City of Irvine Municipal Code changes proposed

Tuesday evening, July 11th, the City Council will be hearing a proposal to update the City Municipal Code to catch up with the State Laws. Clarification on electric bicycles vs motorized bicycles, dropping the no longer required bicycle licensing make sense.
In an attempt to respond with community pressure to deal with scofflaw kids on over powered out-of-class electric motor bikes that are already not street legal, the proposal sets a speed limit of 28 mph for all e-cyclists on any road.
Initially we misread that this 28 mph limit would to apply to ALL cyclists - but is just for our fellow cyclist on electric bicycles that can pedal or coast faster than their 28mph assist who are going to be impacted.
(…of course those same scofflaw kids will still go over 28 - and the police need to crack down on the illegal mini-bikes and unregistered motorized bicycles driven by unlicensed kids even if going 10 mph)

Are discriminatory speed limits coming to Irvine streets?

Many of us rarely go over 28, and most do not have an electric bicycle (yet) but it is our right to travel, and if the posted speed limit is higher for motorists, that is denying cyclists the rights of other road users codified in our CVC.
Sometimes on a downhill we go over 28 to have a safer time sharing the road with traffic and staying with our friends.
Sometimes, if we want to pass Dick Brock after he leads us out at 28, we just HAVE to accelerate…
The proposed changes also puts a 20 mph limit on all bike paths, shared use paths and trails for ALL CYCLIST, Acoustic and electric.
20 mph is too fast in some conditions and no limit is required in others…
Class 2 ‘Throttle’ electric bicycles will be entitled to run full speed at their legal 20 mph limit.
Better to not have a limit posted and have all maintain a safe speed for all other users.

The police who wrote this idea into the draft clearly do not ride bicycles like we do,

Time is short - Bill just heard about this on the 7th and has put out some detailed response, but if you live or work in Irvine, you might want to reach out to the Mayor and Council members and give them your input on agenda item 6.4 before or at the meeting Tuesday evening. enough input might get it ‘tabeled’ to a later meeting to revisit the issues of concern and come up with a better draft. This is why many cities have a bike/walk committee to review stuff before implemented. Irvine disbanded theirs as it kept asking hard questions of developer’s plans…
Here is the agenda item 6.4

If you want to get “lost in the weeds”; Ignore some of the rant about 28mph limits for all
Here is Bill Sellin’s prompt comments and concerns shared with the Mayor, Council and Police Ignore some of the rant about 28mph limits for all.

Club Essentials we can all remember to use...

Often the club spreads out after a few miles and we all get to ride as solo riders, but when we start we have an impressive peloton and really need to learn some club riding techniques. We are a non-racing club, but when riding in a peloton, even as a recreational club, the group needs to take some responsibility for the rest of the riders. If you are out front, please take the front leadership responsibilities. (including lane control, calling out turns, slowing/stopping, “singling up” or “doubling up”, and navigating hazards)
If you are in back, please take the leadership responsibilities from behind (including lane control, leading out a lane change from behind, calling out “move left’ or “lane clear” and calling out overtaking traffic.
Every member should take the free online CLUB ESSENTIALS course and learn to echo the signals and calls from the lead rider when in the middle of a pack.

I just took the online Club Essentials and learned a few things; I doubt anyone who takes it will not learn some great techniques and reminders…
I have some fresh material for the upcoming NewB class on July 29th!

Bike The Bay - August 27

bikethebay.net

Penny Poorman and Jenny Short would like you to join them for this San Diego ride across the Coronado Bridge. 
They had a great time last year!
Following the ride there will be a gathering to celebrate Clint McDonald's 85th birthday. 
Contact Penny for more details.
IT’s OFFICIAL!
First - REGISTER for the ride. (NO FREELOADING POACHERS !)
Second - Book a room or you may have to drive down EARLY Sunday morning…
Third - Sign up with BCI so we will know who is in town and how to reach each other!

Orange County Bicycle Rally a Success

The Saturday Orange County Bicycle Rally (OCBR) was a great success!

39 BCI members, 44 OCW members, and at least 25 guests signed in for the OCBR.
There were 4 rides available, and there were riders on each ride. Many riders commented on the novelty of the rides. There were new streets to explore, an a few riders were able to get lost and recover by guessing where they were on the route slips. The availability of RideWithGPS was very handy for me, as I kept thinking I was lost (with 5 other riders), and RideWith GPS kept us on track by indicating which way to go, and even letting us know we needed to make U-turns to get back on the route.

Back at the start/ finish, there was free parking at Hangar-24, with lunch and adult beverages available for those who wished to indulge. Many riders just sat and talked, renewing friendships, making new ones, and justh catching up on what has been happening in their lives. The rides started at 8:20, and where were still riders sitting around talking when I left at 2:30.

