Rob Williams, MLBC Board Chair has composed an update for May 2020. The newsletter is pasted below and is also available as a .pdf file.
Dear Friends/Members of the Motherlode Bicycle Coalition,
Prior to Shelter in Place, the MLBC Board celebrated becoming a formal bike advocacy
organization. At our January MLBC Meeting we established a bank account and Nikki
gave us a treasurer and membership report, we adopted a new Pop Up Ride Calendar
and recruited new Board Members representing Calaveras County. Our collective efforts
were “rolling along” at a good pace.
Then our core ride event, RideandWalk4Art was cancelled and you know the rest of the
story.
Yet, we are each riding alone, talking via Zoom, and anticipating that we can reboot the
MLBC ride calendar by late fall 2020. In the meantime, Carl has been addressing
rumble strip work on Highway 120 and we lobbied the Calaveras County Public Health
Director to allow local cyclists to ride during the lessening of recreational activities.
A core mission of the MLBC is promoting all forms of recreational cycling in the
Motherlode and Sierras. We are proud to announce that our partners at Cal Bike are
currently working with five local transportation agencies, Cal Trans, and Transportation
Planners, Fehrs and Peers to complete a Cycling tourism plan. This plan identifies
popular road cycling routes, popular roads that connect towns and cities in Cal Trans
District 10 and businesses that benefit economically from supporting Cycling Tourism.
The plan will be completed in late 2021 and presented to all partner boards and county
boards of supervisors. The intent of the plan is to justify road improvements to support
cycling tourism and local economic opportunities.
Cal Bike is interviewing civic leaders and business owners, elected officials, bike friendly
businesses, cyclists, clubs, and government officials about cycling tourism in Calaveras,
Alpine, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties.
https://www.bikevalleytosierra.com/
The short term future of organized bike events is questionable because of multiple
issues related to post Covid regulations: permits, sanitation, road improvements,
emergency support, food at events. The MLBC is collaborating with Cal Bike and
California Cycling Magazine by hosting a town hall talk with all bike event directors in
Cal Trans District 10. This meeting was spearheaded by the MLBC. It will help us all
insure local bike events continue to support local economies and are attended by
current and new recreational cyclists.
Speaking of District 10, we have been successful getting Cal Trans to pay attention to
following Rumble Strip Guidelines and submitting Safety Maintenance Requests to clean
shoulders or report hazards. Locations: Mokelumne River Bridge, State Route 88 Pine
Grove, and State Route 4. All road improvement projects support safe cycling
shoulders.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) proposes to upgrade the
Mokelumne River Bridge (Bridge Number 26-0012) on State Route 49 in Amador and
Calaveras counties by replacing the non-standard bridge rails with new rails that meet
current standards and widening shoulders to 4 feet on either side of the traveled way to
enhance the mobility of pedestrians and bicyclists.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Amador County, and the
Amador County Transportation Commission (ACTC) propose improvements to the
segment of State Route 88 (SR 88) in Amador County from post mile (PM) 21.6 near
Climax Road to PM 24.6 near Tabeaud Road. Improvements would include intersection
and lane reconfiguration, pedestrian and bicycle improvements, and roadway associated
improvements along SR 88. This project is located in the town of Pine Grove in Amador
County, California.
The State Route 4 Realignment Project will improve the segment of State Route 4 from
Bonanza Mine Way to Stockton Road from 2.6 miles east of Copperopolis to about 1.6
miles west of the State Route 4/49 junction in Altaville (Angels Camp), post miles 10.3 to
16.4, a total of about 6 miles. The project will be to construct a new alignment with two
standard 12-foot width lanes and 8-foot paved shoulders. The project would improve
sight distance by increasing curve radii with the incorporation of longer, smoother curves.
Here’s what MLBC will be working on in the foreseeable future:
Resume Membership Campaign
Advocating for slow streets and other bike-friendly policies throughout our region
Getting more and new people biking and riding e bike in Motherlode by
suggesting bike routes online.
MLBC is working to update our website with suggested routes
All of this work is possible only because volunteers, donors, and supporters like you continue to devote your time and resources to the bike movement. If you are able,
please consider a donation to ensure that people biking continue to have a voice in the
decisions that impact our roads and our communities.
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