The League awarded the Town the bronze designation due to its work to create safer bicycle facilities and its efforts to encourage people to bicycle to local events like its summer Nights on the Green series.
Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition commends the Town of Windsor for its efforts to promote bicycling and to encourage safety and access to bicycling for people of all ages and levels of experience. We hope being the bronze certification will inspire the Town's leadership to go for the gold -- or maybe even the platinum -- in coming years!
Broad range of leaders paints detailed picture of local bicycle scene for Congressman
When U.S. Representative Mike Thompson's office called to ask SCBC to organize a meeting to brief the Congressman on the state of bicycling in Sonoma County, we jumped at the chance! While the recently passed federal transportation bill allows states and local jurisdictions to use certain federal funds to pay for bicycling and walking projects, the bill eliminates dedicated funding for these programs. That means, bicycling programs must compete with other types of transportation programs. In two years, Congress will pass a new transportation bill, and Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition and our counterparts nationwide want to be sure that bill includes dedicated -- and preferably increased -- funding for bicycling and walking.
That's why we knew it was important for Congressman Thompson to understand the impact federal funding has had and could continue to have on Sonoma County's thriving bicycling culture and bicycling economy. While Representative Thompson has historically voted in favor of funding for bicycling and walking, we hope that hearing our local stories will inspire him to become a champion for such funding.
On Tuesday, October 30th, Thompson met at Sonoma Mountain Village with 26 local leaders, including elected officials, government employees representing law enforcement, transportation, parks, and public health, leaders from the business and tourism community, and those representing local bicycle advocacy, clubs, racing, retail, events, and industry. We talked about all types of bicycling, and how it affects our local economy, public health, and our culture. We also discussed traffic safety, Safe Routes to School, and our county's visionary bicycle/pedestrian plans and the challenges to realizing them.
Help pass the Vulnerable User Protection Ordinance
Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition announces a new campaign aimed at protecting you from being harassed because you're riding your bicycle or walking. Our goal is to see our proposed "Vulnerable User Protection Ordinance” passed throughout Sonoma County. (Read the draft ordinance by downloading the PDF at the end of this article.)
SCBC’s proposed ordinance is modeled on laws passed recently in Los Angeles, Washington DC, Berkeley, and Sunnyvale, CA. We believe, in light of the recent assault by Harry Smith of bicyclist Toraj Soltani, that it has never been more urgent for our community to do more to protect people on our roads.
While Smith’s behavior with regard to Soltani is clearly a criminal offense, Smith has a record of prior incidents of harassing people riding bikes. The Vulnerable User Protection Ordinance would help catch people who harass and threaten bicycle riders and pedestrians, and demonstrate that they are accountable for their behavior. The law will help discourage harassment and hopefully prevent harassers from becoming assailants.
Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition joins in the bicycling community's horror, shock, and outrage over the assault by Harry E. Smith of bicyclist Toraj Soltani on August 16th. We are relieved and grateful that Toraj is recovering from his injuries.
We are astounded that our legal system has once again failed to keep off the road a person with a history of violations and a suspended license to boot.
Harry Smith's actions are impossible to comprehend. For Smith to purposefully harass Soltani, hit him with his car, chase him down, then run him down, and flee the scene leaving behind the injured Soltani is inexcusable; that Smith's anger appears to have been triggered by the fact that Toraj was riding a bicycle makes this incomprehensible incident our business.
While this incident is particularly reprehensible, we are aware that harassment of bicyclists remains too common an occurrence in Sonoma County. That's why Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition is preparing to launch a multi-faceted campaign aimed at both reducing incidents of harassment, and providing additional legal recourse when they do occur.
Join us on Friday, August 31st at 7:30 a.m. at the Sonoma County Superior Court (600 Administration Drive, but we'll be at the north entrance at Paulin and Ventura), where we'll kick-off our campaign before Harry Smith's 8:30 a.m. hearing in Department 9.
Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition continues to work hard to make Sonoma County a safe and accessible place for everyone to ride a bike. Please stay tuned for more information.
On Thursday, August 16th, Oakmont resident Harry E. Smith purposefully chased down -- going off the roadway and onto a golf course -- and then ran down Santa Rosa bicyclist Toraj Soltani. Smith fled the scene, and was arrested later thanks to a tip from another bicyclist who reports having had a "similar run-in" with Smith last fall. Thankfully -- and remarkably -- Soltani, who runs Mac's Deli in Downtown Santa Rosa, suffered relatively minor injuries -- a fractured wrist and road rash; undoubtedly, though, the avid cyclist was shaken by Smith's act of violence against him.
According to The Press Democrat, Smith is "a suspect in two known road rage incidents in the past year and was guilty of reckless driving with alcohol in 2006." In the incident with Soltani, Smith is charged with 3 felonies: 2 counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and hit and run. He is also charged with driving with a suspended license.
Harry Smith, the man who harassed, chased, and ran over Toraj Soltani has taken a plea deal. He'll be sentenced on May 3. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20130329/ARTICLES/130329452/1350?p=1&tc=pg. We hope that passing anti-harassment ordinances like the Vulnerable User Protection Ordinance, our communities can help prevent horrible incidents like this from taking place at all.
As you are too well aware, Sonoma County this summer has seen an unusual number of traffic collisions resulting in the deaths of bicyclists. In the past 10 weeks, crashes with automobiles have killed five people who were riding bikes, and several other bicyclists have been injured in car/bike crashes.
