SGV Connect

This week, #DamienTalks with Dave Campbell of Bike East Bay. According to Melanie Curry, Bike East Bay runs the "biggest, baddest Bike to Work Day in the world."

Earlier this month, she wrote, "What’s indisputable is that Bike East Bay, then known as the East Bay Bicycle Coalition, kicked off its first Bike to Work Day in 1994 and, in the 22 years since then, the event has grown ever more popular amid a rapid increase in bike commuting. In Oakland alone, bike commuting has tripled in the last twelve years, according to the U.S. Census."

While Campbell was more than happy to talk about the history of Bike Month in the East Bay, he didn't use the words "biggest" or "baddest" in his interview. To hear more about  one of the best Bike Month programs I've ever heard of and its impact on bicycling in Oakland, Berkeley and beyond, check out this week's podcast below.

We’re always looking for sponsors, show ideas, and feedback. You can contact me at [email protected], at twitter @damientypes, online at Streetsblog California or on Facebook at StreetsblogCA.

Today, #DamienTalks with Colin Parent, the Policy Council for Circulate San Diego. Last week, Circulate released the first of a series of reports that look at how the city's policies support, or hinder, the city's efforts to meets its environmental goals. Read the report, here.

Last week's report looked at San Diego's parking policies and how they're hurting planning efforts around transit oriented development. For example, San Diego has a goal of making all trips near transit car-free by 2035. On the other, zoning requirements require two parking spaces for every housing unit built, even if its near a major transit hub.

Either the city is planning for a lot of empty car parking spaces, or it isn't serious about making its goals.

Parent gives a lot more detail than my one-liners. Give it a listen and let us know what you think in the comments section.

We’re always looking for sponsors, show ideas, and feedback. You can contact me at [email protected], at twitter @damientypes, online at Streetsblog California or on Facebook at StreetsblogCA.

This week, #DamienTalks with Wes Reutimann, the executive director of Bike SGV. With Bike Month nearly half over, it seemed as good a time as any to get an update on the state of bicycle advocacy in the San Gabriel Valley.

Of course we discuss the 626, but there's a lot of other exciting news on Open Streets. Of course we talk about all of the new infrastructure planned but we go into depth on 100 miles of planned greenways. And there's still time left to talk about the newly-passed bike plan in Duarte, which includes protected bikeways to and from the newly-opened Gold Line Station.

We're always looking for more show ideas. If you have an idea or feedback on an existing podcast, please let me know. You can email me at [email protected] or tweet @damientypes.

#DamienTalks is supported by Foothill Transit. Foothill Transit has been a leader in sustainable transportation for years. And now they’re committed to having a 100% electric bus fleet by 2030. To celebrate, Foothill Transit is giving away prizes and sharing facts about how their electric buses help clear the air. Visit Foothill Transit’s e-bus sweepstakes webpage to see how you can join in the eco-friendly fun!

Today, #DamienTalks with Genoveva Islas, the Program Director for Cultiva La Salud and the newest member of the California Bike Coalition (CalBike) Board of Directors. 

Because her work with Cultiva La Salud deals with access to food in the San Joaquin Valley, Islas both brings a public health perspective to the CalBike Board and serves as a champion on issues of cultural and geographic equity.

Apparently, there is a large part of California beyond the Bay Area and Greater Los Angeles area that could use some attention when it comes to creating safe and attractive spaces to move about and just be in the community. Islas wants CalBike to continue its great work in the state's urban population centers while doing a better job advocating for and representing the interests of the people who live somewhere else.

This interview is part of our bike month series focusing on bike issues throughout the state; but we ended up talking about a lot of things outside of two-wheeled advocacy. Check it out.

We’re always looking for sponsors, show ideas, and feedback. You can contact me at [email protected], at twitter @damientypes, online at Streetsblog California or on Facebook at StreetsblogCA. 

Welcome back to #DamienTalks!

Today, #DamienTalks with Roland Cordero with Foothill Transit.

It may have taken eight episodes, but we finally got around to

Foothill Transit has replaced its diesel-fuel buses with CNG

In the interview, Cordero discusses the pro's and cons of

#DamienTalks is supported by Foothill Transit. Foothill Transit

It’s Bike Month! Welcome to Bike

Today, #DamienTalks with Tony Molina

As excited as we are by Bike Month

But as we said, there are lots of

Today,

May 4, Mall to Mall

May 18,

May 20, Bike to

Streetsblog California will check

Parking placard abuse.

Arguing for reforms in the placard system is one of the few

This abuse of the placard system creates a ripple effect of

Today #DamienTalks with Assemblymember Mike Gatto (D-SFV) about

Also moving in the Assembly is Gatto's "Parking Bill of Rights"

We’re always looking for sponsors, show ideas, and feedback. You

As excitement builds towards the 626, the mamoth car-free festival spanning six cities on, you guessed it, June 26; #DamienTalks with Michael Cacciotti. Cacciotti is the Mayor Pro-Temp of South Pasadena and has been a critical figure in the effort to create the 626 and organize the half-dozen cities that are taking part as well as officials with the County, Metro, and the Air Quality Management District.

Want to know more about the 626? Click here.

I'll be honest, this is one of the more fun interviews I did. Cacciotti wasn't just one of the driving forces behind the 626, he was also a Board Member for the Gold Line Foothill Construction Authority. I conducted our phone interview while he was doing his evening commute home, and as a bonus he talked about how the Gold Line extension is working and how packed his rail car was. It was 9 p.m. at night. On a Wednesday.

New Gold Line extensions. The 626. Things are changing in the San Gabriel Valley, and they're changing for the better.

#DamienTalks is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the new Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of Downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit foothilltransit.org. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.”

Welcome to this week's episode of #DamienTalksSGV, where we talk with Glendale Mayor and Metro Boardmember Ara Najarian and Bike SGV Executive Director Wes Reutimann about the proposed sales tax measure that Metro unveiled last week.

The measure extends the current county-wide half cent sales tax passed eight years ago and adds another half cent to the tax. If passed, there will be a full cent on the county sales tax dedicated towards transportation.

But it is not the tax itself that is interesting, but how it will be spent. Read more about the proposal at Streetsblog Los Angeles or visit Metro's webpage dedicated to the proposal to learn more. Also, we interviewed Najarian about what he would like to see in the proposal in January. You can here his answers, here.

In this broadcast, we see two different points of view that could dominate the discussion over the next few months as Metro and the L.A. County Board of Supervisors debate whether or not to put this proposal on the fall ballot. Najarian is effusive in his praise for the work Metro staff did. He is happy that his favorite project, the second phase of the Gold Line Foothill Extension, is included in the project list and that his least favorite project, the extension of the I-710, is not.

On the other hand, Reutimann is worried that such a long-term sales tax includes such a small slice for bicycle and pedestrian safety projects. While recognizing how the projects, especially more trains and buses running through the valley, could change regional transportation; Reutimann stopped short of endorsing the measure as it is.

#DamienTalks is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the new Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of Downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit foothilltransit.org. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.”