WIN: Improve safety of Santa Barbara’s roads and bike lanes
Update (March 22, 2016):
City staff shared the following update: On Tuesday, March 15, the Santa Barbara City Council discussed the next steps needed to complete the 2016 Bicycle Master Plan (BMP). Council directed staff to conduct further public outreach and allow more time to vet specific projects within the Draft Plan. Staff has scheduled a Public Listening Session and Open House on Tuesday, April 12, and more detailed BMP reviews at the Transportation and Circulation Committee on April 28 at 5:30 PM, and at the Planning Commission on May 5 at 1:00 PM. Based on additional input, the consultant team and staff will then return to Council in June to review plan changes and receive direction on any proposals in the Draft Plan or its projects. The City has had extensive participation from members of the public to date and is hoping to hear from those that have not yet included their voice. For continued available up-to-date information and to follow progress, please check the BMP website. CEC will continue to post updates as they arise here as well.
Click here to download the Draft Santa Barbara Bicycle Master Plan.
Note: The version above contains revisions and input (highlighted in pink throughout the document) from the last joint meeting with Transportation and Circulation Committee and Planning Commission on October 29, 2015.
Update (February 24, 2016):
In one the largest recorded community turn outs in City Council's history, over 130 community members showed up to the hearing for the latest draft of the Bicycle Master Plan. At the end of a 5-hour session that went until 11 p.m. and included 90 public comments (45 for and 45 against), the Council voted 6-1 to support the Bicycle Master Plan.A new final hearing is tentatively scheduled for March 15, where once again community support will be a critical factor in securing safer roads and bicycle lanes for Santa Barbara. Thank you to the nearly three hundred people who signed on to our support letter, and to everyone who attended the City Council meeting in person. Stay tuned for updates on the final hearing date and times.
Original Alert:
1) Take two minutes now to sign the letter of support below.
2) Attend the City Council hearing Tuesday, February 23 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. 735 Anacapa St.
For the first time in almost 20 years, we have a chance to close major gaps in the bike network on Micheltorena and Cota streets. However, these critical bike lanes are being opposed by residents who will be affected by the minimal parking removal required to create the bike lanes.
This is the last opportunity to secure these critical bike lanes.
The bike lanes:
increase safety for bicyclists,
close major east-west gaps in the existing bicycle network, and
decrease stress for drivers passing bikes on busy, narrow streets
Tell the Santa Barbara City Council that you want a safer, more complete bicycle network by signing the letter above and attending the City Council hearing from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 23 at City Council chambers, 735 Anacapa St.
Click here to see the most current draft of the Santa Barbara Bike Master Plan.