Bike Buzz: January 2016 News from Bicycling Monterey

1. Climate Change / COP 21: There’s increasing awareness that climate change actions include transportation choices. HER Helmet Thursdays helps cut carbon emissions and costs. HER Helmet Thursdays is a long-term project that began its seventh year in November 2015.  See below the new participants who joined in 2015. They are now among the hundreds of Monterey County businesses and organizations participating! Please volunteer if you can, as HER Helmet Thursdays is a very time-intensive project  (and that’s all unpaid time for me, as with all the Bicycling Monterey projects). There’s lots of room for this project to grow. And whether because you care about climate change or support other benefits of bicycling, please let these businesses and organizations know you appreciate their encouraging more people to bike. Before claiming your discount, refer to the individual spot’s details by clicking their name in the Quick Reference Guide. The most current guide is always found on the “LISTINGS, How to Get the Discounts, and FAQs” page. For your convenience, here’s the January 2016 edition:  HER Helmet Thursdays – Quick Reference Guide – as of 11 January 2016
2. Please welcome the 17 newest participants in HER Helmet Thursdays. Together, they help to make Monterey County a more bike-friendly place!  All 17  happen to be in the restaurants category, with the exception of one lodging provider—Old Monterey Inn, Monterey; and one museum store—Pacific Grove Natural History Museum store, Pacific Grove. Keep reading below for the new restaurants (and related places) . And remember to refer to their listing before claiming your discount. Find it easily in the Quick Reference Guide on the Listings/FAQs page.
   Birrieria & Restaurant Estilo Coalcoman, Castroville;
   Bon Ton L’Roy’s Lighthouse Smokehouse, Monterey;
   El Zacatecano, Salinas;
   Ginger Thai, Salinas;
   G’s Tacos, Pajaro;
   Hacienda Mexican Grill, Salinas;
   Hale Kai Lana Kona Coffee, Sand City;
   Lugano Swiss Bistro, Carmel;
   Luigi’s, Gonzales;
   Mi Tierra, Salinas:
   Namaste India Bistro, Monterey;
   Perfectly Pressed Juice Bar ‘n’ Eatery, Prunedale;
   Real Colima I, Pajaro;
   Rocky Point Restaurant, Carmel (located along the Big Sur coast);
   Taqueria El Kiosko, Salinas
3. Shawn Carden has been featured on Bicycling Monterey since 2012. What’s he up to now? https://bikemonterey.org/shawn-carden-bmx-pro-from-salinas.html
4. “Children and Teens Growing Up Bikewise” has been extensively updated and revised, including some infrastructure highlights: https://bikemonterey.org/growing-up-street-wise-bicycling-children-of-carmel.html
5. Caltrans is developing for the first time a California State Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan (CSBPP). https://bikemonterey.org/california-state-bicycle-and-pedestrian-plan.html
6. Regarding Class IV bikeways / protected bike lanes, City of Salinas Transportation Planner James Serrano was among the small group of transportation professionals from throughout the state who gathered in 2015 to share ideas in Sacramento. Learn more under “Here’s what’s meant by the four different types of bikeways” in https://bikemonterey.org/tips-for-tourists/where-to-cycle
7. “Twilight Rides” has been updated too, in response to someone puzzled about where to park and more. https://bikemonterey.org/twilight-bike-rides-laguna-seca.html
8. Remember to check the Master Calendar for Monterey County bike-related events, activities, and meetings: https://bikemonterey.org/resources/calendar-of-bike-related-events-for-monterey-county
9. Submit your dates for the calendar via this new form created in 2015: https://bikemonterey.org/resources/calendar-of-bike-related-events-for-monterey-county/submit-a-listing-for-the-master-calendar-for-bicycling-monterey-county
10. Good news: See “infrastructure update” in this Bicycling Monterey section highlighting North Monterey County: https://bikemonterey.org/biking-monterey-county-its-not-just-about-the-peninsula.html
11. January 29 is the deadline to make nominations in the Monterey County Weekly’s annual Best of Monterey County awards. Show some bike love by considering the various examples provided here: https://bikemonterey.org/2016-best-of-monterey-county.html
12. Monterey County residents: Feb 4 is the deadline for property owners to apply for free bike repair stations, racks, or lockers, and skateboard racks too. Details: https://bikemonterey.org/bicycle-parking-security-storage.html
13. Keep in touch regarding road skills trainings and League of American Bicyclists licensed cycling instructor trainings planned for Monterey County in 2016: https://bikemonterey.org/bike-skills-trainings-in-monterey-county-a-tamc-and-csumb-partnership.html
14. Got dog? https://bikemonterey.org/tips-for-dog-lovers-biking-monterey-county-and-elsewhere.html
15. San Benito County is part of the Monterey Bay Tri-County region. What’s up with our neighbors? https://bikemonterey.org/san-benito-county-rides-maps-mentors-and-more.html
16. The Fort Ord Rec Trail and Greenway is an exciting vision! Learn a bit here: https://bikemonterey.org/122-fort-ord-trails-symposium-regional-trails-transit-economic-vitality.html
17. Since fall 2015, I’m doing “Bike Ed” nights on an occasional basis for the 14- to 17-year-old boys at the Monterey County Probation Department Youth Center. If you want to help with that, please give me a call. Also, Bike Repair and Safety Class there rolls on, thanks to other volunteers: class coordinator and instructor Luciano Rodriguez and instructor Frank Henderson. Both men contacted me and started volunteering in 2012 and have faithfully stayed with the class. Background, including qualifications for volunteers: https://bikemonterey.org/teach-teens-well-bicycle-repair-instructors-needed-for-monterey-county-youth.html
18. Did you know? City of Monterey continues to offer bike maintenance classes for kids 8 and up and for teens and adults too. See https://bikemonterey.org/bicycle-repair-class-for-kids-and-adults-residents-and-visitors.html
19. And of course, mark your calendars for April 14-17, 2016 – Sea Otter Classic, a Celebration of Cycling! https://bikemonterey.org/april-16-19-25th-annual-sea-otter-classic-a-celebration-of-cycling.html
20. Amgen Stage 4 finish comes to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the first time on May 18, 2016: https://bikemonterey.org/amgen-in-monterey-county.html
21. In case you missed it earlier, here’s a fun guest post from 2015 about a local bike commuter mom: https://bikemonterey.org/bike-month-profile-b-is-for-bipedalism-the-bike-jones-of-mindy-surratt.html
22. POSTERS! POSTERS! There are all sorts provided on the Posters page, from bike law summaries in Spanish and English to a poster highlighting the Salinas HER Helmet Thursdays spots, and much more.

There’s more news on the bikemonterey.org site too, so check out the various categories to see updates in many of the old posts. Feel free to contact me anytime for help finding info you need.

This post was published on 22 January 2016. One or more changes last made to this post on 5 May 2019.