Happy holidays! The new year is just around the corner and it’s time to celebrate what the Motherlode Bicycle Coalition and our partners have accomplished during 2021, and what we look forward to achieving in 2022.

Last January 2021 we created a monthly bike riding calendar with bike events for the year and an advocacy agenda. Due to Covid, our monthly bike rides and events were cancelled but the Board met bimonthly by Zoom. 

As we ride into 2022, our top priorities are to advocate for improved biking conditions on our public roads; encourage all residents—kids and adults—to ride bicycles for transportation and recreation; and to promote our region for road and mountain biking.

What We Accomplished

Membership and Partners

Our current membership is 23 members who represent biking in Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Mariposa and Tuolumne counties. Our new bike business partners include all local bike and recreation businesses: Bear Valley Adventure Co., Bear Valley Bicycles in Arnold, Gateway Adventure Co. in Copperopolis, Mountain Pedaler Bicycles in Angels Camp, and Sonora Cyclery in East Sonora.

Ride & Walk 4 Art

In 2021, the annual bike and walk event we coordinate for the Calaveras County Arts Council as a fundraiser to support the arts in Calaveras public schools had over 150 cyclists, despite it being a “no frills” event due to Covid restrictions and with a last minute change of venue from New Hogan Reservoir to the Valley Springs Elementary School parking lot. It’s true that when one door closes, another opens; our 2022 Ride & Walk 4 Art found a new starting point at the Jenny Lind Veterans Memorial Park in Valley Springs, with more parking and a better venue for our returning Chicken-in-a-Barrel lunch. 

We want to thank our Coalition volunteers for their work to make Ride & Walk 4 Art a success. We could not present this premiere Calaveras biking event without them!  An early bird registration discount of $5 at  Ride & Walk 4 Art is open from now until January 1. Register at  www.rideandwalk4art.com 

Bike Riding Tourism Study Outreach Virtual Meetings

This was the final year of Caltrans’ Bike Riding Tourism Study that included numerous Zoom meetings with San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Calaveras and Alpine Counties to discuss bike riding safety, destinations, road conditions, and public and government support. The final report for Bike Valley to Sierra was completed, sent to Caltrans District 10, and has been shared with all local transportation agencies.

Community Outreach

Thanks to funds from the CalBikes Education Project, we’ve continued to expand our website, www.bikevalleytosierra.com to include news about cycling in the Mother Lode, surveys to our members, and even videos! 

MLBC Logo

The logo design process is always a long journey. We continue to solicit ideas;  a few designs are included in this letter for your feedback.

Park Tool Grant

We submitted a $1,000 Park Tool Community Tool Grant to be awarded a bike stand and tools for bike service support at our events. Winners of the Park Tool Grant will be notified in January 2022

Bikeway Trail Projects Recommend in Bike Riding Tourism Report

Sierra Railway Trail

We assisted Cole Przybyla, Tuolumne County Innovation and Business Director, submit to Caltrans an Innovative Concepts Proposal to complete an engineering plan for a Bikeway from Jamestown to Sonora. This proposal was not selected for the first round of support. However, it did spur a meeting with Caltrans District 10, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, the Tuolumne County Transportation Council, Tuolumne County Public Works, and the president and vice president of the Sierra Railway, and resulted in a commitment by Caltrans to assist in submitting an Active Transportation Plan in their 2023 cycle.

EBMUD Pipeline Trail

We presented the Bike Valley to Sierra Signature EBMUD Pipeline project to the seven member board in late November. The president of the board discussed the project with the EBMUD General Manager and wrote to us, saying “What a great idea!” A meeting coordinated by the San Joaquin Council of Governments, the San Joaquin County Bike Coalition and the Motherlode Bicycle Coalition is scheduled for mid-December to discuss our next steps.

Death Ride Rest Stop Team

Nikki Grimes led a team of volunteers at the Lake Alpine Turn Around at the 40th Death Ride. And then, the Tamarack Fire cancelled the ride. What you might not know is Nikki and her team were at Lake Alpine bright and early, ready to stamp rider bibs and assist riders.

Alpine County Chamber of Commerce Recently Shared…Watch for Special Death Ride New Years Eve Announcement at the links below.

https://deathride.com/

https://californiaalpscycling.bike/

Dream Ride Fundraiser for CalBike Education Fund

We participated in the California Dream Ride in October 2021. This virtual ride allowed us to feature local bike riding infrastructure, safety issues, and popular cycling destinations. We raised $140 that supports the CalBike Education Fund which allows us to operate as a bike advocacy organization. The fundraiser is still accepting donations. Use this link to contribute: 

Finally,

The first Caltrans District 10 BIke and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting is scheduled for January 12, 2022.

2022 Plans and Bike Riding

MLBC Membership Drive in May 2022

Tuolumne and Calaveras Bike Rodeos May 2022

Safe Route to School Day October 2022

2022 Monthly Rides Calendar Weekdays/Weekends Published in January 2022

Read my magazines on Flipboard @robwilliams3994

Blog motherlodebike.org

Ride along with us on Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, or the Motherlodebike website to stay updated on our latest news

Twitter @MLBCRob

Facebook, Motherlode Bicycle Coalition and Bike Valley to Sierra

Instagram, Motherlodebike

STRAVA, https://www.strava.com/clubs/motherlodebike

For mountain biking in Groveland contact, dwight@grovelandtrailheads.org

Best riding ahead in 2022

Rob Williams, MLBC Chairperson