Great News!

The City of Temecula reports that it has welded crossbars on the bike killer grates on DePortola Road. More specifically, the city has convinced the contractor building the hospital there to weld cross bars so that bicycle wheels do not fall through. The grates, of course, are still very dangerous, so be careful. Thanks to everyone who called and wrote the city. Your voice counts!

Bike Killer Grate

Day 62 of  no fix on the Bike Killer Grate on DePortola Road near Margarita Road (eastbound). The city fixed the ones on the other side of the road, but are letting the contractor for the new hospital being built there "deal" with this issue. We want the grate replaced or fixed. They are illegal under state law. The loophole is that projects built in the city of Temecula do not fall under state law. We need to change that, too. Temecula should follow state law, there is a reason for it, these things are dangerous.

We need this grate fixed before someone is injured or killed. I rode this last night in the rain and even knowing it was coming up, it is still a tight maneuver getting around the cones and not getting hit by traffic. What if someone hits the cones or, worse, drops a wheel? 

Here are city council members email addresses. Send them a message now to get this fixed!


ron.roberts@citycouncil.org
chuck.washington@cityoftemecula.org
jeff.comerchero@citycouncil.org
mike.naggar@citycouncil.org
maryann.edwards@citycouncil.org

More than 50 cyclists showed up with the Temecula Bicycle Coalition Friday, December 7, for the Temecula Holiday Parade.

Temecula Santa Claus Electric Light Parade

Join the Temecula Bicycle Coalition Friday night, December 7, for the Temecula Santa Claus Electric Light Parade. Put some decorations on your bike and meet up with us in the parking lot of the Stampede on Old Town Front Street. The parade starts at 7 p.m. in Old Town. And check out the image I found of a tandem with "trailer." Better than mine, so I will share it with you and get back to work on mine.

Beware of a bike killer drainage grate on the south side of De Portola Road near Margarita Road. It's the kind of grate with slats running parallel to the road, and there is a chance that some poor cyclist is going to drop his or her front wheel into it and get launched. We have emailed the city for months, and the contractor responded by putting up orange cones that block the bike lane! Fixing thes is fairly easy, a few crossbars and a torch. The city fixed the one on the other side of the street, but right now is allowing the contractor to leave this grate open. Watch out!

The Benefits of Bicycling

Temecula Approves 5-year Bicycle Trail Plan

We did it!

The Temecula City Council last night approved (5-0) a five year Bicycle Trail Master Plan. Thanks to everyone who made this possible, from Temecula Bicycle Coalition, Temecula Velo, The Bike Shop, Jax Bikes, City Council subcommittee Mike Naggar and Chuck Washington, City Manager Bob Johnson and City Planner Matt Peters

This plan will guide the city in connecting on-street bike lanes, there are about 20 miles of them right now but we need another 7 miles just to connect some of them, off street bike paths, that will take a lot longer, and signage.

My thought is that once it gets started, more cyclists will use the lanes, the plan will snowball and things will happen quicker than the five years.

All in all, a great night for cyclists, and for the young cyclists that are just getting started.

Ride on City Hall Oct. 9

Let's get as many people as possible to City Hall Oct. 9 at 7p.m. to show our support/celebrate the City Council approving the Bike Trail Master Plan, five years of work on on street lanes, paths and other amenities. Let's show the Council we support them, our planners and staff that will make these projects happen!

90 days in jail for killing a cyclist

I have posted the article on a motorist who is leaving jail today, serving 90 days for killing a cyclist, Jorge Alvarado, in 2010. Motorists will have no qualms about speeding, swerving, intentionally hitting cyclists in the future with these slap on the wrist sentences. Again, cyclists are treated as second class citizens, just because we are on two wheels. These are not accidents. They are wanton, reckless, with a complete lack of regard for human life.

SAN BERNARDINO: Cyclist’s death triggers little jail time

 RICHARD BROOKS/STAFF PHOTO

Brett Michael Morin awaits sentencing for the April 2010 vehicle manslaughter death of 26-year-old profession bicyclist Jorge Alvarado in Highland. 

