Irvine passes City Ordinance to try and get a handle on eBikes

In California, Electric Bicycles are limited to LESS THAN 750 watts.
Low Speed Pedal Assist will ‘help’ no more than 20 mph. (Class 1)
Speed Pedal Assist will ‘help’ to no more than 28 mph and have no throttle (Class 3)
Low Speed Throttle Bikes can go no more than 20 mph on electric power.

All the eBikes that exceed those limits, with or without pedals, are vehicles and should be registered and operated as mopeds or motor-driven cycles or motorcycles. (By No one without at least an M1 or M2 drivers license and only with a DOT Motorcycle helmet)

So be advised - if you are riding any electric bicycle and pedaling FASTER than 28 mph on a street that has a posted speed limit and traffic going faster you could get cited for speeding:

Sec. 4-7-205. - Speed.
No person shall operate a bicycle or electric bicycle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property. No electric bicycle operator shall travel over 28 miles per hour on a public highway.

That does not seem to take into account a strong riders who can out-pedal the 28 mph assist, or gravity on a downhill road, or the importance of matching traffic speeds when able to… It also does not include all those eBikes that are NOT electric bicycles - Like that Super73 eBike in the picture below (Oops)

source: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/227307159/8/

Life Vitality Association visit

We have 20 special guests visiting from Taiwan; Below are the rides they have planned to take and anyone from BCI is welcome to tag along and help lead them on their adventure!

Jerry Chen has been coordinating the visit and Bill Sellin has been helping with routes.
We even have a glossary to explain the codes on the cue slips and ridewithgps routing to back-up the cue slips.

There are several videos on line showing what these dedicated athletes are all about!

Note: These Route slips are in kilometers

Day 1 - Feb 22 - Arriving at LAX - 14 hours from Taipei


Day 2 - Fr Feb 23 - 9am
CUES: Ride #1(&#2) - 19.5 mile Orientation Ride
ridewithgps.com/routes/45301024


Day 3 - Sa Feb 24 - 7:30am to meet BCI @ DCP at 8:30am
CUES: Ride #2(&#1) - 29.2 mile “Joining BCI Ride”
ridewithgps.com/routes/45300670
Map A: To DCP Riders and Drivers
Map B: To Coffee Riders and Drivers
Map C: To Lunch Riders and Drivers
Map D: To Hotel Riders and Drivers

Day 4 - Su Feb 25 - 9am
CUES: Ride #3 - 38.3 miles
ridewithgps.com/routes/45628132
Map 3: Bike Ride for the Riders
Map 4: Truck / Sag Stops for the Drivers


Day 5 - Mo Feb 26
Travel day to Palm Springs - Tram to play in Snow!


Day 6 - Tu Feb 27
CUES: Ride #5 - 14.1 miles - Palm Springs
ridewithgps.com/routes/45643783
Map 5: Bike Ride for the Riders


Day 7 - We Feb 28
CUES: Ride #6 - 31 miles - Palm Springs
ridewithgps.com/routes/45611454
Map 6: Bike Ride for the Riders


Day 8 - Th Feb 29
Travel Day to San Diego


Day 9 - Fr Mar 1
CUES: Ride #7 - Mission Bay to Oceanside
ridewithgps.com/routes/45610998
Map A: 0 to 7 km - San Diego
Map B: 7 to 15 km - Mission Bay to Rose Creek
Map C: 15 to 26 km - Rose Creek to UCSD (Shōwa Ramen)
Map D: 25 to 28 km - UCSD (Shōwa Ramen) to Torry Pines
Map E: 25 to 64 km - UCSD (Shōwa Ramen) to Encinitas
Map F: 45 to 60 km - Encinitas to Carlsbad
Map G: 60 to 61 km - Carlsbad Blvd @ traffic circle
Map H: 61 to 65 km - South Oceanside
Map I: 65 to 67.5 km - Oceanside to Days Inn hotel