I also took a number of pictures.

Bob Fairfield

Special THANKS to our ‘Power Couple”; Bob Fairfield (BCI#4661) and Monica McCarthy (BCI#2729) who serve on BCI’s Board as Directors at Large, who coordinated this joint ride with the Orange County Wheelmen and to
BCI Secretary Kim Gerrard (BCI#3632) who helped them set up early for the event.
BCI MEMBERS can add their photos to the BCI 2023 Photo Album on our website.

Extending Santiago Creek Bikeway

We have been waiting a long time for the connection of the Santiago Creek Bikeway from Santiago Oaks in Orange all the way to the SART (Santa Ana River Trail).
“NIMBYs” have been screaming against it, but very few voices of path users have been heard. Here is a call for action to tell our county leaders that we want the network of bikeways connected.

Hi Trail Enthusiasts,

Re: Extending the Santiago Creek Bike Trail – Send a Letter to the OC Public Works

It’s time to contact the Orange County Public Works and tell them to extend the Santiago Creek Bike Trail all the way to the Santa Ana River Trail. So far the local authorities are only hearing from those opposed to a trail extension.

To help you with this, we have attached the mailing address for Nardy Khan,  Deputy Director-OC Infrastructure Program, O.C. Public Works. We have also included the email addresses of several government officials who should receive a copy of your letter.

In addition, we have also attached several samples letters that will help you get started.

We can’t wait to see a copy of all of your letters. If you have any questions, just let us know.

Ron Newcomb rnewcomb@socal.rr.com 

Sample Letter (Word Docx)
mailing Addresses (WORD DOCX)

September Tours in Italy ~ Spaces Available

One of our sponsors, Wandervogel, just announced that 3 spaces just came up on the September trips:
A single female room - share and a couple have cancelled and these tours, long filled, so now each have spaces to join.

NOTE: This is being offered to BCI members, but is NOT “officially a BCI event.

 September 4-15 Alps to Italian Lake District, one double room now available.
https://wandervogelbicycletouring.com/climb-wine-and-dine/
SPACE FILLED - Maybe join them in 2024?

September 17-28, Alps to Venice, one share in a double open for one lady. 
https://wandervogelbicycletouring.com/lakes-vines-and-venice-september-17-28/
SPACE FILLED - Maybe join them in 2024?

is a BCI Sponsor…

How to cycle on Bake across the 405 freeway

We recently added Bake SB over the 405 on the Tuesday Ride #21 and the ride IS stressful…
We could avoid it, but the bridges at ICD and Lake Forest are just about as stressful...

Even though Bake is a Class II bikeway, Irvine and Caltrans have failed to paint any of the Complete Streets tools, and allows both right lanes to enter the freeway at two high speed entrances. The route has been improved by taking Rockfield to Bake, reducing the stressful distance on Bake to 6/10th of a mile. These details explain techniques that can be applied at many of our high speed freeway entrances across OC.

Even though posted at 50 MPH, motorists speed on Bake, and they accelerate as they merge into the high speed entrances, making it critical for cyclists to assert their lane position early to be seen and safely cross the freeway.
You can’t signal and hope to be let over by aggressive speeding motorists , you need to time your merge and be assertive to control YOUR lane.

Rockfield to Bake: (@Mile 19.7 on T21)
• Pause on Rockfield to regroup; several cyclists together have an advantage to be seen and control any lane. Pausing also lets you time the signal so less traffic is coming down Bake behind you as you merge into the road.
• Merge out of the narrowing #4 lane as soon as possible to control the #3 lane.
There is no room to ride the gutter & share the #4 lane with passing vehicles.
Clear the #4 RTOL: take & Control the #3 lane or take the sidewalk.
If you don’t feel safe merging over, use a driveway to get onto the sidewalk.

Bake to 405 NB entrance:
• If you are already controlling the #3 lane, motorists heading for the freeway will pass on the right in the #4 RTOL. Those going straight can merge and pass you in the #1 or #2 lanes on your left.
• If you try to control the #4 RTOL you will have speeding motorist passing and entering the freeway across you from the #3 combo lane, and will be unable to merge over to control the #3 lane. Just stay right and use the shoulder.
• If you make it to the shoulder or ride the sidewalk, watch out at the crosswalk. If one lane stops for you the second lane may not.
Controlling the #3 combo lane really is safest.