BY RICHARD BROOKS

STAFF WRITER

rbrooks@pe.com

Published: 03 October 2012 12:57 PM

A Text Size

A 20-year-old San Bernardino man drew three years' probation -- but no additional jail time -- for his role in the vehicular manslaughter death of a professional bicyclist in Highland.

“I would like to express how sorry I am for the loss of your son and friend,” Brett Michael Morin told the audience during his sentencing hearing Wednesday, Oct. 3, in San Bernardino Superior Court. “No family should have to go through this. I wish with all my heart that I could bring him back.

“This event has changed my life and has reminded me of how very important it is to follow all the laws of the road.”

Morin and Patrick Michael Roraff of Highland were 18-year-old Redlands East Valley High School students when their driving killed 27-year-old Jorge Ivan Alvarado of Ontario on April 8, 2010, along Greenspot Road.

The crash originally was described as the result of street racing. But in court Wednesday, the incident was characterized as reckless driving that began with Roraff driving up behind Morin and moving into the on-coming lane to pass him, prompting Morin to block the effort.

Morin also blocked what he may have perceived as a second passing attempt by Roraff, who lost control, causing his car to spin and slam into the bicyclist, according to Deputy District Attorney William Lee.

Roraff and Morin got identical sentences: 90 days in jail and three year’s probation. Roraff’s hearing was held Aug. 6. With credit for time served, Morin was due to be released within hours of his sentencing.

“We wanted prison,” Lee said after the hearing.

However, prosecutors had no say in the deal, because Morin pleaded guilty -- as charged -- directly to the judge in return for a guarantee that he’d serve no more than a year in county jail.

In court, Lee urged Judge William Jefferson Powell to impose the full one-year term.

Roraff is the driver who caused the fatal injury, but it was Morin’s blocking maneuver that caused Roraff to lose control, Lee argued.

“It’s not something you do on Greenspot Road,” said Lee, referring to a road long notorious for street racing. “People don’t care (about the consequences) until it’s too late.”

Defense attorney Stephen Levine argued that Morin was driving no more than slightly above the speed limit and clearly wasn’t street racing. In his written statement to the court, the victim’s father got it right when he said that the death amounted to “imprudent actions of the youngsters,” Levine emphasized.

The judge agreed.

A harsher sentence, the judge decided, would compound the tragedy of Alvarado’s death.

Experts have determined that Morin probably was traveling between 64 and 66 mph. And Morin’s driving didn’t rise to a level that calls for prison or a long jail term, the judge said

Powell explained that he was seeking to protect the public and hand down punishment for a tragic death without destroying the life of a young man who has no prior criminal record and, whom the judge said, has led an upright and productive life.

“I see no reason to destroy another life when the life could be saved,” Powell concluded shortly before imposing the 90-day jail term.

Minutes after the hearing, the victim’s brother decried the decision as too lenient.

Said 31-year-old Luis Alvarado of Ontario, “I believe the judge made a mistake.”

Ride on City Hall is October 9!!!!!

Join us for Ride on City Hall!

The Temecula Bicycle Coalition is just a year old, born in a coffee shop amongst a handful of cyclists who wanted to change the culture of Temecula to be bike friendly, now front and center pushing for projects that make cycling safer in Temecula.

We've done Bike Rodeos for kids, Bike Trains for students, and 150 of us showed up to become the largest entry in the Fourth of July Parade.

We worked with the City Council and City Planners The Temecula City Council on a 20 year old master plan for bike trails.

And now, just a year later, the City council is going to vote on the Temecula Bike Trail Master Plan. The plan calls for the city to connect all the bike lanes in town, add new trails and plan future city wide cycling loops.

The meeting is October 9 at 7 p.m. Let's all ride to City Hall, and get as many cyclists as possible in the room when the vote is taken.

Let's show our supporters on Council that we notice what they do.

Let's celebrate this new plan, a complete change of heart by the city, a proactive plan to make cycling safer and more fun in Temecula.

