San Luis Obispo Regional Rideshare is hiring a Program Coordinator with a closing date for applications on Monday, December 8, 2008 at noon. To view a full position description, visit http://rideshare.org/Library/News/Program_Coordinator_Job_Description.pdf.
Thanks for spreading the word!
-MNM
It seems as though there may be a bright side to this recession. Since the 700 billion dollar bailout, things are looking less gloomy for cyclists in San Luis Obispo. First, as a direct result of the bailout, cyclists all over the nation will be eligible for a $20 per month fringe tax benefit from their employers starting in January 2009. This is something that has been on the bike advocacy books for quite some time. Second, the City of San Luis Obispo was just awarded $890,000 from Caltrans Bicycle Transportation Account towards the construction of the Railroad Bicycle Trail. Can I get a “Woo Hoo!” Congratulations to the San Luis Obispo Bicycle Coalition for their continued advocacy successes. Also, congratulations to every individual in San Luis Obispo County – whether you know it or not, whether you are a cyclist or not, you will feel the positive benefits of improved bicycle programs and infrastructure.
-MNM
Bicycle Commuter Tax Benefit
www.bikeleague.org
KEYT Report
Rail Road Safety Trail
SLO Bicycle Coalitions Press Release
KSBY Report
I don't own a car (as previously mentioned) and this is borne both out of choice and necessity. I couldn't buy a car right now if I wanted one: it is simply too expensive. And I'm a commuter, so I wear my work clothes when I'm riding. That may include a skirt, heels, a tailored shirt, whatever. I dress up. Anyone who knows me knows that. So I'm a little ticked about 2 conversations I had this weekend:
The first was with my neighbor, who is adamantly NOT a cyclist. She is angry that she has to slow down (or even stop) for bicyclists who are in the lane ahead of her when driving on our local streets. She characterized bicyclists as "those girls in their miniskirts and high heels, listening to their i-pods". I get what she means: carefree, irresponsible, selfish; a contrast to how she would describe herself. It's the notion that bicyclists are all students with money and time to spare (also a misconception about students, I would say). Clogging up the streets to real commuters (in their cars) can't get where they need to go.
The second was with an acquaintance who drives to her job because she wants to look nice and she thinks that bicycling or walking (especially when it rains) makes that impossible. I understand this to mean: bicycle commuting is fine for students or people who don't have real jobs and have to be clean or well dressed or smell nice when they get to work.
Both of these misconceptions about bicycling (really, they're the same misconception) can be disproved everyday by people in our community. I'm an example, as are the 5 other bike commuters at SLOCOG, as is Aileen Loe (Deputy Director of Caltrans District 5) who rides her bike to work from Arroyo Grande, as are Kristina Seley at the Water Board and Mike Borger at Wallace Group. And there are more: Rideshare has 315 bike commuters registered in TripLink.
This is a viable commute choice! People in our community who think bicyclists are only what they see on the first Thursday of the month after Farmers' Market, need to open their eyes. Bicyclists are legitimate commuters: executives, administrators, teachers, regular people with 9-5 jobs and meetings, and we're not clogging the streets, were making them safer and cleaner by not getting into a big, loud, dirty car and driving it to our workplace.
~ jessica
View some well dressed bicycle commuters on my favorite fashion website
the sartorialist
Learn how to be a better bike commuter at a Bike Ed Class in San Luis Obispo (because you should know that riding while listening to an i-pod is illegal)
It’s a well known fact that children are more at risk walking on Halloween than any other day of the year. There are a few quick and easy tips to make Halloween fun and safe for children and parents. Here are a few tips from the Pedestrian and Bicycling Information Center (www.walkinginfo.org):
Choose the safest routes to walk.
• Pick places where there are sidewalks or paths separated from traffic if possible.
• Look for well-lit streets with slow traffic.
• Remind children to watch for cars turning or pulling out of driveways.
Review crossing safety rules with children. Tell them to:
• Even when adults are looking, always look for cars for yourself.
• Stop at the curb and look left, right and left again for traffic.
• Wait until no traffic is coming and begin crossing. Keep looking for traffic until you have finished crossing.
• When crossing the street at an intersection, obey traffic signs and signals and look for yourself to see if cars are coming. Look left, right and left and then behind you and in front of you for turning cars.
• Walk, don’t run across the street.
Think visibility. Wear bright colors, use retro reflective materials. Carry flashlights. In bad weather, visibility is even more important.
Plan how to cross streets :
• Avoid busy, high-speed or multi-lane roads.
• Give children exiting the street room to enter the sidewalk area.
Remember children are not miniature adults .
• They often act before thinking.
• They have one-third narrower side vision.
• They can’t judge speed.
• They are shorter than adults and can’t see over cars and bushes.
Make sure the children understand what is expected of them. Have a plan for dealing with disruptive kids.
Happy and Safe Halloween from the Rideshare Team!