BAKE to 405 SB entrance:
• There is an unmarked bike lane over the bridge, but merge back out to control the #3 combo lane as early as possible, well before the bike lane ends for a RTOL.
• If you make it to the shoulder after the bike lane ends or ride the sidewalk, watch out at the crosswalk. If one lane stops for you the second lane may not.
• Past the exit, everyone can use the bike lane toward Research, ICD, San Diego Creek, or Lake Forest…

AB 645 Speed Safety System Pilot for CA

Hello Bicycle Club of Irvine,


My name is Kristen Weiss and I am a policy and legislative intern for SAFE (Streets Are For Everyone), a non-profit organization that aims towards improving the quality of life for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers in the Los Angeles community and throughout California.

I am writing to you to ask whether you can support an important upcoming bill, AB 645, that would greatly reduce traffic collisions in California through the use of speed cameras. As someone who is a Californian and a frequent cyclist, road safety is an issue that is greatly important to me as I have experienced numerous close encounters in which my safety has been at risk due to drivers speeding or not paying attention. Therefore, I believe this bill will improve road safety and reduce traffic collisions throughout California.

I hope your organization can support AB 645 which will make roads safer for everyone in California. I have provided more information about traffic collisions in Los Angeles, California, and AB 645 below; if you would like to know more about the issue and bill.

Los Angeles has seen a record number of traffic fatalities in 2022. See our report Dying on the Streets of Los Angeles, or you can watch our short video Something Must Be Done About Traffic Fatalities in LA. The biggest factor in the spike in serious injuries and fatalities is unchecked speeding. 

It’s not just Los Angeles. California had 4161 fatalities in 2021 and almost 20,000 people seriously injured.  The primary collision factor for traffic collisions in CA, speeding – 45.3% of all collisions were the result of unsafe speed. (Source: TIMS) 

Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE) is working with SF Walks, Streets for All and a coalition of other non-profits on an important piece of legislation this year, AB 645 -- Speed Safety System Pilot. Attached is a fact sheet on the bill, and the full language is contained here: AB 645 Full Language.

Whether it's from a traffic safety perspective, a social justice perspective, a public health perspective, or an environmental perspective, there are many reasons why this bill makes sense. We are working to build a coalition of support for this bill and hope you will be a part of this. 

How You Can Help
Sign on to the letter of support for AB 645. The deadline for sign-on is the end of business day on Tuesday, April 10th. 

Please look at the attached Fact Sheet and let me know if you have any questions. I'm more than happy to jump on a call to answer questions or set up a short presentation.

Thank you, in advance, for your support.


Best,

Kristen Weiss, Policy and Legislative Intern

Streets Are For Everyone

 

2023 MAMMOTH GRAN FONDO - Saturday, September 9, 2023

BCI Members #3632 & 3329 Kim and Peter Gerrard invite you to join them at the 
2023 MAMMOTH GRAN FONDO https://mammothgranfondo.com/

Imagine: the beauty of nature, accented by the sweet scent of pine trees…with excellent rest stops and support, epic views, three amazing route options, free event photos, and a rad after-party!

Named a "Top-Ten Century" by Bicycling Magazine (June 2012) for its "Jaw-Dropping Vistas," the Mammoth Gran Fondo leaves the village of Mammoth Lakes and takes you along the spectacular eastern side of the High Sierra with awesome views of the Sierra Nevada Range, the White Mountains, and Mono Lake (for the longer riders). E-bikes are plentiful and welcome.

Routes:

Gran Fondo 102 miles
Medio 70 miles
Piccolo 42 miles
If you typically do BCI’s medium rides, you’ll probably want to do the Piccolo.


LOGISTICS

Register for the Ride: Register online by September 6, 2023. As of April, the price is around $119 and it goes up $10 every month, so register sooner rather than later. No refunds are permitted, but you can request a deferment. Read the registration policies.

Book a place to stay: Consider driving up on Thursday and staying overnight for at least 3 nights. We recommend staying at Mammoth Village Lodge. These condos are right at the start/finish lines and where the after-party will be. The units are typically condo-equipped and there’s a pool and a few outdoor jacuzzis.  If you stay elsewhere, you’ll  have to ride or drive your car to/from the event. All day parking is at least $15 bucks across the street. 

Getting to Mammoth Lakes from OC: The 325-mile drive from Orange County to Mammoth Lakes takes five to six hours, depending on travel conditions. 

High Altitude Acclimating: The town of Mammoth is at 7,881’. That’s why we’ll take an “acclimation” ride on Friday, Sept 8th. The trail winds through campgrounds, past stables, the Twin Falls overlook, and loops back at Horseshoe Lake. 

Contact: - BCI Secretary, Kim Gerrard - 949-294-4117 - secretary@BikeIrvine.org

Please send your name & best phone number, where you are staying & which days you will be there so we can all get in touch with one another.

PLEASE SIGN IN HERE TO SECURE YOUR MEMBER INSURANCE BENEFIT

If you have another event to share or coordinate with BCI Members, let us know!