If you are in a club, organize a ride from where you usually start to City Hall. We will all converge on the meeting. Let's fill up the courtyard in front of City Hall with bicycles!

Any questions, call Rick Peoples, founder, Temecula Bicycle Coalition. 951-764-4075.

See you there!

TEMECULA: Road rage incident hurts bicyclist

 

 

BY SARAH BURGE

STAFF WRITER

sburge@pe.com

Published: 02 October 2012 03:00 PM

A Text Size

A 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault Monday, Oct. 1, near Temecula after authorities say he swerved at a pack of bicyclists in an apparent act of road rage and accidentally clipped one of the riders.
Carl Albert Robbins, of Temecula, was driving on Rainbow Canyon Road about 8 a.m. when he encountered a group of four bicyclists, said Sgt. Jon Wade of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Robbins swerved close to the riders at the back of the pack then continued down the road, swerving again at the lead bicyclist, he said. The mirror on the side of Robbins’ car struck the bicyclist’s hand, causing minor injuries, Wade said.
“It appeared to be an intentional act,” Wade said. “He was just upset that they were in the road.”
Robbins told deputies that the bicyclists should not have been on the road but contended that he did not intend to clip the rider, Wade said.
Robbins was booked into the Southwest Detention Center with bail set at $25,000, jail records show. He was released the same day.
Follow Sarah Burge on Twitter: @sarahkburge

Long Beach Bike station

This is where you go in downtown Long Beach when you need to get your bike fixed. You can also store your bike, rent a bike, on and on. Long Beach has spent $22 million on cycling projects in two years. We can do many of these projects - bike lanes, sharrows, bike paths, lockers, bike stations -- in Temecula with a little political will and public support.

Touring Long Beach

Toured Long Beach today with consultant Charlie Gandy, Temecula Bicycle Coalition and Temecula City planners. It is the most bicycle friendly city in America, according to the sign. Bike lanes, bike sharrows, bike paths, bike racks everywhere, bike stations to fix your bikes, on and on. What a great tour, great place to ride. Lots of great ideas to do here in Temecula.

Newspaper reader wants to injure cyclists with coins

Here is the letter to the editor of the Californian promoting injuring or even killing cyclists by throwing rolls of quarters -- rather than loose coins.

July 26, 2012 12:00 am  •  By Readers of The Californian

(2) Comments

Coins for cyclists
I read your informative article about motorists throwing coins at bicyclists the other day. I then went on to drive along Jefferson on my way to Murrieta.
As I left Old Town, a solo cyclist attired in stereotypical Spandex rode in the space designated for a vehicle. He then blew the four-way stop and proceeded to block my way again, so I sounded my horn. I managed to pass him, but he pedaled hard like the Energizer Bunny, weaving erratically around traffic to make it to my window as I waited at a stoplight to angrily yell "calm down."
I would suggest throwing rolls of quarters.
Steven Stone
Temecula

Cyclists being hit by coins -- our response

http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/temecula/temecula-cyclists-taking-fire-from-passing-motorists-coins-cans-and/article_6b50fbfd-f949-512c-9155-eca31d18cbc6.html

The following letter was sent today to the editor of the Californian in response:

I am shocked, though I guess I shouldn't be after cycling in the city of Temecula for the last 25 years, that someone is throwing coins at a cyclist in a twisted attempt to injure or even kill them. Ask any active cyclist and they will tell you about beer cans, fast food and other projectiles aimed in our direction by passing motorists. Why? We are in a vulnerable position. They obviously have issues.

