I am writing on behalf of the California Association of Bicycling Organizations to ask that you sign Senator Lowenthal’s Senate Bill 910 into law. With the enactment of SB 910 and with wider public recognition of what is safe and appropriate motor vehicle driver’s behavior in the presence of bicyclists, everyone can benefit.

We expect that this clearer statement of appropriate passing distances by motorists of bicyclists, replacing the subjective guidance in existing law, will better inform people about unsafe passing and encourage more and safer bicycling – an appropriate goal toward providing a cleaner environment, safer traffic operations, and healthier Californians.

We consider the 3′ passing bill, SB 910, as a good and appropriate step toward wider recognition and hopefully, acceptance that bicyclists have, per California Vehicle Code 21200, the same rights and same responsibilities for operation in traffic as drivers of motor vehicles.

Our efforts toward this recognition has also been helped recently by Senator Kehoe’s significant support of a Statewide Bicycling Task Force; by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Commissioner Joe Farrow for his leadership and Capitan Avery Browne’s involvement in reviewing our bicyclist training program materials; by Assemblymember Toni Atkins AB 345 encouraging the Department of Transportation to include representatives of alternative transportation – walking, bicycling and transit – as members of the California Traffic Control Devices Committee; and by Senior Law Enforcement Consultant Karen
Lozito and the Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commissions’ agreement to expand POST training for traffic enforcement officers regarding lawful bicycling as of July 2011.

Through our meetings with CHP trainers, we have confirmed that the bicycling advocates across the State who are using the League of American Bicyclist’s bicycling education programs are applying the same interpretation and understanding of the rights and responsibilities of bicyclists as the CHP trainers. We are hoping that the newly expanded training through POST will help make accurate
information more readily available, accepted, and used by all traffic enforcement personnel in California – traffic officers, judges, and someday, juries.

We will be making further efforts to encourage more and safer bicycling through our education and advocacy efforts; especially toward clarification of a Californian’s lawful rights, responsibilities, and best practices for bicycling on public roadways. Specifically we will be addressing California Vehicle Code 21202 – often summarized and widely misunderstood as requiring bicycling to occur only “out of
the way” on the margins of public roadways, rather than properly sharing the right of way.
We are ready and eager to address these and other issues when the legislature returns in 2012.
Thanks in advance for your support, signing, and enactment of SB 910 toward a safer travel environment in California.
Sincerely,
Jim Baross, CABO President
Cc: Commissioner Joe Farrow
Senator Alan Lowenthal
Senator Christine Kehoe
Assemblymember Toni Atkins
CABO Board
Alan Wachtel, California Bicycle Advisory Committee Chair
Penny Gray, Caltrans Bicycle Program Manager
James Lombardo Sr, CABO Lobbyist

The Ambassador program was created to help the League increase awareness of its programs and initiatives in each state, to interface with state and local bicycling organizations, raise the profile of the League, increase membership, and to provide a resource for the League. State Ambassadors are appointed to an annual term, Jan.1 to Dec. 31.

The largest responsibility a State Ambassador has is to be a voice for the League on the state level. State Ambassadors are encouraged to speak at advocacy group gatherings, to give updates on the current initiatives of the League, and to be available to promote the benefits of League Membership at every opportunity.

Each State Ambassador receives training from the League including an overview of League programs, policies, and a list of specific goals and issues for each Ambassador. The League’s Washington staff is in monthly communication with Ambassadors to ensure that they are up to date on current issues.

However, State Ambassadors are not sanctioned representatives of the League, but will perform the League role as a resource for local organizations. The Ambassador program is not designed to usurp power from local advocacy groups. Rather, it is in place to help these organizations gain greater exposure by offering the League’s help to their issues and challenges.

League Ambassadors are to gather information from local organizations to share their successes with the League. As a national organization with a wide reach, the League can communicate these and help provide bicyclists in other states a roadmap for success.

At the end of the article Laverne states that she/we appreciate all Ruth did for their club… I will add that Ruth served more than the LA Wheelmen with her dedicated, outspoken and well informed advocacy to all California bicyclists through her participation with CABO.

Ruth’s mother, Mary Ellen Barnes sent a note to CABO in October, “Sorry to tell you that Ruth Barnes died Sept 26. She lost her battle with cancer. She went very Peacefully —— She will be missed. She was a great daughter.”
Ride a few miles with Ruth in mind.

Jim Baross
CABO President
Friend of Ruth

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Farewell to Ruth Barnes

On September 26, 2008, the Los Angeles Wheelmen lost one of its most special members. Ruth Barnes lost her battle with lung cancer at the age of 62.

We first met Ruth on a Wheelmen ride in 1971. From the beginning, it was obvious that Ruth was an exceptional rider and held her own with the very best of the men riders. She was always in the lead and was incredibly competitive. She wanted to be the best women rider around. Those were the days when women were never taken seriously. Ruth would prove everyone wrong.

Oddly enough, in spite of our age differences – she was only 25 and we were 41 and 44 respectively – we became friends. Our daughter Julie was only 14 but she looked up to Ruth and was a strong rider herself. We rode together – at least out of the parking lot – Ha ha! Other times Ruth rode with us for the companionship. She never missed a ride. She participated in many overnight group rides with the club – especially the fun weekends to Ohai. Just ask any old time member about those special weekends.

Ruth served as treasurer of our club in 1977 and 1981 and was president in 1986 and 1987 and served well. She was awarded the Jack Flynn Award in 1987. Among her many other contributions to cycling and our club, Ruth helped beginner riders by organizing and leading many AYH rides, leading dozens of camping rides to Emma Woods State Beach Park and created many of our Orange County routes, still ridden today.

Ruth was the club’s CABO representative for years and years. CABO is the California Association of Bicycle Organizations and is active in Sacramento and local government to foster more bike paths, more laws to protect us on the road and to clarify rules for us as cyclists. She did a great job! Her letters to the editor appeared often in the Los Angeles Times and local papers.
Ruth never missed the Great Western Bicycle Rally and until her illness, she had attended 35 Rallys in a row. Quite a record!

Ruth had returned to college and earned her bachelors and masters degrees in business. Unfortunately, she was unable to return to work as she was soon diagnosed with lung cancer.

We think that in terms of Ruth’s cycling life, her greatest achievement was the fact that Ruth was the first woman to ride our club’s Grand Tour Triple Century. In 1973 she achieved the unthinkable and showed everyone that women are strong and can do whatever they set their minds to. Thank you Ruth. (Ruth completed a total of 7 Grand Tours including 3 triples and was Grand tour Chairman one year.)

Rest well old friend and know that we appreciate all you did for cycling and for our club.