Day 10 - Sa Mar 2
CUES Ride #8 - Oceanside to Newport Beach
(RAIN IN SAN ONOFRE AND ONLY MADE IT TO DANA POINT)
ridewithgps.com/routes/45611120
Map A: 0 to .9 km - Oceanside onto Freeway
Detail: Days Inn to Freeway Entrance (Map)
Detail: Harbor to Freeway Entrance (Arial)
Map B: 0 to 13 km - Oceanside to Las Pulgas
Map C: 13 to 16 km - Las Pulgas to Tank Road
Map D: 16 to 28 km - Tank Road to San Clemente
Map E: 28 to 31 km - Basilone to Carl’s Jr (Break)
Map F: 30 to 37 km - San Clemente Bike Route
Map G: 36 to 37 km - San Clemente Bike Route to cycle track
Map H: 41 to 43 km - Cycle track to San Juan Creek
Skipped:
Map I: 46 to 51 km - San Juan Creek to Trabuco Creek (Old SJC)
Map J: 47 to 51 km - San Juan Capistrano (LUNCH)
Map K: 56 to 59 km - San Juan Capistrano to Metrolink Station
Map L: 58 to 59 km - Camino Capistrano to Cabot
Map M: 58 to 67 km - Cabot Bike Path to El Toro (Farmer Boys / Raising Cane’s)
Map N: 64 to 65 km - Paseo de Valencia to Ave de la Carlota
Map O: 67 to 72 km - El Toro to San Diego Creek Trail
Map P: 72 km - Lake Forest to Bake Side-Path to San Diego Creek
Map P’: 72 km (Arial) - Lake Forest to Bake Side-Path to San Diego Creek
Map Q: 75 to 78 km - San Diego Creek / Sand Canyon Side-Path / Freeway Trail
Map R: 76 to 87.6 km - San Diego Creek Trail to Extended Stay America hotel


Day 11 - Su Mar 3 THEY MISSED THE BOAT BY 5 MINUTES!
CUES: Ride #9 - To Catalina Island (to and from ferry doc) TBA
ridewithgps.com/routes/45522392 to Catalina Holiday
ridewithgps.com/routes/45522438 back to OC Hotel
Map 9B: 0 to 6 km - From the boat to Hoag Hospital


Day 12 - Mo Mar 4

9:00 BCI Ride Start from the Duck Club (Bill did it)
Ride to OC Hotel before 10am: 5 miles, +137 ft CF 2
Map/Profile  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45497983
Map 10B

10:00 Ride Start from OC Hotel
Ride to Balboa Island on the way to the San Joaquin Marsh; 15.4 miles +393 ft CF2
Map/Profile https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45498988
LVA Map 10A
#10 Santiago to Castaways to PCH to Newport Dunes
#10 Newport Dunes to Back Bay Drive


4:30 - 6:00 7:30 Farewell Dinner Reception at the Duck Club
Certificate of Friendship and Alliance ~ 友誼與聯盟證書

6:00ish Ride Start from the Duck Club
LVA Return to OC Hotel: 5 miles, +137 ft CF 2
SUN SETS at 5:51 so need to use lights !
Map/Profile  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45497983
LVA Map 10B
(BCI Members shuttled everyone to their hotel so no one had to ride in the dark)


Final Day- Mar 5 - Return to Taiwan
5am pick up to LAX - 14 hour flight to Taipei…

The visit was a great success and everyone is safely back home - hoping BCI members will come visit Taiwan soon! Thanks to Jerry and Bill, and Dev, Marc, Ed, Tara, Bruce, Rich, Linda. Bill C., Bev, Shawn, Tommie and all the members who welcomed and helped them have a great visit.

Please watch this YouTube Video of highlights of their visit

The Tour de Palm Springs - February 10

The tour de Palm Springs is one of the largest rides in America, which annually draws 5 to 8 thousand riders from all across the USA. 
BCI’s Director of Hospitality Mike Alvarez will be leading a BCI group to do the 56 mile route that day , you will need to register for the ride and get a hotel if you plan to enjoy the festival the Friday night before.
We will meet at the Starbucks at the corner of S Palm Canyon Dr and Tahquitz Canyon by 7:45am Saturday and then we will line up for the 8:00 ride start, we’ll do the ride together …for further information contact Mike at the Tuesday or Saturday rides, January Meeting or email him at Hospitality@BikeIrvine.org

Santiago Creek to the SART

Ron Newcomb has been fighting to get the
Santiago Creek Bikeway west of the 5 freeway for years.
The NIMBYs are winning, because the potential trail users don’t
Have many chances to voice our opinions. Here is one:

“If you have any interest in extending the Santiago Creek Bikeway from Orange and Santa Ana
all the way to the Santa Ana River, we would appreciate it if you would fill out this questionnaire from the Orange County Public Works TODAY.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L2MXM9K
 Thank you for your continued support of providing more safe and
enjoyable trail options for the residents of Orange County.“

Ron Newcomb
ConnecttheTrailsOC@Gmail.com          
Follow us at: Connect the Trails on Instagram & Facebook
https://connectthetrails.blogspot.com/

Board of Directors Election Results

2023/24 Election Results

All 9 officers were formally elected at our Annual Meeting on October 14th. The term will run until the next Annual Meeting.

Swapping Board positions, Incumbents, and New volunteers:

Marsha Murphy has handed over her job as Ride Coordinator to Bill Sellin while Kim Gerrard fills the role of Communications, vacated by Bill. The position of Secretary, previously held by Kim is filled by Bruce Dickens. And Lynda Randall will assume the role of Director of Membership as the successor to Deby Six.