But what is even more shocking is that letter writers to this newspaper applaud the assailant and the illegal, dangerous act. One suggested that someone throw a roll of quarters. That would be a criminal act if it were carried out. If it were a car to car shooting, there would be outrage and panic because we all drive cars. Some of us are also out there on two wheels, but attacks against cyclists don't seem to generate outrage or action. Let's prosecute every attack against cyclists.
Rick Peoples

Founder

Temecula Bicycle Coalition

No plans for bike lanes on freeway crossings

In answer to questions about whether there will be bike lanes striped on any of the freeway crossings in Temecula to help cyclists cross, the answer is -- wait a few years. The city has no plans for bike lanes on Rancho California Road over the I-15, the most logical and useful place for bike lanes. Consider tourists visiting old town, wanting to cruise out to wine country. That is the way to go. No plans for lanes on Winchester Road. No plans for lanes on Overland. Years down the road -- no pun intended -- there will be a bike path UNDER the freeway along St.Gertrudis Creek. There may be bike lanes on the new interchange the city is building north of Winchester Road.  For now, there is only Santiago at the far south end of Old Town.
Remember -- we can cycle any of these bridges -- bike lanes or no bike lanes. Roads in this nation were paved for cyclists long before motor vehicles started rolling around. We have the same rights as motorists, and the same responsibilities. Don't let motorists in this car-centered town tell you cyclists don't belong.
That argument is not only wrong, it is shortsighted. The city has a long range "livability" plan. Cycling and pedestrian traffic are a big part of that plan. This is not the time to start excluding cyclists It's time for more cyclists, not less.

Harveston Community Bike Event

A good turnout for Harveston's Community Bike Event on July 23. Good to see kids riding their bikes, and kudos to the city of Temecula for sponsoring bicycle related events. Thanks for the support from the city, from the Temecula Bicycle Coalition, and as always, repairs and maintenance on a lot of kids' bikes by The Bike Shop. Thanks Rick!

Harveston Bike Night

Tonight is Harveston's First Bike Night, 6-8 p.m. Should be fun!

Attending the July 28 Memorial Ride/Blood Drive for Randy Pruett from the JAX group. The Ride is 8 a.m. at Cal Oaks Sports Park, Blood Drive 9 a.m. See you there.

One out of four bridges with bike lanes

I am posting an observation made by many cyclists in Temecula about crossing the I-15 to reach Old Town, or any of the business on the west side of the freeway. Winchester Road, Overland and Rancho California Road all lack safe crossings (i.e. bike lanes). In fact, the city's master plan for bike trails says specifically to avoid Rancho California Road, the gateway to Temecula, because of the difficulties crossing. Currently, the one bridge with a bike lane is Santiago, at the far south end of Old Town. So if you live in the north end of town, ride three or miles south, cross on Santiago, ride three or four miles north. Easy? No. Other cities have attacked this problem on much busier crossings. The city is about to spend millions bulding a new freeway interchange north of Winchester Road. Will there be a bike crossing?If we are going to spend a little money and add bike lanes, I vote for Rancho California Road. It goes directly to Old Town, directly out to Wine Country. We should be focusing our efforts there. Of course that will mean restoring the bike lane that was paved over in favor of a third traffic lane on Rancho Cal between Ynez and Moraga. If we are serious about bicycle issues, this is a good place to start.

Temecula Bicycle Coalition at the Temecula Fourth of July Parade!

Watch the Temecula Bicycle Coalition group at the Temecula Fourth of July Parade. Thanks to everyone who turned out for the ride. We had more than 100 riders, and rolled right behind the mayor's car. A great day for cyclists in Temecula!
http://youtu.be/QChzf113bw0http://youtu.be/QChzf113bw0

Ray Bradbury, author and bicyclist

Ray Bradbury

( Los Angeles Times )

Bradbury (in 1975) didn't drive a car. But he was often out and about in L.A., browsing bookstores' stacks, his bicycle propped just outside.

Temecula, 100 Riders

Attendance was way up this year for the Temecula Ride of Silence. We had more than 100 cyclists start from the steps of Temecula City Hall. We rode to a spot where a 14 year old girl was hit and knocked from her bicycle by a passing tour bus in April, resulting in serious head injuries. Riders signed huge get well cards that will be delivered to the hospital. The accident is still under investigation. This is our sixth year and the event continues strong in Temecula, with coverage in local newspapers and even an LA based TV station. Thanks to all who participated!

