A memorial rally and bike ride took place in Santa Cruz on August 16th. At Bay View Elementary School, Takashi Yogi rode his bicycle to generate power for an amplified sound system. Speakers addressed the crowd, composed of mostly cross-town type bikers, about the need for safer transportation conditions for people commuting without automobiles, such as students that walk and bike to schools.
Robert, a friend and colleague of John Myslin, the teacher that two years ago was killed by a truck at the intersection of Mission and Bay while riding his bike to school, spoke about how safe and meticulous John was in every respect. Robert was upset to learn that John was blamed for his death. He is also troubled seeing Bay View Elementary School students ride their bikes to school while going the wrong way on Mission and listening to iPods.
Carolyn, a coordinator with local bicycle advocacy organization People Power!, clarified that King Street is not necessarily a safe alternative to biking on Mission, but rather a dangerous road to ride a bike on since there are no bike lanes, cars parked on both sides of the street, and fast moving cars.
People Power! is leading the call to create a bicycle boulevard on King Street. Micah Posner, a spokesperson for the organization, says the plan is being modeled after bicycle boulevards in other cities, such as Berkeley. Read More and View Photos
On February 15th, ten bicyclists participated in the Tour de Everyday ride through Santa Cruz to demonstrate the utility of the bicycle for transportation. Highlights of the tour included riding across the new bike/pedestrian bridge that crosses the San Lorenzo River adjacent to Highway 1 and learning about the bicycle parking facilities planned for the new New Leaf. Even in the rain, bicycles are an efficient, inexpensive, and enjoyable way to get around town. 
On August 1st, more than a dozen bicyclists went on a “mystery ride” to tour the hallowed out remains of businesses along Soquel Ave., Water St. and Mission St. in Santa Cruz. Mystery rides, where the route is not known by most riders, are usually organized in advance by one or more bicyclists as a fun, creative and safe way to enjoy a community bike ride.
The Sprockettes, Portland’s all female mini-bike dance team, rolled their veggie oil powered bus into Santa Cruz to give two free performances at the Bike Church on July 22nd. Operation Bike Nation 2008, stopping in bike-friendly towns from Santa Cruz to Seattle, features sex-positive club music while The Sprockettes dance in hot pink and black clothing and do tricks on mini-bikes.
Free Skool Santa Cruz (FSSC) is a completely grassroots effort, a collection of locals acting collectively and autonomously to create a skill-sharing network, a school without institutional control. It is an opportunity to learn from others and share what they know, to help create self-reliance, vital communities, and beauty in the world. Classes and workshops offered during the summer of 2008 include free drawing at Natural Bridges, Ju-Jitsu, knitting, letter writing to prisoners, consent and sexual/intimate violence, building a bike wheel, and so much more.
