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Sonoma Valley Trail Feasibility Report
Sonoma County Regional Parks issued their feasibility study for the Sonoma Valley Trail (SVT) this month. This Class 1 trail (like the Joe Rodota or West County Trails ) would extend thirteen miles generally along Highway 12 from the Springs area west of Sonoma to the Santa Rosa City limits, passing near the communities of Glen Ellen and Kenwood. It is an extension of the Central Sonoma Valley Trail and is intended to provide recreational and commuting opportunities to residents and visitors alike. The full report is viewable at:
http://www.bikesonoma.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/SVT-StudyReport-Draft_11-6-15.pdf
While much of the report centers on the technical aspects of the planning process, cyclists should take a careful look at the potential route alignment maps in Section 6, the preferred alignment maps and aerial views of possible road crossings in Section 7, and the discussion of road/trail separation barriers in Section 8.
SCBC assisted Regional Parks with the grant application, helped to organize community support, and engaged elected officials early on to ensure future support. This type of effort is consistent with SCBC’s strategic plan (Part 1.1- “Advocate for development of bicycle facilities having countywide or multi-jurisdictional significanceâ€) and is an example of bike advocacy in action. Projects like this is why it's so important to be a Bike Coalition member.
The SVT is listed as a High Priority project in the 2010 Sonoma County Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. The Plan proposes a network of 203 miles of Class 1 trails throughout the County. To date, only 35 miles have been built, but the Bike Coalition is working hard to turn the Plan into reality.
The Feasibility Study moves the SVT project one step closer to realization. The study will be presented to the Board of Supervisors in December for approval of the preferred and alternative alignments. If approved, the next step is environmental review, which is expected to take 6 to 9 months. Once environmental review is complete and permits are obtained, construction will begin. Like most large projects, the Sonoma Valley Trail will be constructed in phases as funding becomes available. We anticipate that Section 9, running from Melita Road to Kenwood will be the first segment to be constructed and that work could begin early in the Spring of 2017 and be completed later in the summer.
What can you do? We urge SCBC members to contact their County Supervisor, voice their support for the SVT and make it clear this should be a top priority for Regional Parks. Stay tuned for updates in future newsletters.
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Lake County Bike Drive, Part 2
On November 14th, SCBC's Executive Director, Gary Helfrich, helped with a second bike drive organized by Bike Angels United, for people who lost their homes in the Lake County fires this Fall. Along with generous donations from Community Bikes in Santa Rosa and Dynacraft in American Canyon, 550 more bikes were donated, assembled and distributed. The Bike Peddler truck had to make two trips over to Lake County that day to deliver all the bikes collected in Sonoma County.
Gary, along with a team of Lake County bike mechanics spent much of the day assembling more than 75 bikes as eager recipients watched. Later in the afternoon Congressman Mike Thompson arrived and congratulated everyone for helping to make the Valley Fire Bike Drive a huge success.
Santa Rosa awarded Bike Friendly Community Status
On November 16, 2015, the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) announced this year’s Bicycle Friendly Communities awardees, and Santa Rosa joined the list for the first time as a Bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community. Santa Rosa joins Healdsburg, Windsor, Sonoma and Napa (all Bronze level); Calistoga and Oakland (Silver), San Francisco (Gold) and Davis (Platinum) as one of the many Bicycle Friendly Communities designated in California.
The League’s Bicycle Friendly America program provides recognition for communities to make bicycling a real transportation and recreation option for all people by providing safe accommodations for bicycling.
Santa Rosa was assessed through a voluntary application process, submitted by City of Santa Rosa employees, who were assisted by the members of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board. Once a city submits an application, they then receive feedback and access to technical assistance from LAB to achieve the Bicycle Friendly Community designation. For more information on the program, see the League’s website, www.bikeleague.org/bfa
Congratulations, Santa Rosa!
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Smart Cycling Classes
Our Smart Cycling Class is now available on week nights!
We are now offering the classroom portion (Smart Cycling A) as a two hour class once a month on Wednesday nights from 6:30-8:30PM.
This is the place to build up street biking confidence and get answers to your questions about how the transportation laws work with people on bikes. Whether you are a daily bike commuter or new to two wheels there is something for everyone in this class. Our instructors are nationally certified by the League of American Bicyclists and live to teach each of you how to be legal while also being safe when biking in our community. No need to bring your bike to this class but we encourage you to bring your helmet for our LCI instructors to help ensure it is well fitted to your head.
