August 2022

After a mild start of summer, it really heated up.  On these 100 degree plus days, you can still ride your bike, but try to avoid the hottest times of the day, drink plenty of water before you take off, carry more water, take shadier routes, and slow down to help avoid dehydration and heat exhaustion.  To be more comfortable, wear clothing with synthetic fibers instead of sweat-soaking cotton.

In this month’s Newsletter:

 

• Bike Café is on Tuesday, August 9 at 7:00 pm with Keshia Thomas of the Clean Shared Mobility Network to discuss the launch of bikeshare with e-bikes in West Fresno.

• The next Fresno Bike Station Fix Your Own Bike event is on Saturday, August 20 from 8:00 am to noon in the Tower District.

• The next installment on bicycle infrastructure is on Class IV separated bikeways.

• The current legislative session is coming to a close, with some bicycle-related legislation already sent to the Governor for his approval.

• The next Board meeting is on Thursday, August 18 at 7:30 pm.

FCBC Bike Café

The monthly virtual Bike Café allows FCBC members and others to socialize and discuss bike-related topics of interest.

Join us on Zoom on Tuesday, August 9 at 7:00 pm as we meet Keshia Thomas, engagement consultant of the Clean Shared Mobility Network.  She will be giving us a preview of CSMN's plans for bikeshare with 200 e-bikes in West Fresno.

 

Register here to get the Zoom link.  If you have questions about using Zoom, registration for the event, or any other questions, email us events@fresnobike.org.

Fresno Bike Station FYOB Event

The next Fresno Bicycle Station Fix Your Own Bike event is scheduled for Saturday, August 20 between 8:00 am and noon at the Van Ness Village Vendor Fair, located at 1440 N. Van Ness Avenue.  The Fresno Bike Station is sponsored by FCBC and allows bike owners to learn how to repair their own bikes with help from experienced mechanics, including FCBC member Julie Congi and Tower Velo owner Chris Eacock.

 

Bicycle Infrastructure:  Class IV Separated Bikeways

Class IV bikeways are the newest type of bikeway.  They are known as separated bikeways or cycle tracks and have a vertical feature that separates the bikeway from the vehicular travel lanes, and they are for the exclusive use of bicycles, though motorized scooters are also allowed to use bikeways.  The raised physical feature could be a flexible post, planter, curbed island, on-street parking, or change in grade.

Class IV bikeways are much less costly to implement than Class I bike paths, which typically require additional right-of-way.  Class IV bikeways are usually implemented by removing street parking or a travel lane.  They are seen as being key to providing a low-stress bike network to attract bicyclists who otherwise do not feel comfortable riding next to live traffic.Class IV bikeways can be one-way or two-way.  Two-way Class IV bikeways do have more potential conflicts with vehicles at driveways or intersections and are therefore much less common.

While Class IV bikeways are sometimes called protected bike lanes, that is improper terminology in California because bike lanes by law are mandatory use facilities for bicyclists traveling slower than vehicle traffic except when making a left turn, avoiding debris, or passing a slower cyclist.  Class IV bikeways, like Class I bike paths, are optional use facilities that may not serve the full diversity of bicyclists.  Class IV bikeways therefore should not have “BIKE LANE” signs or pavement stencils.  There is not a currently approved Class IV bikeway sign for California, and the pavement stencil should use the bicycle symbol instead of words.

The minimum width of a one-way Class IV bikeway is 5 feet, with 7 feet preferred.  The buffer area should be at least 2 feet wide, with 3 feet preferred, especially where there is floating parking so that doors do not encroach into the bikeway.

Class IV bikeways do require more maintenance than Class II bike lanes.  The most common type of vertical element is a flexible post, and these need to be periodically replaced.  Street sweeping in particular can be a challenging issue.  Typical street sweepers are 8 feet wide, with brush heads that extend another 2 feet.  Acquiring a narrower street sweeper for use in Class IV bikeways therefore can be a necessity for the agency responsible for the street maintenance.

Careful consideration needs to be given at driveways and intersections when street parking is allowed, as the parked vehicles can restrict sight distance.  At Intersections, the Class IV bikeway is typically dropped to become a Class II bike lane to allow vehicles intending to make a right turn to weave with bicyclists.  Protected bicycle signals and protected intersections are strategies that can be used instead of weaving, and these will be described in more detail in the next issue of the Newsletter.

The City of Fresno installed their first Class IV separated bikeway on R Street in Downtown in early 2021.  The flexible posts were placed outside the buffer to provide adequate room for a street sweeper.

Legislative Update

 

The California Legislature is at the final stretch of the current session.  Bills need to be sent to the Governor by mid-September for approval.  Here is the status of four of the more significant bills related to bicycling:

 

• Assembly Bill (AB) 1713 proposes the “safety stop,” or Idaho stop, to adult bicyclists.  A similar bill was vetoed by the Governor last year because of concerns of children having sufficient judgment when not to stop.  The bill is in the Senate Appropriations Committee, where any bill that has a fiscal impact is analyzed, and the bill will have the third required reading.

 

• AB-1909 - the Bicycle Omnibus Bill, would allow expanded use of e-bikes on trails and bicyclists to follow pedestrian signals at traffic signals, require motorists to move over when passing bicyclists, and prevent local jurisdictions from requiring licenses for bicycles.  The bill is in the Senate Appropriations Committee and will have the third required reading.

 

• AB-1946 requires the California Highway Patrol to develop e-bike safety training and post it on the internet by September 1, 2023.  The bill has been sent to the Governor for his approval.

 

• AB-2028 allows school districts to allow nonprofits, clubs, and other organizations time and facilities for bicycle and scooter safety instruction in schools.  Current law allows access only to law enforcement agencies.  This bill was approved by the Governor.

Kid’s Bike Rodeo

On August 3, Board members Tony Molina and John Liu set up a bike rodeo for the annual Caltrans Kid’s Day event for Caltrans employees and their children and grandchildren. About 40 kids received a bike helmet from the California Highway Patrol and then went through the course to learn bicycle skills.

FCBC is currently working on plans for a bike rodeo and community bike ride in the City of Fowler on September 24 in collaboration with the Fresno County Department of Public Health CalFresh Healthy Living, Teens That Care, and U.S. Green Building Council Central California.

Next Board Meeting

The next Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 18 at 7:30 pm via Zoom.  Everyone is welcome to join the virtual meeting.  If you would like to participate in the meeting, register here, and you will immediately get the Zoom link.

Have a comment or suggestion?  Contact us at info@fresnobike.org.

If you are not yet a member of FCBC or need to renew, please visit https://fresnobike.org/join to become a member or renew your membership.