From protecting federal funds for bicycle projects, to raising funds for a trail project, to working with a city to plan more bike lanes, Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition is working to make our community even more of a bicycling paradise. SCBC's bicycle advocacy program works to create an environment in which bicyling is an appealing, accessible, and viable option for people of all ages, abilities, and experience.
Sebastopol passed the Vulnerable User Protection Ordinance in January.
The County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance in March to protect people from harassment when they're bicycling or walking in the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County.
That leaves 8 cities that must pass the Vulnerable User Protection Ordinance in order for us to be protected in all parts of Sonoma County.
We're working on it!
Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition is in discussion with elected officials in every city, and our hope is that each one will adopt an ordinance in 2013.
Please check the dates below and attend if the hearing is in your community!
Windsor Wednesday, April 17th Windsor Town Council - first reading Windsor Town Hall 6:00 p.m.
Healdsburg Monday, May 6th Healdsburg City Council – first reading Healdsburg City Hall 6:00 p.m.
We'll keep you up to date here as meetings are scheduled in Sonoma, Rohnert Park, Cotati, and Petaluma. Please remember to email your elected representatives to say why you want them to Protect Us All!
Billboard reminds Highway 101 drivers to remain focused
Since 2011, Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition has been a part of the Safe Streets Coalition, founded by Supervisor Shirlee Zane to focus on making things a lot nicer out there for people walking and bicycling. The group includes representatives from cities throughout Sonoma County, as well as law enforcement, and advocacy groups like SCBC.
Late last year, following a string of crashes that injured or killed people walking and biking, the group ramped up its efforts, and worked to create a public awareness campaign targeting distracted driving. The goal was to help people realize that it's up to all of us to protect each other out there on the roads; everyone has a role to play, and when we're driving, we must eliminate distractions in order to avoid causing serious harm to more vulnerable road users.
Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition is proud to have been part of a small committee that created the Park Your Phone While You Drive campaign. Perhaps you've seen the signs on the back of Sonoma County Transit and Petaluma Transit buses. Thanks to St. Joseph Health System, you can now see a Park Your Phone While You Drive billboard when you're driving southbound on Highway 101 just south of Petaluma.
Thanks to the Sonoma County Safe Streets Coalition partners and Supervisor Zane for helping send the message: Park Your Phone While You Drive.
County becomes first in the nation to Protect Us All!
On Tuesday, March 19th, 2013, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to make Sonoma County the first county in the United States to adopt a civil ordinance to protect people from harassment when they're bicycling and walking!
Cities, including Los Angeles, Berkeley, and Sunnyvale (all in California), as well as Washington DC have passed ordinances to protect bicyclists from harassment. In January, Sebastopol became the first city in Sonoma County to adopt a Vulnerable User Protection ordinance, which protects people bicycling and walking. But no other County has done so.
We applaud the Board of Supervisors for working to make sure that people know: Sonoma County is a great place to ride a bike or walk, and harassing people doing so won't be tolerated.
Please take a moment now to thank the Supervisors and thank them for taking this bold step. Tell them what it means to you!
On February 20th, the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) staff provided the agency's Board of Directors with an update on the status of the multi-use pathway that is part of the project. The report came at the request of members of the SMART Board, as well as Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition and our Marin County colleagues.
In a nutshell, the SMART presentation described the vision for the pathway, and opportunities SMART is exploring to build the project. SMART has submitted the majority of the pathway project (within the Intial Operating Segment from north Santa Rosa to San Rafael) for federal environmental clearance, an important hurdle for projects that wish to compete for federal funding.
SCBC staff attended the meeting and were glad to see the presentation. In public comments, SCBC urged SMART to make a solid public commitment to completing the MUP by publicizing target dates of completion for various segments of the project.
On May 6th, the Healdsburg City Council is expected to consider Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition's proposed "Vulnerable User Protection Ordinance." In February, the Council expressed interest in considering the ordinance during SCBC's informational prentation to Council. The hearing represents Healdsburg taking the next step toward becoming the next jurisdiction in Sonoma County to protect people riding bikes and walking in the north Sonoma County city.
Healdsburg is a key hub for bicycling in Sonoma County, for both local riders and tourists. Many people also enjoy Downtown Healdsburg by foot. As such, it is particularly critical for Healdsburg to protect vulnerable users.