Event Photos

http://youtu.be/f7XOgVilbuY
http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/temecula/temecula-cyclists-on-ride-of-silence-sign-get-well-cards/article_ed3c2f53-120d-5fcc-b626-55e13dfb96a8.html
http://temecula.patch.com/articles/ride-honors-injured-cyclists

The Ride of Silence was terrific! Thanks to everyone who showed up and rode. We got great coverage from the Californian and Channel 7 News. Here is a link to the Cal story:

http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/temecula/temecula-cyclists-on-ride-of-silence-sign-get-well-cards/article_ed3c2f53-120d-5fcc-b626-55e13dfb96a8.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 11, 2012

CONTACT RICK PEOPLES

(951) 764-4075

rickpeoples@hotmail.com

Cyclists Gathering for Sixth Annual Ride of Silence

Cyclists from across Riverside County will have an opportunity to participate in an international event honoring cyclists killed or injured on the road as part of the Sixth Annual Riverside County Ride of Silence May 16 in Old Town Temecula.

The silent moving tribute to cyclists is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. with cyclists gathering in front of the Temecula City Hall, 41000 Main Street. Participants are encouraged to bring lights and helmets. Organizers will be handing out black arm bands bearing the names of cyclists who have been killed or injured in road accidents. Cyclists may also bring their own arm bands.

The ride is approximately 12 miles at 12 mph. Riders wear black arm bands and use lights on their bicycles to form a solemn procession. This year the route will include Front Street to Overland, Margarita, Rancho Vista, Ynez, and Santiago for the return to Old Town. The ride is silent, giving participants time to reflect on the loss of fellow cyclists, many of them friends and family members.

The event typically draws between 80-100 riders. Cyclists at previous events have ranged in age from their teens to senior citizens, beginners to members of local cycling clubs. (Small children are not encouraged to participate unless they are riding on tandems with adults or in trailers. This is a night ride on busy city streets.) There are no entry fees or costs. No advertising is accepted.

The Ride of Silence is a national and international event and honors cyclists killed or injured by motorists. Thousands will participate at the same time in all 50 states and many foreign countries. More than 300 sites are signed up on the RideofSilence.org website. The worldwide event also helps raise awareness of cyclists’ presence on the road among motorists, police and community leaders. More information on the Ride of Silence can be found at www.rideofsilence.org.

The names and photos of cyclists from the Memoriam Page of RideofSilence.org will be on display at the event along with any local riders. For more information, or to submit names of cyclists to be honored, please go to www.rideofsilence.org or contact Rick Peoples, rickpeoples@hotmail.com or 951-764-4075, to place the name and photo of the cyclist on the local event board.

####

We have moved the start of the Ride of Silence (May 16, 7 p.m.) to City Hall, 41000 Main Street, still in Old Town Temecula but a few blocks south. We will loop 10-12 miles at 10-12 mph and return to City Hall. Plenty of on street parking, parking in the new Parking Garage, all free.
Bring lights and join us for this tribute to cyclists who have lost their lives or been injured on the road. Our ride is posted at rideofsilence.org. For more info, contact Rick Peoples, rickpeoples@hotmail.com

Hard to believe, the but Sixth Annual Ride of Silence for Riverside County will roll Wednesday, May 16, starting at 7 p.m. in Old Town Temecula, Old Town Front and Sixth Streets. The Ride of Silence honors cyclists killed or injured on the roads. It's 10 miles, bring lights and black arm bands. The ride is completely silent. Bring a friend this year and we can double our numbers. The Ride of Silence will be held worldwide this year in more than 300 locations with thousands of riders participating. It is always the third Wednesday in May. Go to RideofSilence.org for the whole story.

WHY DOES THIS ORGANIZATION EXIST?

