Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition

The VTA Santa Clara-Alum Rock Transit Improvement Project (which proposes "rapid bus" (Phase I)/light rail (Phase II) on the Santa Clara Street/Alum Rock Avenue corridor) will present the Draft Environmental Impact Report at a hearing on Thursday, July 17.

The open house for viewing project exhibits and talking with project staff at 6 pm and presentation at 6:30 will be followed by a public comment period.

No instruction for document access is available at the time of this event publication. Please see http://www.vta.org/projects/dtev/environanalysis.html for more information.

Thursday, July 17, 2008 6:00 PM

The Draft Station Area Plan has been completed, and represents almost two years of community involvement and careful planning. Strategies for the Plan are based upon extensive community visioning and input gathered throughout the planning process, and include an emphasis on walkability, mixed, vibrant land uses, and enhanced transit access for Santa Clara. Reports summarizing technical work, three previous community workshops (on visioning, alternatives, and the Preferred Plan), and stakeholder meetings are available on the project website at http://www.santaclarasap.com.

Monday, July 21, 2008 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Committee members serve as volunteers. They provide ideas and suggestions to improve San Jose's walking and bicycling environment. Evening meetings are held at City Hall eight to ten times a year. Applications are due by June 23, 2008.

For an application, email john.brazil [at] sanjoseca [dot] gov. For committee information, see the San Jose BPAC website.

Where
Coleman Avenue Under-Crossing. Use temporary ramp to Coleman Road, per the detour plan

When
June 9, 2008 to end of Summer 2008 (precise schedule not yet determined)

Project
Seismic retrofit work to the Coleman Avenue Bridge, reconstruction of the east bank under-crossing and construction of a new west bank under-crossing

Contact
Yves Zsutty, Trail Program Manager (408) 793-5561
City of San José – Department of Parks Recreation and Neighborhood Services

The LIVESTRONG Challenge is the Lance Armstrong Foundation's signature fundraising event inspired by the hope, courage and determination that exist in all of us. They take to the streets on bikes and on our feet, uniting individuals to stand together to fight cancer.

Your participation will help fulfill the mission to inspire and empower people affected by cancer. It will support cancer prevention, provide access to screening and care, fund research, and enhance the quality of life for cancer survivors everywhere.

There are several ways to get involved:

• Ride your bike – Choose the 10, 40, 70, or 100 mile courses
• Walk or run the 5k
• Volunteer as an individual or as a group
• Make a donation

Register or donate at http://livestrongchallenge.org.

Sunday, July 13, 2008 7:30 AM - 9:00 PM

We kicked off Bike Week Monday with a Celebrity VIP ride and press conference in downtown San Jose. SVBC brought elected officials and business leaders together to show their support for bicycling to work. Major TV stations and radio networks covered the event, encouraging viewers and listeners to tune up their bicycle and try biking to work this Thursday!

Join officials from the City of San José for a short, casual bike ride to the ribbon cutting of San José’s new Crosstown Bikeway Route 11. Departs 12PM from San José City Hall Bamboo Garden Area (behind the Rotunda); returns to City Hall at 12:45PM.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 12:00 PM

On Monday, May 12th, elected officials and business leaders will take a VIP ride to San Jose City Hall for a press conference led by SVBC Executive Director Corinne Winter. Join us at Diridon Caltrain Station for this short ride leaving at 8AM to show your support of bicycling to policy makers.

Monday, May 12, 2008 8:00 AM

The agenda is available online: May 7, 2008 BPAC Advisory Committee Agenda Packet.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008 6:00 PM

Urban Planning Coalition Spring Speaker Series 2008 at San Jose State University

Urban Planning for Bicycle Friendly Communities

How can urban planners help make cities more bike-friendly? How are international cities changing as they become more bike-centric? What is the City of San Jose planning to make it easier to bicycle and walk in our neighborhoods?

