SDCBC clubs committee March meeting report

[Paul Nevins]

SDCBC Clubs Committee report from 4/5/2014

1- TOUR DE CURE will be coming through the county in May. Club members are encouraged to volunteer and/or sign up for the ride. This year’s course is new http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR?fr_id=9412&pg=entry

2- Ciclosdias will be in Pacific Beach March 30 from 10AM to 3PM, clubs are requested to plan their ride to stop by Ciclosdias for lunch or other break.
http://wwww.ciclosdias.com/WhatIsCiclosdias.html
http://ciclosdias.com/

3- Jim Baross reported on the court case involving the Bike the Coast cyclist who was ticketed in Encinitas. The case was dismissed because witnesses testified that he was legally passing another cyclist. Unfortunately the determination was made by a court commissioner not a Superior Court Judge, if you get a ticket insist on your right to a real judge not a commissioner, you will get a better interpretation of the law, the judges are less prone to follow the cop’s lead, the judges are elected and not subject to “revenue quotas”. A ruling by a judge sets legal precedent whereas one by a commissioner has no legal weight. Richard Duquette assisted with the case. http://www.911law.com/ The SDCBC defense committee will assist bicyclists with their defense of bogus tickets and the committee will be developing a campaign focused on injuries from car hits as well as deaths with the goal of establishing a Zero ‘accidents’ policy in SD county.

4- We have lots of public hearings and council/local meetings coming up that are pertinent to funding better bicycling infrastructure and how local jurisdictions direct law enforcement officers to treat bicyclists. SDCBC really needs each club’s contact list in order to round up as many bodies as possible at public hearings etc. there is strength in numbers and the bigger presence and the more articulate we are at public meetings the better bicyclists will be treated throughout the county.

5- The Pearl Izumi outlet store is interested in holding Ts 101 classes for their customers, club members can approach the businesses they patronize and offer SDCBC assistance in holding classes at their shops. Club members should strongly encourage the shop owners, managers and employees to take the Oceanside Traffic Skills 101class, it is still free. http://www.sdcbc.org/adult-bicyclist-education.html, http://www.sdcbc.org/index.html

6- Cal Hwy Patrol and Oceanside police supervisors were given a TS 101 class by Jim Baross and Pete Penseyres, the supervisors were fairly receptive however there was push back from some motorcycle officers and more resistance to a bicycle friendly interpretation of the traffic code is expected by the rank and file. Expanded classes have been authorized for the Oceanside Police, hopefully the CHP will follow suite. This is an amazing breakthrough, it bodes well for the future, Pete and jim have performed a minor miracle!

7- Bicycle routes paths and trails expansion and connectivity along the San Diego River was discussed.

8- The local staff personnel who are assigned responsibility for bicycling within their jurisdictions should be at the very least bicycle owners and casual riders, we need to appeal to our local cities to make sure the planners and the traffic engineers and the law enforcement supervisors who determine bicycle policies, development, planning and enforcement meet that minimum criteria. Sadly the Vista bike planner Adam Finestone does not own a bicycle and when offered assistance in acquiring one stated emphatically and categorically that he was not interested in owning a bicycle 'I have other priorities right now’ he stated, he drives a scant 2 miles to work in a V-8 Mustang. Are you wondering why you cannot get any respect? This is a good reason to help the SDCBC get bodies to council meetings and forcefully demand bicycling advocates as city staff assigned to bicycling issues.

9- Cyclofemme ride 2014 will be on May 11.
http://cyclofemme.com/plan-your-ride/ 
http://cyclofemme.com/2014-rides/
Ride leaders are encouraged to list their ride for that day.

10- A larger meeting venue is needed, contact Mike Samyn at 619-942-2374 if you know of any place that will hold 20-30 people is centrally located and is easily accessed from a freeway exit.

11- I arrived at 6:30, the meeting began at 6, no matter what you see listed arrive at 6 to future meetings. There probably are some items which I missed in my notes, check the SDCBC committee google group for the meeting transcript.

Paul Nevins