Now is a great time to email each Healdsburg City Council member to let them know how important the Vulnerable User Protection Ordinance is to you.
If you live, work, ride, or walk in Healdsburg, please plan to attend the meeting. If you wish to speak about what the ordinance means to you, please be prepared to do so. Or, you may show up and sport an orange "Protect Us All" sticker to show your support. RSVP to gary@BikeSonoma.org to let us know you'll attend.
Will Healdsburg be the next jurisdiction to adopt the Vulnerable User Protection Ordinance? You can help make it happen!
Council unanimously approves Vulnerable User Protection Ordinance
The Sebastopol City Council on January 15th took the final step needed by voting unanimously to ratify its December vote in favor of the ordinance. In so doing, Sebastopol became the first Sonoma County municipality to offer these increased protections from harassment for people walking and bicycling. Please let the Council know how much you appreciate their leadership by writing to them at the following email addresses:
This is an incredible step toward a safer, more respectful environment for everyone, and Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition commends the Sebastopol City Council for its leadership.
Background:
On Tuesday, December 18th, the Sebastopol City Council held a public hearing on SCBC's proposed Vulnerable User Protection Ordinance. Council chambers were packed with at least two dozen supporters of the ordinance, which will add civil protections for people who are harassed while bicycling or walking in Sebastopol.
We are thrilled to report that Council voted unanimously to "pass the first reading of" the ordinance, and to "waive further reading" of it. Translation: each Council member has voted in support of the ordinance; the item will be on Council's consent calendar in January, when Council is expected to ratify the vote.
SCBC responds to SCTA approval of $6.6 million for SMART train set
On December 10th, 2012, the Sonoma County Transportation Authority Board of Directors approved programming $6.6 million of the County’s $9.9 million pot of federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funds to Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) for the purchase of an additional train set.
We know you are probably having some feelings about this decision, among them anger and confusion.
SCBC’s here to provide for you some context, describe the circumstances around the vote, explain what the vote means for bicycling in Sonoma County, share our position on the vote, and our strategy moving forward.
The Context Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA) coordinates transportation planning and funding throughout the County. Most of the transportation funding that SCTA receives is programmed through the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), SCTA’s Regional counterpart, which manages transportation planning and funding for the 9 Bay Area Counties.
SCTA works to bring to Sonoma County funding for highways, roads, transit, and bicycle and pedestrian projects. This is a complex and wonky process comprising many pieces. There are various “pots” of federal and state money that filter through MTC to SCTA.
One of these pots is CMAQ. These federal funds can be used for projects that help reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. A variety of project types are eligible for CMAQ funding, including, but not limited to, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian projects. In Sonoma County, CMAQ has historically been a significant (if not the top) source of funding for bicycle pedestrian projects. SCTA programs these funds to eligible projects through a competitive process in 2-4 year cycles.
On Tuesday, November 13th, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to direct County staff to study Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition's proposed "Vulnerable User Protection Ordinance." This is a great first step toward reducing harassment of people riding bikes or walking, to creating greater accountability for those who do harass vulnerable users, and to increasing access to justice and relief by those who are harrassed.
If you appreciate the Supervisors' vote, please write to them and let them know! Board Chair Supervisor Shirlee Zane's deserves special recognition for bringing the ordinance to the agenda.
Click below for the Supervisors' email addressess:
Thanks to those who showed up at the Supervisors' meeting in support of the ordinance! Next stop: Sebastopol City Council at 6p.m. on Tuesday, November 20th.
On Tuesday, November 20th, Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition staff presented the Vulnerable User Protection Ordinance to the Sebastopol City Council. Councilmember Patrick Slayter, based on the recommendation of the Complete Streets Advisory Committee, brought the ordinance to the Council's agenda for discussion.
The council members asked good questions, and a Sebastopol resident shared a disturbing story of being harassed while riding on Bodega Avenue.
The council acted on Councilmember Slayter's recommendation to direct staff to prepare the Ordinance for the City of Sebastopol. This is another great step forward!
What does this mean? The City will take our draft ordinance and fit it into the City's format for ordinances. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend these next important meetings at 425 Morris Street, Sebastopol:
