INTRODUCTION

The AS Bike Committee (ASBC) is a unique component of the Associated Students community. The ASBC is a place where passionate advocacy for bicycle safety and a clear voice for consideration of bicycles in campus planning came together. The ASBC is an active bicycle system advocate, and worked to increase student, staff, faculty, and administration awareness of and involvement with bicycle system issues in and around UCSB. They also funded bike improvements on campus, participated in social and outreach events throughout the year with their $1.25 per student per quarter lock-in fee, and can, of course, be found on social media having added a Snapchat account this year.

Bike Committee officers L to R: Constantine Chong, Cynthia Jiang, Tiffany Wu, Krystalin Bullicer, Tiffany Yeh, and Kevin Jin

PROJECTS AND EVENTS

STUDENT AFFAIRS STUDENT SERVICES BUILDING ROUNDABOUT IMPROVEMENTS: A SIGNATURE PROJECT

The summer before classes began saw the completion of the much needed transformation of the intersection at the Student Affairs Student Services Building (SASSB) into a roundabout. This notorious intersection for years saw too many a good rider go down. Planning input and significant funding from the Bike Committee, and about 4 weeks of construction, resulted in riders  now being able to safely negotiate this key campus intersection.

SASSB intersection: Before

SASSB Intersection: In progress

SASSB intersection: Much better!

ROUNDABOUT SAFETY

As nice as the new roundabout is, it still took some getting used to. Bike Committee and the Transportations Alternative Program provided some info for getting around roundabouts safely.

 A WARM WELCOME VIDEO FROM THE 2014/2015 BIKE COMMITTEE

Bike Committee projects often take years to plan and complete. This video is a testament to committee members’ commitment to passing the baton from one year to the next to the tune of “I Lived” (Glee Cast Version). Sweet!

A LOOK AT SOME FUTURE REPAIRS

Bike path and bike parking lot repair and maintenance is ongoing. AS has been part of this process, which includes working with campus administrators and soliciting student input, for many years, both in terms of suggesting improvements and in providing significant funding to get the jobs done.

Campus staff include Jamey Wagner, Dennis Whelan, and Sarah Siedschlag

PEAK RACKS

Peak Racks feature a more efficient design that allows more bikes to be parked in a given space. Bike Committee has worked for several years to replace older racks on campus with them. So out with the old on the left and in with the new on the right.

PARDALL CARNIVAL

The Bike Committee joined other AS and community groups to spread the word about what they do at the beginning-of-the-year Pardall Carnival. The student produced carnival in downtown IV is a fun way for students and community members to find out about what services AS provides.

ANNUAL BIKE PATH EVALUATION

Each year Bike Committee invites students to join them and campus administrators, including Associate Campus Architect Dennis Whelan, to ride the bike path system to suggest improvements and identify needed maintenance areas. Students also posted their suggestions on the Bike Committee Facebook site. One student strongly recommended a roundabout at the SASSB—already completed over the summer break! Other roundabouts were also suggested and, of course, rough places on paths that need fixing. The work is ongoing, but the system keeps improving every year.

UCSB STRIKES BIKE GOLD

This year UCSB continued its run as a Gold Level Bike Friendly University. The honor was conferred by the League of American Bicyclists. The run started in 2011. Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services and Campus Architect Marc Fisher had this to say about UCSB’s bicycle culture:

“Our campus and immediate surroundings currently boast nearly 10 miles of separated bike paths, and there are more to come in the university’s long-range plans. We are very proud of our biking culture and infrastructure here at UCSB and very happy to again earn this recognition from the League of American Bicyclists.”

You can read more about it in the UC Santa Barbara Current, though as is too often the case, no mention is made of the significant role student initiative and funding played in making this award possible. It’s safe to say, without the Bike Committee, which was formerly named Bicycle Improvements Keep Everyone Safe (B.I.K.E.S), and student funding through AS most of the bicycle infrastructure on campus wouldn’t exist.

NEW CAMPUS BICYCLE MAP

UCSB has a new campus bicycle map! Thanks to the diligence of AS Art Director Chelsea Lyon working in collaboration with Bike Committee, Transportation and Parking Services, and Campus Planning & Design, the updated map includes all campus bicycle paths, pump and tool locations, parking lots, and storage bins. It’s a great resource that required a high level of coordination and creativity to realize.

QUARTERLY CSO BIKE SALE

Bike Committee supports these quarterly sales of bikes that have been impounded around campus. All bikes are $50 and sold as-is. A photo ID is required because the bikes have to be registered when they’re picked up. There’s a limit of two bikes per customer. The program is a great way to get as many bikes as possible back on the road.

IV LUX

At this annual event Bike Committee partners with local law enforcement to encouraged to light up, with bike lights that is! In fact, the first 1500 attendees got a free light for their bike and important information about bike safety and traffic laws. As an added incentive attendees were encouraged to enter a drawing for prizes donated by local businesses. The ultimate goal is to make riding in IV and on campus safer and more fun. IV Lux made the KEYT TV new. Just clicked here. And here’s the Highway Patrol press release describing the event:

MORE BIKE PATH IMPROVEMENTS

Spring Break saw improvements to another chunk of bike path by the rugby pitch between the tennis courts and Caesar Uyesaka Stadium. Associate Campus Architect Dennis Whelan had this to say about the project: “This section of the UCSB bikepath system is one of the oldest, built about 50 years ago to connect (then) Francisco Torres to main campus. The existing path was completely removed and will be 15% wider when paved and striped.” Fransisco Torres is now the Santa Catalina dorms, but hundreds of students still ride this path on their way to classes or the RecCen each day.

Further improvements included: Bike projects completed over Spring Break:
– Removal of racks at the MCC
-Reorgainzation of racks at Library south
– New Racks at Santa Rosa Hall (Housing project)
– Relocated racks at Military Science

See the missing bike racks?

Library south

New Peak Racks outside the Santa Rosa Residence Hall

New Racks by the Military Science Building!

Yes, the work continues during breaks!

IV BIKE BRIGADE

In a novel partnership with the UCSB Community Housing Office (CHO), Bike Committee invited students to get on their bikes for a tour of available housing in Isla Vista. It was an opportunity to not only check out housing, but also a way to meet potential housemates.

LEARN AT LUNCH: BIKE COMMUTER BASICS

Bike Committee hosted a lunchtime presentation by the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition in the UCen. Students met with the experts from SBBIKE to discuss routes, rights and responsibilities, and safety concerns. They picked up some great tips to get them where they’re heading safely.

NEW SIGNS AT THE BORDER BETWEEN CAMPUS AND IV

So let’s do something to help figure out what IV street that is that dead ends at campus. They all kind of look alike. How about some nice new signs with funding from Bike Committee. You’re welcome!

AND FINALLY, SOME BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS!

Slipping into the 16/17 school year, Happy Birthday to now former vice chair, Mac Kennedy! ???

And, Happy Birthday to now former chair, Emily Littleworth, who participated in Bike Committee from freshman to senior year! ???

Emily’s participation in Bike Committee is emblematic of committee members’ long term commitment to improving bicycle access and safety on our campus. 2016/17 will no doubt bring more improvements—all part of making UCSB one of the most bike friendly campuses in the USA!