|
FROM THE SUMMIT Hello Freewheeles, There are four worthy items to share with you this month. These are near and dear to my heart and you can benefit from them as well. First, each Thursday evening at 6:15, the race team has a practice on the far west end of Stevenson Blvd. I encourage club members to attend regularly because there are bike handling skills that you can acquire. You will learn to paceline in its various forms, how to sprint, riding compacto, and receive encouragement from the team. You will become stronger, and faster if you stay with it. Then the moderate club rides will seem too easy for you. I know you will benefit, try it for a year and see what happens. Next, is Fremont's Bicycle Pedestrian Technical Advisory Committee's quick approved the five year draft Bicycle Master Plan. Underneath, the draft plan is more money spent on capital projects and less on other more important cycling projects like bicycle drivers training, encouragement, and evaluation. I know this because I requested they include equal funding for those components in the Bicycle Master Plan. My list was a large thoughtful list of recommendations that the city engineer rejected in mass. This is frustrating that in one hand the city wants your input, and on the other hand, they don't. The city transportation engineer already has a plan and that does not include input from residents. I am surprised that the committee members don't revolt, but then again, they never had the opportunity to ready the comments. Just vote as is, and they did. Here are some worthwhile recommendations and additions to the Bicycle Master Plan: Acquire annual funding for encouragement activities to include after-school bike shops and rides for middle school, and high school cycling clubs operating as a student chapters of local cycling clubs. Acquire annual funding for encouragement activities to underwrite expenses for local cycling events to promote cycling in the city. These would be used to cover permitting, promotion, police, security, and incentives. Acquire annual funding for reducing nigh-time accidents by minimizing the number of cyclists riding improperly through intervention programs and incentives. Acquire funding to fix uneven pavement and defective intersection designs as identified by East Bay Bicycle Coalition's hazards reporting system. These are but a few of hundreds of comments provided to the city that have been rejected. Your participation is critical to making Fremont a great place to ride because we want it to be better. Next, is the Alameda County Transportation Commission, Bicycle Master Plan. This plan has problems too. Like insufficient funding of bicycle drivers training programs, encouragement, and evaluation actions. Mostly it's all in capital projects. Here's the problem, what about equal funding of there components to cycling? Also, Niles Canyon is on the plan and that needs to get taken off. Your comments to ACTC's Bicycle Master Plan needs your attention. Lastly, is the big After Thanksgiving club ride on the Monterey Peninsula. The ride is co-listed with the folks from San Louis Obispo. This is an enjoyable ride on one of the best routes in the world. If we can maintain a descent pace we should be able to make down to Point Lobos. If possible make a carpool with others and share the experience. After the ride, join us for a meal at Phils in Moss Landing. You can read more about it on the Ride Calendar. You might want to take a few pictures too. So there you have it. Four action items that you can pick and choose to act upon. Some fun, others being a cyclist advocate, and one to increase your level of fitness. As always, encourage others to join our club by completing the membership application. Sincerely,
“Cyclists should expect and demand safe accommodation on every road, just as do all other users. Nothing more is expected. Nothing less is acceptable.” by John Forester. |