According to KSBY, gas prices have decreased compared to rates this time last year (by one cent). With a peak price in July of $4.68, those of us in the TDM world (Transportation Demand Management) are seeing the effects. In July of this year, when gas prices were at their highest, TripLink (Rideshare’s free online rideshare matching tool) had 175 new registrants and TripLink users reduced 141,593.36 miles of driving alone. Not too shabby. In fact, that same month all of our programs saw a great hike in interest. To balance our comparison, this September when gas prices were reaching their lowest of the year, we had 94 new TripLink registrants and TripLink users reduced 142,411.27 miles of driving alone. Decreased interest in trying new modes, but an increase in use of those already leaving their car behind, or sharing the ride.
I think it is safe to assume that even though gas prices are going down; those who tried different ways of commuting in July have stuck with the program. Also, new interest in changing commute habits has decreased as a result of lower gas prices.
Difference in new TripLink users (July-September): 81
Difference in reduced miles of driving alone (July-September): -817.91
Therefore, Rideshare must continue to break the myth that driving alone is convenient and that people are saving money with the decrease in gas prices. The next few days we are hosting focus groups that will help determine the best way to get information out to San Luis Obispo County, and hopefully create positive changes in peoples commute habits.
Using hidden cameras and cheap bicycles as bait, an Argentine publicist set out to gauge crime in different neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. The longer it takes for the bike to be stolen the safer the area is his hypothesis. "It's not a statistic but in a way it shows that the places where the bicycle gets robbed really quickly perhaps the quality of life is poorer," said Mariano Pasik. Pasik speeds up the videos, sets them to music and puts them on a website (http://www.lapruebadelabicicleta.com). He hopes other videographers will join his nonprofit "Bicycle Test" project and create a worldwide insecurity index.
In the latest video posted, a bike lasted an hour without being stolen in the unsavoury Constitution neighborhood but in an upscale shopping street of Santa Fe a bike lasted a few short minutes before it was stolen. A neghborhood "passes" the bicycle test when an hour passes or when the video person gets tired or runs out of batteries.
So far in the Bicycle Test, no woman has stolen a bike.
Cindy
The Bicycle Commuter Act is finally going to be law. This new law will take effect on January 1st and will allow employers to pay $20 per month to employees who commute by bike. This is like the pre-tax bus pass purchase that is available for bus commuters (or like the incentive car drivers get when they don't have to pay for parking). The details are still being worked out about how this is going to work for employers and employees. The League of American Bicyclists is keeping tabs on the situation and reporting on it as more information becomes available, so visit www.bikeleague.org or check with us at Rideshare and we'll let you know what we find out.
Many bicycle commuters in San Luis Obispo County are already reaping the benefits of bicycling to work. TripLink, the online commuter match program at Rideshare, allows users to log their carpool, vanpool, bus, walking, and bicycling commutes. Many employers in our region offer incentives to employees that don't drive alone. Check TripLink to see if your employer is participating, and if their not, have them call Rideshare at 781-4362 to find out how.
~ Jessica
Check out this graph put out by the Natural Resources Defense Council that shows each states dependence on gasoline, and which states are trying to curb consumption. Looks as though California has some work to do...
USA Today asked readers in a mid-May survey: “How high would the price of gas have to go for you to seriously consider such options as public transportation or carpooling to work?” The results, according to one of the paper’s front-page Snapshots® earlier this month:
$4.00 to $4.50...46%
$5.00 to $5.50...23%
$6.00 or higher...13%
Already affecting/using public transportation...18%
How can you do your part? Check out these fun tips: http://www.delta-sky.com/2008_03/greennumbers/
-MNM
Yes, I'm talking about Peace, Love, Rideshare. Sometimes, it can be that simple.
SLO Rideshare is gearing up for Rideshare Week, October 20-24, 2008 and we are delivering a simple, but powerful message. By pledging to leave you car behind, or share the ride, we can all make a difference and spread a little peace, love, rideshare. I'm talking about increased air and water quality, decreased road congestion, decreased demand on foreign oil and increased health and well-being. Sounds good to me!
If you would like to get a jump start, pledge today. Also, stay tuned for information on prizes, events, and grooviness.
-Morgen
The following information was sent to me through my TDM (Transportation Demand Management) list serve. This seems like a great step in the right direction. With the infrastructure already in place for cost free incentives, I hope that employees in San Francisco see a direct benefit. This would be a great opportunity to do a study on employee morale and productivity in relation to alternative transportation…
The links below are directed at articles on the recently passed (August 2008) SF ordinance requiring employers to:
1) Allow pre-tax transit/vanpool deductions (like Wage Works), or
2) Provide transportation, or
3) Provide a direct financial incentive for riding transit/vanpools.
The LA Times article suggests that the intent of the measure is to get employers to offer the pre-tax option. The measure takes effect on December 22, 2008
http://www.hrtools.com/news/alerts/san_francisco_(ca)_makes_commuter_benefits_mandatory.aspx
http://www.wgains.com/Publications/Articles.aspx?id=62
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-roadsage15-2008sep15,0,1272932,print.story
-Morgen
