We’re helping make the Motherlode a safer, enjoyable place to ride a bicycle.
Dr. Dave Ritchie has made his time honored lost of (mostly) Calaveras County road rides available via pdf. This is a scan–images are pasted below; the pdf file is available via download: Road Bike Rides Around Murphy’s California
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.
Ride and Walk 4 Art has been postponed with hope for rescheduling for fall 2020.
The MLBC is proud to support the annual Ride & Walk 4 Art event in West Calaveras County. We enjoyed last year’s event and we hope you did too.
This year, in addition to 25-mile and 45-mile bicycle options, we’ve added a 75-mile ride with 3 big hill climbs and 5,600 feet of total climbing. And for those who don’t do wheels, there’s a walk at New Hogan reservoir. For lunch we’ll have chicken-in-a-barrel barbecue with all the sides.
This event is a fund raiser for arts in education in Calaveras County. The arts play a critical role in students’ academic success. Last year’s event raised nearly $6,000 to support arts related assemblies, art materials, visits from teaching artists, and grants to individual students for arts enrichment projects.
Advance registration closes March 20, 2020
25 miles/ $40
45 miles/ $45
75 miles/ $65
$20 for walkers and for age 16 and under for all rides
$5 discount for Calaveras County Arts Council Members (To be taken at checkout. Call the Arts Council for the discount code, or watch for it in your member mailing.)
Participation is limited to 300 riders and 50 walkers, so don’t wait! Register at www.rideandwalk4art.com/.
We hope you’ll join us to have fun and to support the arts in Calaveras County schools.
The ride for tomorrow is cancelled due to expected rain. The ride will be rescheduled for May 2, 2020. Watch for an updated ride list coming soon.
The MLBC pop up rides are cancelled while the Shelter-in Place order is in effect. We will look at rescheduling when conditions are appropriate. The list is being maintained without dates or gathering information to maintain the links to the Ride with GPS routes. If you choose to ride, please practice social distancing, know your route, and be safe.
The MLBC is hosting a series of pop up rides for 2020 including paved road, all road (some part unpaved), and family rides. The rides will typically have a small group and are unsupported. Each ride has a leader that will ride the posted loop at a casual pace to ensure nobody is left behind. Use the “Contact MLBC” link at motherlodebike.org for any questions you may have or to contact a ride leader.
Ride names in the list below link to Ride with GPS maps with downloadable .gpx files. Have an idea for a ride or want to host? Contact MLBC.
Motherlode Bicycle Coalition
Board Meeting Agenda
January 30, 2020
5:30 – 7:00 pm
Location: Carl’s House in Columbia, email via “Contact MLBC” link for directions
Agenda Items
Banking update–account balances.
Events and pop up rides–weekday, weekend, locations, partner with bike shops? Rob’s list.
Bike rodeos. Add family rides? Fundraising events?
Insurance–which coverage and how to work with one free ride policy. Hold harmless.
New Year Outlook and Calendar–what are core events and activities to pursue for 2020.
Calaveras Community Foundation trail maintenance grant application.
Ride and Walk 4 Art.
Potential Triathlon.
Membership–update, efforts and outreach.
Tuolumne County Volunteer Fair April 23 3-6 pm, Motherlode Fairgrounds.
Reports
Trails–GTH and Dragoon.
Advocacy update–ATP meeting, other TCTC and County meetings, Share the
Road signs, Bike Tourism grant update.
Outreach–website, membership, rider contact cards. Bike rodeo grant.
Photos of bikes in communities. Links/partners/sponsors website page.