Speakers: John Brazil and maiki interi

John Brazil is the City of San Jose Program Coordinator developing a network of on-street facilities to conveniently walk and bike. John will give us his perspective on how urban planners can make his job easier.

maiki interi is the Communications and Operations Coordinator for Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition. His role is to provide the technology to promote bicycling as a healthy alternative transportation mode. He will present SVBC programs with ideas for how to get involved.

The Speaker Series is free, but $5 donations are encouraged. Refreshments provided. For more information, please email Riad El-Bdour, relbdour [at] yahoo [dot] com.

Thursday, April 24, 2008 6:00 PM

Get ready for Bike to Work Day (May 15, 2008)! Improve your bicycling skills riding with traffic. Learn your rights and duties on the road. Subjects covered include selecting the right bike, fixing a flat, riding at night, taking a bike on public transit, and negotiating busy intersections. Register for either Street Skills (Friday night only) or Road 1 (Friday night and Saturday). Street skills is an interactive classroom-only lecture and power point presentation. Road 1 includes Street Skills plus on-bike practice, on-bike test, and written test.

Adults and teens accompanied by adults are invited to attend. You must already know how to ride a bike.

Advance registration with a $25 deposit is required. For more information, contact John Brazil at john.brazil [at] sanjoseca [dot] gov.

Friday, May 2, 2008 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

The Spring in Guadalupe Gardens event is coming up! See the event's webpage for details on the activities planned, ranging from expert garden advice to a jazz band. And of course the morning fitness walk along the Guadalupe river.

SVBC will have a booth at the Spring in Guadalupe Gardens event. We could use a couple more volunteers, so you if you are interested please contact Jerri-Ann at jerriann [at] svbcbikes [dot] org.

Saturday, April 26, 2008 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Riders can sign up to ride with Mayor Chuck Reed on Earth Day, April 22nd. The ride check-in starts at 11:30AM, and will return to City Hall at 12:45PM.

A few points:

• Light Snacks and Water will be provided before the ride (participants are encouraged to bring their own re-usable bottle of water)
• Riders must supply their own bike & helmet in order to participate
• While the ride will not be too physically demanding, riders are responsible for their own health conditions before and after the ride

For more details, and information for signing up for the ride, please visit the event’s web page at http://www.sanjoseca.gov/mayor/news/upcoming/bikeride.asp.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008 11:30 AM

Alexander La Riviere, proprietor of Faber’s Cyclery and bicycle accident investigator, will be sharing the story of the bicycle and its associations with freedom. Since childhood, La Riviere’s life has been intimately entwined with the two wheeled machine. His show-and-tell will also include the unique local and personal history that surrounds the bicycle shop.

Sunday, April 13, 2008 2:00 PM

The Bike to Work Day Planning Committee for Santa Clara County is meeting this Thursday, March 27 at 12pm in downtown San Jose to help with planning for Bike To Work Day. The members of this committee provide advice and input on matters such as logistics, Energizer Stations, and even weigh in on our county's Bike Commuter of the Year.

If you'd like to attend this meeting, please email Shelly at shelly [at] svbcbikes [dot] org for more details.

Thursday, March 27, 2008 12:00 PM

These are two upcoming classes in San Jose.

Improve your bicycling skills riding with traffic. Learn your rights and duties on the road. Subjects include selecting the right bike, fixing a flat, riding at night, taking a bike on public transit, and negotiating busy intersections. Register for either the Street Skills (Friday night only) or Road 1 (Friday night and Saturday). Street Skills is an interactive classroom-only lecture and power point presentation. Road 1 includes Street Skills plus on-bike practice, on-bike test, and written test.

Adults and teens accompanied by adults are invited to attend. You must already know how to ride a bike.

Advance registration with a $25 deposit is required. For more information, contact John Brazil (john.brazil [at] sanjoseca [dot] gov).

Friday, February 22, 2008 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

The Webcor San Jose King-of-the-Mountain Ride kicks off a week of South Bay cycling events, culminating in the Amgen Tour of California Modesto-to-San Jose Stage 3 finish Wednesday, February 20, at San Jose City Hall.

Saturday, February 16, 2008 10:00 AM