News and Events Roundup

  • Bike the Bay, the annual ride around the San Diego Bay, is around the corner.  Envisioned and begun by the current San Diego Bicycle Coalition Executive Director, Andy Hanshaw, Bike the Bay is in large part a direct result of Hanshaw’s involvement with Bridge Pedal ride in Portland. I got a chance to speak with Andy over a lot of things last week and will be posting the details of that talk soon. Bike the Bay is one of two opportunities given by the California Department of Transportation to allow non-motorized users access to the beautiful Coronado Bridge. Proceeds from the ride go to the San Diego Bike Coalition.
  • Governor Brown disappoints and vetoes SB 582 despite overwhelming support from both the California Senate and Assembly, citing a rather vague “economic uncertainty” excuse.
  • The Alliance for Biking & Walking is holding their Second People Powered Movement Photo Contest. The contest will help build the alliance’s online Photo Library, which provides hundreds of images for Alliance members to download and use at no cost. Prizes for winning the contest include all-expense-paid trip to Tuscany from VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations, a new bicycle from PUBLIC Bikes and more
  • Caltrans Releases Draft Complete Streets Design Manual Revisions [pdf link] which will support the Department’s efforts to improve safety, access, and mobility for all travelers and ensure the California State highway system becomes a network of Complete Streets. ” I recently met with Seth Cutter, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator at Caltrans for District 11 (San Diego and Imperial Counties). I hope to interview him soon and post the interview here.
  • The California Bicycle Coalition has announced that it will be hosting the 2011 California Bike Summit this November. Considering that the California delegation to the National Bike Summit was the largest this year, I plan on attending and learning how to be a more effective advocate.
  • La Jolla resident, Amy Snyder has written a book about one of the most grueling races in America, RAAM (Race Across America). Hell on Two Wheels has been written for mainstream audiences and follows a group of athletes before, during, and after the 2009 race, the closest and most controversial in the event’s 30-year history. Snyder will be a the Kearny Mesa REI for a book signing on August 23rd.