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Peddling pedals
Topics: bicycles, Bike Bakersfield
Posted by lward Tue Aug 8, 2006 11:21:27 PDT
Viewed 454 times
1 response 0 comments “Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer
despair for the future of mankind.”
— HG Wells

We’re the fastest-growing city in a state where status is often determined by what you drive.
But Southwest resident and Bike Bakersfield Executive Director Lauren Franconi suggests we shift gears — by switching to two wheels — in order to keep traffic moving.
Franconi and the other locals behind Bike Bakersfield — a not-for-profit organization founded in January that works to promote the virtues of bicycling — aren’t suggesting we abandon cars completely, just that we consider bicycles as an alternate and safe mode of transportation. Bicycling, they say, decreases traffic congestion, improves air quality, has numerous health benefits and is a strong weapon in the fight against child obesity.
“It’s a way to see things — even to smell things — without whizzing by,” said Franconi, who recently returned home to Bakersfield after working for decades in Washington, D.C., as an aeronautical engineer.
Bike Bakersfield, located on Chester Avenue, currently has about 60 members and sees a lot of traffic Wednesday through Saturday at their Bike Kitchen, where community members who cannot afford a bike can come in and work on donated bikes the staff repairs and donates to organizations like the Jamison Center.  After putting in five hours of work, the individual can earn his or her own bike.
Community member Mike Owens, whose bike is his only means of transportation, was one of the first recipients.
“When we heard about his last bike being stolen, we jumped at the opportunity to give him one of ours,” said Mat Barton, Bike Bakersfield’s communications director.
Barton, 34, grew up in Bakersfield and commuted 20 miles a day while living in Irvine.
“I’d always had car problems — my car was stolen three times and made weird noises — so I finally sold it to my brother for $500,” said Barton, who commutes every day to Bike Bakersfield. When he has to go to L.A., he rides the bus — Bike Bakersfield also promotes the use of public transportation.
“It’s fun; it’s a great form of exercise; it’s good for the environment; and it’s better for you psychologically than being cramped inside a box,” said Barton, who is happy to provide routes for those interested in biking through wayfaring.com. He creates maps for interested parties, complete with helpful notes about lane positioning and tips like “watch out for pothole.”
Barton said there are improvements that could make urban cycling in Bakersfield a little safer, like fixing areas where there are changing bike-lane widths, especially in new housing developments, and wider bike lanes in places like Coffee Road between Brimhall Road and Rosedale Highway.
Eric Vick, 15, was crossing Ming Avenue on his bike from the parking lot of Valley Plaza the night of July 30, when he was struck by a pickup driven by a 17-year-old boy. Vick, 15, who was not wearing a helmet, died of his injuries at 6:35 a.m. the next day at Kern Medical Center. The driver was not cited.
Barton said the accident is a horrible example of what happens when bicyclists are not acting like operators of a vehicle, noting that Vick was crossing illegally and not wearing a helmet.
“Once you know the rules, you have the confidence,” said Barton, who said educated riders are 80 percent less likely to get in an accident.
He said almost anybody can pull off a crosstown commute using existing bike paths and roadside bike lanes, and that most people’s hesitation to ride a bike on Gosford, Oak or California comes from fear — which is understandable. Barton suggests starting small, which means sticking to residential streets when possible, and learning the safety tips for riding on the road.
Barton and Franconi, who said currently only about 1.5 percent of the local population bikes, hope to increase the commuter base to 1,000. They plan to make presentations to companies this fall encouraging workers to commute and engage in group rides.
Franconi is currently involved in backing the Bicycle Commuter Act, which would extend the transportation fringe benefit, currently available to transit users and car drivers, to bicycle com- muters. The legislation would provide a tax benefit to employers who offer cash reimbursements to an employee who commutes by bicycle, while helping defray the costs of commuting for the  bicyclist. Congress would have to amend the tax code to allow this benefit.
“Healthier employees are happier employees. And they’re also more awake when they get to work!” said Franconi, who has an answer to every protest — Don’t want to ride alone? Find a buddy! Afraid you’ll be late? Bikes often actually beat traffic. Your business doesn’t offer shower facilities? Find a nearby gym. 
Southwest resident Jim Pappe, a network engineer at Lightspeed Systems, bikes to work two or three times a week, as do several of his co-workers. He doesn’t like to ride on the major Southwest access roads (Gosford, California, Stockdale and Ming) because people drive fast and get distracted, he said, so he chose his current house based on its proximity to the bike path. It takes him less than a minute to get to the path and start his commute from Buena Vista and Stockdale.
Pappe transitioned from mountain biking to road cycling and racing, but now spends more time riding with his kids. He enjoys the exercise and saving money on gas, and enjoys the camaraderie he shares with other riders.
“I see cycling as continuing to expand in the area,” said Pappe. “I’ve moved away a couple of times in the past few years and have to say that the cycling in Bakersfield is quite extraordinary. We’re very lucky to have the bike path and parks like River Walk where families and kids can park and ride safely.”
Southwest resident Mike Noel has loved bikes since he was a child and is a mountain biking fanatic. He either rides on a single or tandem with his wife. Most of his vacations involve cycling trips, whether it be to the Santa Barbara coastal mountains, Lake Isabella, Lake Tahoe, Colorado or British Columbia.
“I am able to get out and enjoy nature in the mountains with my wife and go where few people are willing to go,” said Noel, who said that while there is a strong cycling community in Bakersfield, improvements could be made to accommodate cyclists.
“It’s difficult just going to the store with your bicycle. Most stores don’t even have bike racks where you can lock your bike,” said Noel, who added that while bicycling might not be as convenient as it is sitting in the car or in front of the television, the payoff is worth the effort.
“Most people involved in cycling lead a very healthy lifestyle, while the general population does not,” said Noel.
Southwest resident Robin Ablin, an independent real estate broker, helped with the Bike Bakersfield bike race held recently during the street fair.  He started biking as a child with a Sting-Ray and never stopped, currently riding three to five times a week and 100 to 175 miles a week on the road and bikepath. 
“Cycling will continue to grow as the publicity of the sport grows, as the population ages since it is a low impact exercise, and as gasoline prices continue to rise,” said Ablin. “Most potential is in recreational cycling for exercise, then next as an alternative vehicle for short errands/commutes when gas gets too expensive. Young people need to embrace an active lifestyle, cycling being one option.”
Franconi said while there are miles to go before Bike Bakersfield reaches all of its goals, the first step in expanding the local cycling culture is for residents — armed with air in their tires, brakes that work, a crank set that’s not wobbly, a comfortable seat and a helmet — to embrace their motto and: “Get on your bike and ride!”

