Bicycling and Walking
Bike to Work Day a Success!
Bike to Work day on Thursday, May 17, 2012, was a huge success! The City of Ventura Transportation Department would like to thank VCTC (Ventura County Transportation Commission) and Trek Bikes for their participation and help as well as to all City employees who made this year's Bike to Work day a success.
Our Bike Pit Stop at the corner of Santa Clara and California Streets witnessed over 100 bicyclists riding by on Thursday morning with 70 stoping by to say hello and to check out the freebies provided including bagels, coffee, assorted snacks and water. 40 people entered our raffle and 15 took advantage of the free tune-ups given by Trek.
Ventura has a great bike riding community and we're looking forward to seeing it grow as more and more of us ride our bikes not only during Bike to Work week, but all year long!
Bike to Work Week
.jpg)
May 14-18 is Bike to Work Week, and Thursday, May 17th is Bike to Work Day.
City of Ventura Bicyclist Pit stop will be at Santa Clara St and California St from 6am to 9am.
Cyclists are encouraged to drop by the rest station for morning refreshments,
bicycling information, a free mini-tune-up and bicycle goods!
We will also have sign-ups for a raffle.
-
Beginning Monday, May 14, Bike to Work participants can tweet @goventura with the number of miles they’ll be biking throughout the week to be entered into a random drawing for a chance to win an iPad. Contest ends at 5 p.m. Friday, May 18. The winner will be announced on or about Wednesday, May 23.
-
Beginning Monday, May 14, Bike to Work participants can also share their best Bike to Work photo on facebook.com/goventura. Those who don’t share a photo are encouraged to visit VCTC’s Facebook page and “like” their favorite pic. The photo that gets the most “likes” wins a cellphone bicycle mount. Contest ends at 5 p.m. Friday, May 18. The winner will be announced on or about Wednesday, May 23.
- Participants can also fill out a brief questionnaire at www.goventura.org before 5 p.m. on Monday, May 21 for a chance to win bike gear. Winners will be announced on or about Wednesday, May 23.
National Strategies for Advancing Bicycle Safety
(According to League of American Bicyclist)
The National Strategies for Advancing Bicycle Safety is a publication of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation; the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and the Federal Highway Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
National Strategies for Advancing Bicycle Safety
Goal #1 Motorists Will Share the Road
Goal #2 Bicyclists Will Ride Safely
Goal #3 Bicyclists Will Wear Helmets
Goal #4 The Legal System Will Support Safe Bicycling
Goal #5 Roads and Paths Will Safely Accommodate Bicycling
Sharrows - Shared Roadway Bicycle Marking
The shared roadway bicycle markings (sharrows) may be used to assist bicyclists with positioning on a shared roadway with on-street parallel parking and to alert road users of the location a bicyclist may occupy within the traveled way.
Standard:
The sharrows shall only be used on a roadway (Class III Bikeway (Bike Route) or Shared Roadway (No Bikeway Designation) which has on-street parallel parking. If used, sharrows shall be placed so that the centers of the markings are a minimum of 3.3 m (11 ft) from the curb face or edge of paved shoulder. On State highways, the shared roadway bicycle marking shall be used only in urban areas.
Support:
The shared roadway bicycle marking is intended to:
- Reduce the chance of bicyclists impacting open doors of parked vehicles on a shared roadway with on-street parallel parking.
- Alert road users within a narrow traveled way of the lateral location where bicyclists ride.
-
Be used only on roadways without marked bicycle lanes or shoulders.
How to Lock Your Bike
Always lock your bike, especially at home. More bikes are stolen from home than from any other location. Wherever you store your bike; a garage, a college dorm room, an apartment building, use your lock.
Pick a good Location. Select a location where there are other bikes. The chances are better that there will be a bike with a less secure lock -- or even without a lock -- and thieves will usually take the unlocked bikes first.
Always lock your bike in visible, well-lighted areas.
Lock your bike to a fixed, immovable object like a parking meter, or a permanent bike rack that is cemented or anchored into the ground. If you use a parking meter, make sure the locked bike can not be slipped off over the top of the pole. Beware of locking to items that can be easily cut, broken or otherwise removed.
Try not to let your lock rest against the ground where a thief can use a hammer or rock to smash the lock.
Use the lock correctly. Position your bike frame and wheels so that you take up as much of the open space within the U-portion of the lock as possible. The tighter the lock up, the harder it will be for a thief to insert a pry bar and pry open your lock.
If your U-lock has its keyway on the end of the crossbar, position the lock with its keyway end facing down towards the ground. This makes it harder for the thief to access your lock.
Always secure your components and accessories, especially those that can be easily removed, like quick release wheels or seats.
If you have a multi-speed bike, leave it in the highest gear. This makes it that much harder for a thief to shift quickly and get away with your bike.
- DON’T ever leave a new bike unlocked. New bikes have the most value to thieves and they look for them.
- DON’T lock your bike to small trees, aluminum or wooden posts, or to chain link fences. These items can be easily broken or cut.
- DON’T lock your bike to anything posted as illegal. Check with your police department for local bicycle parking regulations.
- DON’T lock you bike to itself. A thief will just carry the whole bike away!
Source: National Bike Registry website
Bicycling and Walking
Bicycle Programs support non-auto and auto alternative improvements to Ventura's transportation system consistent with policies of the Circulation Element, General Bikeway Plan and others. The City of Ventura Transportation Section conceives and initiates projects, and is a liaision to the City of Ventura Community Development Department. In addition, staff manages existing programs such as the dissemination of alternative transportation information and safety programs to businesses and special interest groups.
On May 2, 2011 the City Council adopted the new Bicycle Master Plan. The final plan includes the addendum of recommended changes from staff as well as direction from the City Council at the March 21, 2011 City Council meeting. The final approved documents can be downloaded from the website. The final Plan is large (220 MB
Adopted 2011 Bicycle Master Plan
Recommended Bicycle Master Plan Map
Priority Bicycle Improvements Map
If you have any questions, please Call our Bicycle Coordinator, Derek Towers, at (805) 654-7849.
Ventura has established miles of on and off-street bicycle paths while maintaining trails that stretch along the coastline for bicyclists, runners and joggers as part of the Pacific Coast Bike Trail. To obtain a map of the City and County Bike Paths, call the County of Ventura Dial-A-Route Center at 1-800-438-1112 or view the Ventura County Transportation Commission's Get There By Bike Map.
Other Information
