire between Harbor and Pomona next to the Museum (301 N. Pomona ave Fullerton CA 92832) People are encouraged to meet at 6:30 pm and we will leave at 7 pm. Bring front and rear lights. Wear a black arm band...and always your helmet.
Ride of Silence

Young Environmentalists Protest Anti_Bicycle Policy At Their High School

2008-05-12T19:35:00.000-07:00

Here is a great article from Treehugger.com

The students are members of an environmental club at their high school that had raised $2,000 and wanted to use the funds to donate a bike rack to the school. However, they were told that the school did not want to promote cycling due to safety concerns, and thus the gift was rejected. Ironically enough, the rejection came on Earth Day.

Read more

Orange County Bike To Work Week May 12 -16

2008-05-04T21:20:00.000-07:00

Pledge to ride to work and you could win prizes from OCTA

California Trails & Greenways Conference in San Diego this month

2008-05-01T23:39:00.000-07:00

Another follow-up action item from last night's NOCBAC meeting. TheCalifornia Trails & Greenways Conference will be later this month inSan Diego (May 29-30-31). It's a mixed gathering of equestrians,hikers & cyclists. It can be quite informative, with workshops onfunding and other useful information for advocates. Some peopleexpressed an interest in knowing more, so here is a link: California Trails & Greenways Conference

Keynote Speakers are
The author of the book "Last Child in the Woods" Richard Louv,
and Wildlife Conservationist Joan Embery.
You won't want to miss either of these inspiring speaking engagements.
For more information on the speakers, check out their following bios.
 Richard Louv (90kb, pdf)
 Joan Embery (53kb, pdf)

League of American Bicyclists Names 11 new Bicycle Friendly Community

2008-05-01T23:24:00.000-07:00

...with Portland getting the highest level "Platinum"
Today, eleven communities were honored with the League of American Bicyclists prestigious Bicycle Friendly Community designation and eleven communities renewed their designation. “This round brings into focus both the geographic and demographic diversity of designated communities,” League President Andy Clarke said. “These are all cities that are realizing the potential of bicycling to address the challenges of climate change, traffic congestion, rising obesity rates, and soaring fuel prices.” Read more.

OCTA Commuter Bikeways Strategic Plan Update TAKE THE SURVEY

2008-05-01T23:07:00.000-07:00

The OCTA Commuter Bikeways Strategic Plan Update will provide an updated inventory of all existing bikeways in Orange County. It will also identify all of the bikeways that have been proposed by the 32 OC Cities and the County of Orange, qualifying these jurisdictions for funding from the California State Bicycle Transportation Account. Strategic gaps in the existing bikeways network and key regionally-significant projects will be identified for priority funding.
Do your part as an OC cyclist and Take the survey.

Bicycle-Sharing Program to Be First of Kind in U.S.

2008-04-28T20:39:00.000-07:00

Starting next month, people in DC will be able to rent a bicycle day and night with the swipe of a membership card. Read more from the New York Times

NOCBAC MEETING Wed. April 30th 6pm @ Banning's

2008-04-28T20:23:00.000-07:00

There will be a NOCBAC Meeting at Banning's Bikes on Wednesday the 30th at 7pm. All are welcome PLEASE come. Banning's is at 206 N. Harbor Blvd Fullerton CA 92832
Here is a proposed agenda for the meeting.

North Orange County Bicycle Advocacy Coalition

Agenda: April 30, 2008: 7:00 PM

Self-introductions

Past and Future Events

Library Transportation Day, Saturday May 24

Santiago Creek event

Debrief of Green Scene/Social Responsibility event.

BUSC/OCTA/ County Trails reports
NOCBAC logo/ Banner
Discussion of last month’s guest speaker: Ron Milam
Newsletter
Other items: bike sharing/bike boulevard
Ride of Silence May 21 7pm
Next meeting: May 28?

Adjournment

RIDE OF SILENCE May 21st 7pm

2008-04-28T20:13:00.000-07:00

THE RIDE OF SILENCE? WILL NOT BE QUIET

On May 21, 2008, at 7:00 PM, the Ride of Silence? will begin in North America and roll across the globe. Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves.

The Ride of Silence this year is being organized by North Orange County Bicycle Advocacy Coalition NOCBAC.org. We will meet at the Downtown Plaza in Fullerton. The same place we have met the last few years. It is locate on Wilshire between Harbor and Pomona next to the Museum (301 N. Pomona ave Fullerton CA 92832) MAP
People are encouraged to meet at 6:30 pm and we will leave at 7 pm. Bring front and rear lights. Wear a black arm band.

NOCBAC Speakes at Social Justice Summit CSUF

2008-04-26T15:12:00.000-07:00

Saturday the 19th was a busy day for NOCBAC. As well as the Green Scene we were invited to speak for the 4th annual Social Justice Summit at Cal State Fullerton. I (Mike) met with Paul from the The Bicycle Tree and did a work shop on the importances of coalitions and non profits that support bicyclist. We were well received and met some great students who would like to get involved.

Fullerton Critical Mass this Friday!

2008-04-23T11:30:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder: Fullerton's monthly Critical Mass ride is this Friday.

We meet at 6PM at the Depot. Bring your friends, lights, noisemakers, flowers and be prepared for a great time!
The address is 120 E. Santa Fe Ave (South of Commonwealth between Harbor and Pomona) and here's a map.

If you have any questions, contact fullertoncriticalmass@gmail.com

Hope to see you there!