Bike Bakersfield Programs
Safe Routes Program: If you are interested in commuting by bike but are unsure on the best route to work, we can help. Email: info@bikebakersfield.org
•     Recycle-a-Bicycle: Bike Bakersfield takes in donated bikes and puts them back on the street where they belong. If you would like a bike but can’t afford one, you are eligible for a free bike. We are also in need of bikes. If you have a bike that’s sitting in your garage collecting dust, you can donate it to Bike Bakersfield. All donations are tax deductible. Email: info@bikebakersfield.org
•     John Lotze is a league-certified instructor who hosts “Street Skills” classes at the Bike Bakersfield office. Enroll today if you are interested in building your confidence while riding on the street. Email: barton@bikebakersfield.org
•     Bike to Work: We are currently working on a Bike to Work guide for employees throughout Bakersfield. We are going to be giving presentations at major employers throughout Bakersfield to discuss the benefits of riding to work. This book will be free and available through our Web site or your workplace. This is all part of goal of encouraging more residents to ride their bikes for transportation.
•     Bike to School: Bike to Bakersfield representatives will be speaking at schools this fall.
•     Become a Monthly Sustainer: Sign up to make an automatic monthly donation of $10 to $1,000. The sustainer program makes it easy for you to support the work of Bike Bakersfield on an ongoing basis by spreading your donation out over an entire year. Contact Lauren Franconi, executive director, at 321-9247 to set up your monthly gift.

Bike Bakersfield
1708 Chester Ave.
Bakersfield,CA 93301
phone, 321.9247
fax, 321-9251
bikebakersfield.org
e-mail: info@bikebakersfield.org

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