• To HONOR those who have been injured or killed
• To RAISE AWARENESS that we are here
• To ask that we all SHARE THE ROAD
  

TEMECULA: Bike train rolls into Barnett Elementary

Nearly 150 Ysabel Barnett Elementary School students took part in the Bike Train program on Thursday that is designed to encourage students to ride to school. DON BOOMER | dboomer@californian.com

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A line of bicyclists stretched a half-mile down Harveston Drive on Thursday morning as almost 150 students took part in Ysabel Barnett Elementary School's first bike train.
Riders ranged from older boys on mountain bikes to younger girls on pink bikes, wearing small pink helmets.
The bike train was started last year at Paloma Elementary by Temecula resident Zak Schwank as a way to get children to ride their bikes.
"We used to ride everywhere as kids," Schwank said as a crowd began to gather outside the Harveston Center. "It's a way to get kids on bikes."
Schwank, 38, was overwhelmed by the response to the initial ride at Barnett.
"I'd be happy if it's with one child," he said before the ride started.
By the end, he counted 124 bikes at the Temecula campus and estimated that at least 20 parents took their child's bike home after the ride.
The small group of participants swelled when Barnett Principal Chris Dixon rode up to the Harveston Center about 8:30 a.m. with about 40 children behind him.
"This community is just built for (the bike train)," Dixon said.
Parents said their children were excited about the ride.
"All week, she was looking forward to it," Waldo Banks said of daughter Whitney, 9, a fourth-grader. "Last night, she washed her bike."
Banks seemed more anxious than Whitney about the ride. As the train departed, he was still holding the back of her seat.
"She loves riding her bike," Banks said. "I think it's a good idea for fitness and camaraderie. It makes her want to go to school."
Schwank said the program's success will rely in part on parents allowing their children to ride their bikes. On Thursday, some adults walked or rode along with their child and others followed in cars.
Jeff Reilly, who teaches a fourth- and fifth-grade combination class at Barnett, said about 20 students regularly ride bicycles to school.
"We're a motorized culture," Reilly said. "We need to get kids to practice a little more healthy activities. To change culture, you have to do things like this."
Reilly, 34, who rides his bike to school most days, said the students were excited to bring out their wheels.
"Hopefully, we'll get more and more," he said. "We'll start every Thursday and see what happens from there."
Fourth-grader Connor Brannan, 9, joined the crowd even though he walks to school because he lives across the street.
"This is just a fun thing," he said.
The idea of the weekly bike train is to start at one location and have riders join along the route.
One of the cyclists Thursday was Temecula Mayor Chuck Washington.
"We need to support them to get kids out of cars and onto bikes," Washington said. "It's healthy for them; it's good traffic management."
Traffic can be a nightmare around schools at the start and end of the day, and Washington said bike riding could ease those woes.
"I think we can reduce traffic by 20 percent," he said.
There were fewer cars, but bike traffic was heavy at Barnett and parking was at a premium.
Once the regular racks were filled, bikes were stored in a preschool area.
Washington said he would look into finding city money to buy more bike racks for Barnett.
Schwank said he hopes the bike train expands further.
"I'd like to see it at all elementary and middle schools and high schools," he said. "If we can get these kids riding now, when they get to middle school, they'll still want to ride."

Call staff writer Craig Shultz at 951-676-4315, ext. 2625. Follow The Californian's education Twitter feed @CShultz_TheCal.

Read more: http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/temecula/temecula-bike-train-rolls-into-barnett-elementary/article_2d4e6a30-f2ed-59ae-93c1-99a401412dd0.html#ixzz1lHnxHeMQ

Things are moving for cyclists in the city of Temecula. Temecula Bicycle Coalition met again with city leaders, including councilmembers Chuck Washington and Mike Naggar, new City Manager Bob Johnson, and here is what they are committing to: Connnect the city's on street bicycle lanes, explore adding bike paths on rivers and flood channels, adding more bike racks, our first ever city sponsored Bicycle Rodeo on Feb. 10, bicycle safety classes taught by our League of American Cyclists instructor, and dedicating a staff member, a planner to work on nothing but bicycle trails. The city is very interested in having a city wide system of bike lanes and trails, especially a bicycle connection to Wine Country. There are a couple of new bike racks in Old Town, and four more on the way. Thanks to everyone for your hard work on these projects, and support the Bicycle Rodeo on Feb. 10!