Fall Back and Roll On- Bicyclists Prepare for Days of Less Light

Police Department teams up with Bicycle Coalition for bicycle light giveaway in anticipation of this weekend's Daylight Savings Time Change 

What: 

The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition and the San Diego Police Department are embracing darkness coming with this weekend's Daylight Savings time change and taking bicycle safety into their own hands. 

Before we fall back, the Bicycle Coalition is giving away free sets of front and rear bicycle lights to prepare bicyclists for the upcoming change in hours. Anyone riding by the Police Department Headquarters at this time will receive complimentary lights (while supplies last), important safety information about riding in the dark and other Bicycle Coalition goodies to trick out their bicycle.

Why: 

California state law requires bicycles be equipped with very specific lights when riding in darkness, which is defined as a half hour after sunset or a half hour before sunrise. The Bicycle Coalition knows the safety of our citizens is top priority.

By joining forces with the Police Department together they can uphold cycling laws while also ensuring bicycle commuters are visible and safer on the road without sunlight.

Where: 

In front of San Diego Police Department Headquarters: 1401 Broadway, San Diego, 92101

Who: 

San Diego Police Department and San Diego County Bicycle Coalition are providing these lights for any and all bicycle commuters.

When: 

Public remarks from SDCBC and SDPD: Wednesday, October 30 at 5 PM.
Light giveaway: Wednesday, October 30 from 4-6 PM
Daylight Savings: Sunday, November 3 at 2 AM

VICTORY: SANDAG Approves $200 million for Regional Bike Plan Projects

San Diego County Bicycle Coalition calls this an historic moment for the bicycling community

SAN DIEGO, September 27, 2013 – Today San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) approved scenario 1 for the regional bike plan early action program, which allows a $200 million investment in high priority bike projects over the next 10 years. The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition (SDCBC), an organization protecting the rights of all people who ride bicycles, says this is a momentous step toward creating a regional bicycle network of interconnected corridors, support facilities and programs to make bicycling a convenient form of transportation.

“The momentum for bicycling as an active form of transportation in San Diego County is in high gear,” said Andy Hanshaw, Executive Director of SDCBC. “By approving scenario 1 for the regional bike plan, SANDAG has put into motion essential improvements that will enable folks to ride bicycles more safely on more direct and convenient routes that connect more cities throughout the county.”

In 2011, SANDAG’s board of directors made a commitment to active transportation with the adoption of the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan and its Sustainable Communities Strategy, which included integration of Riding to 2050: San Diego Regional Bicycle Plan previously approved in 2010. The board developed the bike plan early action program, and in April 2012, SANDAG’s transportation committee accepted its goals and began initial cost estimates. Following a recommendation by the transportation committee, today’s final action by the board approved scenario 1 for the early action program prioritizing projects included within the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan.

Some high profile projects in the list of early action priorities include the North Park – Mid-City bike corridor, the Uptown bicycle corridor, several Coastal Rail Trail San Diego bikeways, San Diego River Trail bikeways, additional Bayshore Bikeway connections and some downtown to southeast San Diego connections.

According the Hanshaw, these much-needed bicycling improvements in San Diego County complement the greater bicycle momentum occurring throughout all parts of the region. Earlier this week, Governor Brown announced that he signed a bill that will require cars to give three feet of space when passing a bicycle rider on the road. The City of San Diego and its bike share partner, DECOBIKE, are currently searching for input on locations for the new bike share system slated to open in 2014. Also, San Diego’s business improvement districts run the nation’s largest bicycle friendly program of its kind.

“SANDAG’s approval for early action on these high-priority bicycle road and pathway improvements nicely wraps together bicycle-related projects and improvements occurring simultaneously in all parts of the county,” Hanshaw said. 

For more information on the Bicycle Coalition’s strategic initiatives, visit www.sdcbc.org. 

Tour de Fat Returns to San Diego on September 28th!

If dressing freaky, riding bikes, listening to bands and drinking beer are things you like, then don’t miss the most FUN fundraiser around…Tour de Fat is coming back to town! New Belgium Brewing, maker of Fat Tire Amber Ale and other award-winning beers, is bringing the 14th annual Tour de Fat to San Diego on Saturday, September 28 in Balboa Park.

Gather up your friends, family and neighbors and come enjoy eclectic entertainment and stellar beer, all while helping local bicycle nonprofits raise funds. The event is free, yet all proceeds from beer and merchandise sales and donations from parade participants will help make San Diego a better place to ride a bike. Last year, approximately 3,500 people came to the festival and raised nearly $30,000 for local nonprofits including the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition and the San Diego Mountain Biking Association.

To properly kick-start the festival, Tour de Fat begins with a giant bicycle parade that weaves through city streets. Each parade route is designed for people of all skill levels; everyone is welcome and colorful costumes are encouraged. For the rest of the afternoon, the stages heat up with world-class acts like Reggie Watts and He’s My Brother She’s My Sister and the park becomes a celebration unlike any other.