VOTED IN! L-R: Mike Alvarez/Hospitality, Lynda Randall/Membership, Marc Urias/President, Bill Sellin/Ride Coordinator, Ed Rubinstein/Treasurer, Pete Van Nuys/VP, Bruce Dickens/Secretary. Not pictured: Kim Gerrard/Communications, Richard Brock/Statistician

Please congratulate and thank all the volunteers including the outgoing board members, and do consider volunteering to fill a vacant office next year!

Incumbents were re-elected to continue their work. View the entire Board

the Outgoing Directors at Large:

Monica McCarthy and Bob Fairfield have been serving as Directors @ Large for the year; their successors will be appointed by the sitting board (TBA).

Benevolence Committee:

Chaired by Kathy Shapiro since its inception, Mark Shapiro will be taking this over.

winner of the 2023/24 spirit award:

Recognition of their enthusiasm and/or generosity of their time devoted to the BCI community has been awarded to club members annually since 1998. This year the award was presented to Alice Fascella.

 

Congratulations, Alice!

City of Irvine Municipal Code changes proposed

Tuesday evening, July 11th, the City Council will be hearing a proposal to update the City Municipal Code to catch up with the State Laws. Clarification on electric bicycles vs motorized bicycles, dropping the no longer required bicycle licensing make sense.
In an attempt to respond with community pressure to deal with scofflaw kids on over powered out-of-class electric motor bikes that are already not street legal, the proposal sets a speed limit of 28 mph for all e-cyclists on any road.
Initially we misread that this 28 mph limit would to apply to ALL cyclists - but is just for our fellow cyclist on electric bicycles that can pedal or coast faster than their 28mph assist who are going to be impacted.
(…of course those same scofflaw kids will still go over 28 - and the police need to crack down on the illegal mini-bikes and unregistered motorized bicycles driven by unlicensed kids even if going 10 mph)

Are discriminatory speed limits coming to Irvine streets?

Many of us rarely go over 28, and most do not have an electric bicycle (yet) but it is our right to travel, and if the posted speed limit is higher for motorists, that is denying cyclists the rights of other road users codified in our CVC.
Sometimes on a downhill we go over 28 to have a safer time sharing the road with traffic and staying with our friends.
Sometimes, if we want to pass Dick Brock after he leads us out at 28, we just HAVE to accelerate…
The proposed changes also puts a 20 mph limit on all bike paths, shared use paths and trails for ALL CYCLIST, Acoustic and electric.
20 mph is too fast in some conditions and no limit is required in others…
Class 2 ‘Throttle’ electric bicycles will be entitled to run full speed at their legal 20 mph limit.
Better to not have a limit posted and have all maintain a safe speed for all other users.

The police who wrote this idea into the draft clearly do not ride bicycles like we do,

Time is short - Bill just heard about this on the 7th and has put out some detailed response, but if you live or work in Irvine, you might want to reach out to the Mayor and Council members and give them your input on agenda item 6.4 before or at the meeting Tuesday evening. enough input might get it ‘tabeled’ to a later meeting to revisit the issues of concern and come up with a better draft. This is why many cities have a bike/walk committee to review stuff before implemented. Irvine disbanded theirs as it kept asking hard questions of developer’s plans…
Here is the agenda item 6.4

If you want to get “lost in the weeds”; Ignore some of the rant about 28mph limits for all
Here is Bill Sellin’s prompt comments and concerns shared with the Mayor, Council and Police Ignore some of the rant about 28mph limits for all.

Club Essentials we can all remember to use...

Often the club spreads out after a few miles and we all get to ride as solo riders, but when we start we have an impressive peloton and really need to learn some club riding techniques. We are a non-racing club, but when riding in a peloton, even as a recreational club, the group needs to take some responsibility for the rest of the riders. If you are out front, please take the front leadership responsibilities. (including lane control, calling out turns, slowing/stopping, “singling up” or “doubling up”, and navigating hazards)
If you are in back, please take the leadership responsibilities from behind (including lane control, leading out a lane change from behind, calling out “move left’ or “lane clear” and calling out overtaking traffic.
Every member should take the free online CLUB ESSENTIALS course and learn to echo the signals and calls from the lead rider when in the middle of a pack.

I just took the online Club Essentials and learned a few things; I doubt anyone who takes it will not learn some great techniques and reminders…
I have some fresh material for the upcoming NewB class on July 29th!

Bike The Bay - August 27

bikethebay.net

Penny Poorman and Jenny Short would like you to join them for this San Diego ride across the Coronado Bridge. 
They had a great time last year!
Following the ride there will be a gathering to celebrate Clint McDonald's 85th birthday. 
Contact Penny for more details.
IT’s OFFICIAL!
First - REGISTER for the ride. (NO FREELOADING POACHERS !)
Second - Book a room or you may have to drive down EARLY Sunday morning…
Third - Sign up with BCI so we will know who is in town and how to reach each other!