We will have a booth at The Fullerton Green Scene

2008-04-16T18:10:00.000-07:00

This coming weekend the 19th and 20th we will have a booth at The Green Scene at the Fullerton Arboretum on the Cal State Fullerton Campus. Please come by and say hi, or if you have some free time we could use some volunteers to help with the booth. Email me Mike@NOCBAC.org

NOCBA MEETING Wednesday night

2008-03-23T18:13:00.000-07:00

We have an important NOCBAC meeting this week, Wednesday March 26 at an earlier time, 6:00, and in a different location, the Bushala Building 110 E.Walnut immediately south of the Depot adjacent to Harbor Blvd.( but access is easier of you enter Walnut via Lemon or Highland

We have arranged for a guest speaker: Ron Milam, Organizational development consultant, former founding Executive Director of Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, board member and trainer for the Thunderhead Alliance and policy analyst for Surface Transportation Policy Project. He will advise us on a bunch of organizational stuff.

Link to map

Bicyclist killed in Santa Ana crash

2008-02-26T18:53:00.000-08:00

The OC Register writes about a crash between a bike and a truck.
Not much more is known at this time. I will try and keep you updated.
Read more...

LA’s Bicycle Master Plan Workshops; Road Service or Lip Service?

2008-02-21T17:18:00.000-08:00

An article I found on the LAist website

"The City of Los Angeles is in the process of updating its Bicycle Master Plan, a component of the Transportation Element of the City’s General Plan...
..... Read More"

If they got'em ..Why can't we??

2008-02-19T20:58:00.001-08:00

NOCBAC MEETTING Weds night Feb 20th 7pm

2008-02-19T20:14:00.001-08:00

NOCBAC Meetting will be at Bannings Bikes 7pm on Wednesday the 20th. Please attend.

Semiotics of the Ride work shop this Sunday

2008-02-19T19:56:00.001-08:00

They are trying to drum up a few more participants for the final bike route signage workshop this week. Check out the their blog to see a recap of the last 2 workshops.

Thinking Outside The Bike Lane:
An Exercise in Communal Co-Design.

Sunday February 24th | Noon

Participants needed to take part in an effort to rethink how bicycle route signage can work in our city.

The goal of the project is to create a new "unofficial" signage system for LA's Fourth Street Bicycle Route, one that represents the needs of real cyclists and can serve as a model for future routes. Over the last few weeks members of the LA cycling community have been helping determine the shape of this system. Now we need your input!

This three hour workshop will be looking at the form & structure of the signage system as well discussing ways to best promote the route and encourage its use.

The workshop will take place at:
Self-Help Graphics
3802 Cesar E. Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90063

OH NO..Not Sheldon

2008-02-04T20:42:00.001-08:00

I while back I wanted to learn to do a proper wheel truing. I was tired of bugging my friends (real bike mechanics) and I think they were tired of me bugging them too... So I asked the interweb in all its glory and where did it send me?? Yep.. to Sheldon Brown.

I'm sure everyone has a story like this or better like the time 10 years ago at interbike when I think I saw him walking down an isle, but couldn't decide if it would be in good practice to ask for his John Handcock..lol

Anyhow.. The man, the myth, the riding encyclopedia (I don't want to say walking encyclopedia) of everything bike is not with us anymore. May he RIP (Ride In Peace) and his wife Harriet have comfort.

Sheldon Brown 1944-2008

Slam i pho bi a:

2008-02-04T20:33:00.001-08:00

Fear of car doors opening suddenly

I took this picture of a LA metro bus with my cell phone. I think its kinda funny. I think I want to make it into a shirt....
..any one else have any good cell phone pics?? (umm..bike related) I think I'm gonna make this a new "Post Label"

St. Louis Cyclists Fight Back

2008-02-03T17:39:00.000-08:00

I Found this on Cycling Dudes blog and had to repost it.

David Fiedler, of David's Bicycling Blog, at About.com, has spread the word of a great story out of St. Louis.

Cyclists in that city have stood up and said they have had enough.

Tired of being struck by hit-and-run drivers -- the latest being a pair of incidents that injured three cyclists recently -- bicyclists in St. Louis have created a reward fund that pays for information to bring the miscreants to justice.

"If each of us put in, say twenty or forty bucks, I bet we would start grabbing people's attention," wrote Patrick Van de Turin, the guy who got the ball rolling on a local bicycling message board. "I'll start the pot with $100.00."

As you can well imagins the response was quite interesting.

Within a day, the fund had reached over $1,000. Then the Politicians got wise, heh, heh!

The mayor pledged an additional $500.

THEN the local media smelled a story.

Newspapers and TV Stations added to the pot and the fund -- now officially administered by the St. Louis Regional Bike Federation -- continues to grow.

Like David, I wonder wether it's enough "to capture the dirtbag that clipped two cyclists, running them off the road with his truck and horse trailer, or to nail the one who struck a cyclist and then drove off, leaving him lying broken in a downtown intersection".

Information about the Hit and Run Justice Fund - a Press Release (PDF) from the St. Louis Bicycle Federation.

Donate to the Hit and Run Justice Fund online, or you can send the donation to the St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation, Hit and Run Justice Fund, P.O. Box 23086, St. Louis, MO 63156.

A Tip of the Hat to David for this story.

Roger Kramer, Belleville, Ill. (And St. Louis, Mo., too, since it's only 20 mi. down the Bike Lane!) Premier BikeBlogger, has been on the story as well:

Anti-cyclist rant on St. Louis radio station.

Reward offered in hit-and-run accidents that injure cyclists.

Tracking bike problems in St. Louis.