Kids of all ages can ride funky bikes, eat delicious fare, relax in the grass, and participate in games and activities such as a “Thousand Person Dance Contest”, which will determine the winner of a 2013 New Belgium Cruiser Bike. Everyone 21 and older can sample new and classic favorites from New Belgium, including the brewery’s flagship brew, Fat Tire, this summer’s seasonal, Rolle Bolle, and selections from the acclaimed Lips of Faith series. 

Click here for more details.

3 Ways to Help CicloSDias

Please join us in supporting CicloSDias -- San Diego’s first-ever open streets community-wide event. 

On August 11^th, CicloSDias will open 5.2 miles of car-free streets in the heart of San Diego to pedestrians, cyclists, families, and anyone who can imagine a new way to use them.

This is an exciting opportunity for neighbors and community members to come together and enjoy open, car-free streets and support a clean, healthy and vibrant San Diego. What’s more, ‘open street’ initiatives in other cities have proven to be a powerful catalyst, driving those cities to become more walk-able, bike-able, and transit friendly.

Watch the video

We are asking you to join us and invest in San Diego by helping the CicloSDias crowd-funding campaign.  The CicloSDias Steering Committee is seeking to raise $15,000 in 15 days to cover event-related expenses, including traffic re-routing and control, police, and emergency medical services, and community outreach efforts.

We are off to a great start (20% funded) but we still have a ways to go. Please help launch CicloSDias in one of 3 easy ways: 

1.     Become a Supporter: This is FREE. All you have to do is visit the crowd funding page and choose "become a supporter." The more supporters the campaign has, the more people will hear about the campaign and show their own support! 

2.       Make a donation: Donations of any size make a difference, so please make a contribution. You will become part of history! (And, there's some fun rewards involved too).

3. Become a Fundraiser: Support the campaign by reaching into your own network of friends and family and encourage them to donate to your personal fundraising campaign. We have additional rewards for top fundraisers!

Thank you for your support!

Mission Hills - The Place to be on Bike Local Sunday, June 16

Car-free movement encourages folks to ride bikes to local businesses

SAN DIEGO, June 4, 2013 – The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition and the San Diego Business Improvement District Council announce Mission Hills as the next Bike Local Sunday on June 16. In conjunction with the second CicloSDias Mini in Presidio Park, Bike Local Sunday encourages folks to ride bikes to local businesses and support neighborhood economies.

Bike Local Sunday rolls into Mission Hills on June 16 with family-friendly themes and specials at numerous businesses for those on bikes, including Brooklyn Girl, The Red Door, Meshuggah Shack and The Gathering. Simultaneously, CicloSDias Mini opens Presidio Park for bicycles and pedestrians to enjoy without the hassles of car traffic.

Mission Hills welcomes cylists all day, but those seeking a more organized ride should meet at 10 a.m. at the Mission Hills Bike Shop, on the corner of Front Street and 1^st Avenue, to participate in a neighborhood ride that winds through the CicloSDias Mini in Presidio Park and returns to Mission Hills Business District.

“Bike Local Sunday is an all day affair for folks to enjoy when they can,” said Andy Hanshaw, executive director of the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, which advocates for and protects the rights of all people who ride bicycles. “Grab your family, friends and bicycles and roll into Mission Hill’s Bike Local Sunday at your own pace.”

This Bike Local Sunday is brought to the community by San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, San Diego Business Improvement District Council and the Mission Hills Business District, which will make Treasure Seekers local discount cards available at the Mission Hills Bike Shop.

The Bike Local Sunday schedule is:

·    June 16 - Mission Hills in conjunction with Presidio Park Mini-CicloSDias

·    July 21 – Golden Hill in conjunction with Golden Hill Mini-CicloSDias

·    August 11  – San Diego CicloSDias

·    August 25  - Bike the Bay

·    Sept 22 – Pacific Beach

·    October 20 – Ocean Beach

For more information on Bike Local Sunday, visit www.bikelocal.org. For more information on the Mission Hills Business District and its Treasure Seekers local discount cards, please visit www.ourmissionhills.com. Also visit www.sdcbc.org for more information on other local cycling events in San Diego County.

###

SAN DIEGO COUNTY BICYCLE COALITION: (SDCBC) is a nonprofit organization that advocates for and protects the rights of all people who ride bicycles. They promote bicycling as a mainstream, safe and enjoyable form of transportation and recreation.  For more information, go to www.sdcbc.org.  

SAN DIEGO BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT COUNCIL: A 501 (c 6) organization. The Council is an association of San Diego’s Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) whose mission is to assist in the development and dissemination of information, resources, and expertise to its member BIDs, and to improve the physical, social, and economic environments of San Diego’s small businesses. www.bidcouncil.org