INTRODUCTION AND A MAJOR AWARD!
Associated Students Bike Committee is a passionate advocate of bicycle transportation and a voice for bicycles in campus planning. The Committee is responsible for funding the improvement and maintenance of campus bicycle infrastructure as well as for educating UCSB students, staff and faculty on best practices regarding bike safety through events such as bike fairs, workshops, and tabling.
UCSB Rated a Platinum Bicycle Friendly University!
The committee’s ongoing advocacy, planning, and across campus collaborative work bore fruit this year with the announcement that UCSB has been rated a PLATINUM Bicycle Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists. The Bicycle Friendly University program evaluates applicants’ efforts to promote bicycling in five primary areas: engineering, encouragement, education, enforcement and evaluation/planning. The AS Bike Committee has been working on this goal since UCSB was ranked Gold in 2011, and safety programs such as the annual bike light giveaway and the new bike share providing options for occasional riders and visitors were some of the key elements to this success. Congrats Gauchos!
OFFICERS
Emily Orr, Chair
Jacky Tan, Vice Chair
Jason McDaniel, Project Manager
Sev Luke, Administrative Coordinator
Felix Dong, Outreach Coordinator
Sarah Siedschlag, Staff Advisor
PROJECTS FOR 2019
Bren Hall Bicycle Lot
During summer 2019 Bike Committee started the year running with the beginning of construction on a new 119 space bicycle lot in front of Bren Hall. The lot will reduce the demand on the crowded Engineering lot to the north, and will provide support for the Bren School, the Marine Sciences Institute, and other nearby buildings. As always Bike Committee worked directly with campus administrators and other stakeholders to make this project a reality.
Bicycle Lot Improvements at Broida Hall
Bike Committee is planning to upgrade and increase the number of racks near Broida. The project, which was carried out in phases over several months now provides a huge increase in bicycle parking for the entire area!
Events and Tabling
CSO Bike Sales
The Community Service Organization (CSO) hosts periodic used bike sales, typically in the first few weeks of each quarter. All bikes are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis and all are priced at $40 + $10 registration fee. Bikes are sold as-is and many will need basic maintenance or simple repairs which can be obtained at the Bike Shop.
The Bike Committee often participates in CSO bike sales by tabling, offering giveaway items to complement a new bike, or by assisting with spreading the word about the event.
The Gaucho Bike Fair
The fair was held at the AS Bike Shop during Week of Welcome. Participants learned about bike repair and maintenance, how to be a safe and conscientious bike commuter, and earned some great prizes in the process!
Bike Lights, Seat Covers, and Fenders
Bike Lights provided by the Bike Committee were available in Fall quarter after daylight savings time ends and the streets and bike paths got dark earlier in the day.
During winter quarter bike fenders and/or seat coverswere available when the rainy season began and biking got a bit less comfortable.
Theater and Dance Pothole is No More
Got it done over the winter break!