There is ONE more Wednesday night classes available before the year ends.
December 16, 2015 6:30-8:30PM
Sign up soon to ensure your seat before it fills up.
All classes are held at the Bike Coalition's office at 750 Mendocino Ave in Santa Rosa. The cost is $10 for Coalition members and $20 for the general public. For more information and to register online, visit www.bikesonoma.org or call (707) 545-0153 or email skills@bikesonoma.org.
Got a bike related problem or complaint?
Our website www.bikesonoma.org includes forms to report harassment by car drivers, road hazards and malfunctioning traffic signals. Just look for the black and white banner at the top of the home page and click on the appropriate category to reach the form to report your concerns. You do not need to be an SCBC member to report a problem.
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Upcoming events –
Volunteer Party, Thursday December 3rd
We love our volunteers!
Our volunteers are the heart and soul of the Bike Coalition. We would not be able to continue our work to make Sonoma County a great place to ride a bike without them. Our annual Volunteer Appreciation Party is scheduled for Thursday, December 3rd, 6 – 8 p.m. at Joey’s Pizza, 727 Mendocino Ave (corner of Carillo Street) in Santa Rosa. Secure bike parking will be available in the Coalition’s offices, right across the street from Joey’s at 750 Mendocino. As always, our party is paid for from this year’s tip jar proceeds so it is free to attend. Please RSVP to www.bikesonoma.doodle.com to add your name to the list.
Family & Cargo Bike Ride, Saturday, Dec. 5th, 10 - 1 pm
On Saturday, December 5th, the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition and Yuba Bikes will host a Family and Cargo Bike Ride.
The ride will follow the Santa Rosa Creek Trail to Summerfield Waldorf Farm and School, on Willowside Rd. There will be a Winter Craft Faire at Summerfield, where there will be refreshments for sale (or families can bring their own) and a place for families to hang out before leaving around 12:30pm to pedal back to the meeting places. Families can feel free to stay at Summerfield longer and pedal back on their own.
There will be two locations where families can gather to meet the ride, the fish fountain (corner of Santa Rosa Ave and Sonoma Ave in downtown Santa Rosa) at 10 a.m., or the parking lot on Stony Point Rd (153 Stony Circle, near Building 750) at 10:30 a.m. There will be a briefing on safe bicycling with children at the Stony Point location, and we will leave around 10:45am. This will be a leisurely 3.5 mile ride one way to Willowside Road (6 miles one way from the fish fountain), and no one will be left behind; mechanical support will be provided.
The Coalition has four Yuba Cargo bikes available to loan out if requested in advance of the ride. Yuba Bikes, based in Petaluma, will also have representatives on the ride and bikes available for test rides as well. Families who are participating in the ride should bring bikes in good riding condition and helmets for each rider. For more information, including requesting the use of a cargo bike, contact Sarah Hadler sarah@bikesonoma.org or Gary Helfrich gary@bikesonoma.org, 545-0153
Join us!
The Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition (SCBC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting bicycles for transportation and recreation through our advocacy and education programs. We rely on funds mainly from memberships, donations, and sponsorships to work to make Sonoma County the best place to ride a bike. Besides supporting the organization, your membership entitles you to the use of our bicycle lending library that includes four Yuba cargo bikes. Joining us is as easy as going to www.bikesonoma.org and clicking on the bright blue “Join Us†button.
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The Bike Coalition Board of Directors needs YOU!
Are you a current member of SCBC, passionate about how bikes can be used for positive change whether for recreation, fitness or transportation, who would like to work towards making Sonoma County an even better place to ride a bike? Consider running for a seat on our Board of Directors. Board members are elected every January at our Annual Membership Meeting, serve for two years, are required to attend a monthly board meeting and get to weigh in on strategy and policy decisions for SCBC. We are especially interested in recruiting members who live outside of Santa Rosa, whether in Petaluma, Cloverdale, Sebastopol, Sonoma or points in between. For additional information, contact Board President, Vicki Duggan, Vicki@bikesonoma.org
Annual Appeal time
Our 2015 Annual Appeal is here - like many non-profits, we depend on financial contributions from our supporters through our year end annual appeal to help fund our advocacy efforts throughout the year. Our Annual Appeal letter has just been sent out, so please give generously. As always, you can donate directly at our website, www.bikesonoma.org
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