We're all reeling from these losses. Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition acknowledges these events as tragedies, and continues to work to to improve safety and accessibility for everyone who wants to ride a bicycle in Sonoma County.
We believe the issue is far bigger than car vs. bike: it's a matter of overall traffic safety, and we're eager to partner with people and groups throughout the community to create a Sonoma County in which people use greater care when sharing our roadways -- whether we're driving, bicycling, or walking.
In the meantime, we must mourn those who have died.
Join Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition this Friday, August 3rd for a short, silent bicycle ride in honor of the bicyclists who've been killed or injured in Sonoma County this summer.
Details: Meet at 5:30p.m. at the County Administration Center at 575 Administration Drive. We will ride in silence south on Mendocino Avenue the short 2 miles to Old Courthouse Square. We'll use the bike lane and obey traffic laws. There will be speakers at the ride start and ride finish.
RSVP to Sandra@BikeSonoma.org to let us know you'll attend, and please forward to anyone who might like to join the ride.
Arthur Ben Yu's attorney did not appear in court this morning, and sent a representative to request a continuance. Yu's sentencing has been rescheduled for Friday, November 30th at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom 3.
November 26th Update
Arthur Ben Yu is scheduled to appear for pre-sentencing on November 27th at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom 3 of the Sonoma County Superior Court.
October 23rd Update
We are happy to learn that Michael Torckler has recovered enough from his injuries that we was recently able to enter a race in New Zealand. Read about Torckler here.
Meanwhile, Arthur Ben Yu earlier this month pleaded no contest to all the charges against him in connection with the July 29th crash on Pine Flat Road. He faces more than 10 years in prison, and scheduled to be sentenced on November 27th.
August 22nd Update
Arthur Ben Yu is set to appear in court on August 27th for a readiness hearing and August 30th for a preliminary hearing. Both hearings are at 8:00 a.m. in Department 3.
On Friday (June 29, 2012), Congress passed a new transportation bill that reverses years of progress on biking and walking policy and cuts by 60 to 70 percent funding for local safety projects such as sidewalks, crosswalks, and bike lanes.
For the past 20 years, a modest portion of federal transportation investments — less than 2 percent of all transportation funding — has been dedicated to biking and walking projects that make streets more accessible for everybody, reduce preventable traffic fatalities, help boost local economic development, and create construction jobs. But, despite an outpouring of support from mayors, county executives, and the American public, the deal negotiated by a small number of Congress members behind closed doors eliminates much of this popular funding.
“This new transportation bill is bad news for biking and walking,” said Caron Whitaker, campaign director of America Bikes. “Across the country, people are biking and walking more, and vehicle miles traveled are decreasing. Young people are delaying getting their driver’s licenses and the real estate market shows that people want to live and work in areas where they can walk and bike safely. Yet this new bill ignores current trends and includes drastic and disproportionate cuts to biking and walking.”
In addition to slashing funds for bikeways, sidewalks, and other facilities, the cuts will reduce funding for Safe Routes to School, a popular national program that strives to encourage and support children in walking and biking to school.
Help more women enjoy the fun and benefits of riding!
Thanks to all of you who participated in our Women in Bicycling survey. We had 269 responses, and SCBC Outreach Director Sandra Lupien presented the findings on July 12th in a League of American Bicyclists Webinar. You can watch the webinar, Engaging Women in Your Cycling Club, by visiting this link, scrolling down and clicking on the webinar title.
Nationally, only 24% of bicycle riders are women (in Sonoma County, the Sonoma County Transportation Authority counted 21% last year), so one of the key goals of bicycle advocates across the nation right now is to encourage more women to ride bikes.
The League is playing a central role in coordinating these efforts, and has invited me to be a panelist for an upcoming webinar on engaging women in bicycling. I'm honored and thrilled to participate, and would like your help getting ready.
In order to better understand how women in Sonoma County think about and engage with bicycling, I've created a little online survey. It's quick and easy to complete. Will you take the survey? Will you forward it to your women friends and family members in Sonoma County -- whether or not they ride a bike? It'd be fabulous if you could complete this by July 3rd, 2012.
Thanks for taking a moment to help us help more women enjoy cycling! The more, the merrier, I say!
On Sunday, July 8th, about 200 people met at Spreckels Performing Arts Center in Rohnert Park to ride in memory of Steve Norwick. Participants chose from four different routes, led by Dawn Silveira, Gary Helfrich, Tom Helm, Martin Clinton, Vin Hoagland, and Maria Potter. We were touched by the great number of people who came out, including Steve's wife Marthe and his daughter Rebecca. Read about the ride in the Press Democrat.
Steve Norwick Memorial Bike Ride on Sunday, July 8th
July 8th will mark one month since Steve Norwick was injured fatally in a hit-and-run crash while riding his bicycle on Petaluma Hill Road. Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition, Jill B. Nimble Bike Club, and other partners will honor Steve Norwick by holding a memorial bicycle ride on Sunday, July 8th. Details:
The ride will begin in the parking lot at Spreckels Performing Arts Center in Rohnert Park
We will gather at 9:30 a.m. for 10:00 a.m. departure
There will be four routes to accommodate a range of rider ability/interest:
The League of American Bicyclists has certified Windsor a bicycle-friendly community at the Bronze level.
