facing. MCBC wrote a letter of support for the Complete Streets bill and let their constituents know why the legislation was important, encouraging them to write letters as well. “We think it's a great bill and we're very excited that it passed,” Kullaway says. Caltrans maintains thousands of miles of state roads throughout California. Kullaway explains that the agency has focused on how many cars can get through an area fast. “And so a lot of these places, even though some of them go right through small towns, they're some of our deadliest streets for people walking and biking,” she says. “The Complete Streets bill will mandate that Caltrans do a better job with their state highway operation and protection program and will help provide funding for bikeways, sidewalks and bus boarding islands,” Kullaway says. Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition “The safer people feel while cycling on the road, the more likely people are to cycle,” Eris Weaver says. Weaver is the executive director of the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition. She has been working with SCBC since April of 2017 and says she’s very happy to have seen the implementation of protected bike lanes during that time. “If you've seen them, they're the ones that have a row of posts, or board, or some vertical element that separates the bike lane from the vehicles,” Weaver says. “The importance of this is the actual physical protection they provide.” Weaver explains that there are some places in the country that use heftier structures which do provide more of a physical barrier. “But even the plastic bollards or posts are more of a barrier to folks wandering into the bike lane than a line painted on the roadway,” she says. “People like me, I ride my bike everywhere I go, including in the rain,” Weaver says. “But there's so many people who would like to ride who aren't as confident or as skilled and won't do it because they're afraid. And so the more we make these protected places for people to ride, then the more people will get on their bikes.” SCBC began a campaign to encourage community members to ride a bike if they were going two miles or less. “A huge percentage of vehicle trips that people take here in Sonoma County are two miles or less,” Weaver says. “You can ride that in 15 minutes, 20 minutes if you're really slow. And you don’t have to search for a parking place once you get to your destination.” SCBC is also encouraging women to join the fun. They host the popular Biker Chicks rides that were started in 2012 by SCBC members and former Sonoma County Supervisor Shirley Zane. “Here in the U.S., the cycling world is very male dominated,” Weaver says. “That was the impetus for starting that particular ride. It’s a chance for women to go and ride together and not be mansplained to when you're trying to change a tire. It's been going on every month except a couple of months in the winter when it's just too wet.” Weaver says they’ve had “hundreds if not thousands” of women participate over the years. “It's a very friendly and welcoming group,” she says. “Each month we're in a different part of the county. We'll have multiple routes of different distances and speeds, so you can go with the short, slow group or the long, fast group.” Weaver says that after the Biker Chicks ride they all go and eat together. “It’s become a big community of women riders,” she says. “We often have people come who've not done a whole lot of riding, are unsure, or they don't have anybody to ride with. They start out with one of our shorter rides and get hooked. It's been a lot of fun.” They have a Safe Routes to School program funded by a federal grant. “We're in about 60 schools this year,” Weaver says. “Our instructors go into elementary classrooms to teach them about pedestrian and cycling safety.” Their Bike Rodeos for fourth graders are also part of that Safe Routes to School program. “We set up a whole course on the
Let’s go ride a bike! Marin County Bicycle Coalition encourages new riders to check out these beginner-friendly rides. Hamilton Bay Trail This flat, unpaved multi-use pathway has some brief exposure to traffic in the loop. It has educational signage about the marsh habitat, its restoration and the birds that frequent the area. Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District Ponds There are four loops to choose from on these unpaved service roads. The only vehicles you’ll see are sanitary district vehicles. The bird watching promises to be rewarding. San Rafael Bay Trail This trail goes from Pickleweed Park to Starkweather Shoreline Park. It’s 4 miles long if you do the round trip. It has a combination of paved and unpaved multi-use pathways but no cars to contend with, just great views of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and East Bay. Tam Valley Junction to Tennessee Valley This trail is 7 miles round-trip with a gradual, paved climb to Tennessee Valley followed by a gradual descent down to the beach. You could encounter some traffic on Tennessee Valley Road so best to be cautious, ride carefully and use a rear light and reflectors. China Camp State Park This trail is just over 4 miles out-and-back with options for more riding along the route. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the bay as you ride. Rush Creek Ramble Enjoy a ride along the 500-acre preserve that borders the Petaluma River Marsh Wildlife Area with its groves of manzanita, black oak and California bay. The 9-mile out- and-back ride is mostly flat fire road and a multi-use trail. It’s a fun trail that the whole family can enjoy. Napa rides Napa County Bicycle Coalition encourages beginners and those wanting family-friendly rides to check out the Napa Valley Vine Trail’s Calistoga Segment and the Calistoga Loop. Both are just over 2 miles long and easy enough for kids to enjoy. All three bicycle coalitions lead group rides that are great for beginners and advanced riders as well. Visit marinbike.org, napabike.org and bikesonoma.org.
January 2025
NorthBaybiz 27
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