Wider Bike Lanes in San Luis Obispo
Over the last year in the city of San Luis Obispo many arterial roads have been repaved and bicyclists now enjoy wider bike lanes. These roads include Foothill Blvd, Madonna Road, Higuera St, and Johnson Ave. Take a look at the fresh pavement on Los Osos Valley Road, where bike lanes are now three feet wider. Three cheers to the City of SLO! These Coalition triumphs are due to our advocacy efforts to support Measure Y and making the roads safer for everyone. It's one example of how your membership with the Bicycle Coalition is making a difference. If you are not a member or if it has been awhile since you've renewed, now is a great time to get involved. We invite you to join us!

---

Bob Mionske Visits the Central Coast
On July 19th the Bicycle Coalition welcomed Bob Mionske, two-time Olympian, and now cycling attorney to talk about his new book "Bicycling and the Law". Featured as the main speaker for the Pedal to the People Benefit, Mionske gave an exciting talk on his stories of being a professional bike racer. He then exhorted all cyclists to get involved in the national movement of bicycle advocacy. Mionske's talk was followed by a spirited discussion about our role as advocates and our legal rights on the road. Thanks to all of our sponsors and to the many volunteers who helped make the event possible.

Pictured are Bicycle Coalition executive director Adam Fukushima, Bob Mionske, and Coalition board member Shaba Mohseni.

---

Show the Road Who's Boss! Take Our Bicycle Confidence Workshop Saturday, Sept. 13th
Get up to speed about the rules and responsibilities of safe bicycle riding. Learn to take on traffic with confidence.

In this upcoming four and a half-hour class you will learn how to safely and confidently use a bike for transportation. Whether you're a current or prospective bike commuter, a recreational rider, a club cyclist, a parent who bikes with your family, or just want to get around town (our favorite way to ride!), you'll enjoy cycling more when you know how to operate your bike smoothly in traffic. Please bring a helmet and a bicycle to class. You must be 16+ or older.

Classes are FREE to all participants!  To register, please visit http://www.slobikelane.org/bikeed/registration.html

---

SLO City, Lois Capps, and Local Educator Given Livable Community Awards
On May 29th the San Luis Obispo County Bicycle Coalition presented two individuals and one organization with the Livable Community Award. Coalition executive director Adam Fukushima comments: "The award is presented annually for innovation, forward thinking or extraordinary commitment to making our neighborhoods better places for bicycling and walking. We are extremely privileged to present the awards this year to two individuals and the City of SLO for extraordinary work." Click here to read more.

---

All Aboard the Railroad Safety Trail
What if there was a way to ride a bike from Cal Poly all the way to the southern limits of San Luis Obispo without having to deal with auto traffic? That's exactly what is aimed with the Railroad Safety Trail, which will provide a beautiful bike path paralleling the railroad tracks through downtown. This project has had enormous progress recently. Last year, the Bicycle Coalition continued our Bike the Budget campaign, leading a letter writing effort and rallying the community at the San Luis Obispo City Council Community Budget Forum. Our efforts have made the Railroad Safety Trail a high priority project. We've also helped leverage over $1.2 million in state funds and are working to secure over $500,000 in federal funding through the SLO Council of Governments. This summerthe city will begin constructing a new section of the trail from Foothill Blvd to Hwy 101. Cal Poly will also construct a portion of the trail behind Mustang Stadium. Unfortunately, these two sections do not connect and so the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo is leading a $307,000 fundraising effort to complete the missing link. This project has many partners including the Land Conservancy, ECOSLO, the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, and many others. The Bicycle Coalition is pleased to join this partnership. We've put in a lot of hours including help with campaign media, writing a grant to supplement the fundraising effort, and in spreading the word about this wonderful bike trail.

For more information about the Railroad Safety Trail fundraising effort and to get involved, visit www.rrtrailfund.org or contact Morgan Rafferty at ECOSLO at 544-1777.

---

Share the Road Campaign Hits the Airwaves
The SLO County Bicycle Coalition is proud to announce a new phase of its Share the Road campaign with a set of TV spots to broadcast countywide. The new public service announcements hope to encourage civility among bicyclists and motorists and to educate the public on safe and responsible behavior on our roadways. Check out the new ads at slobikelane.org/sharetheroad.htm. You might just recognize someone you know.