July 2025

It is now the hottest time of the year, but that shouldn’t dissuade you from riding your bike.  While riding your bike, you have natural air conditioning through airflow and evaporative cooling.  Use common sense like riding during the time of day without the most intense rays, hydrating before riding, carrying plenty of water, and protecting your skin.

In this month’s Newsletter:

• There are new Pub Bike Repair Caches to help repair your bike at several watering holes in Central Fresno.

• The State Legislature is heading towards a summer recess as several bills related to bicycling are working their way through the Legislature, with some already reaching the Governor.

• The next FCBC general membership meeting and FCBC Board meeting are scheduled for Tuesday, July 15 at 6:30 and 7:00 pm, respectively.

Introducing Pub Bike Repair Cache

If you are heading to your favorite pub and find that you need to make some bike repairs but are without tools, several pubs in Central Fresno have been outfitted with bike repair kits by The Bike Station to get you back on the road.  You’ll be able to pump up your tires, fix a flat, or make minor adjustments.  If you do use a consumable, such as a tire tube, you are requested to replace the item at your earliest convenience so that the next person will be able to make the same repair.  See the flyer below for locations and more details.

Clean California Mural Ride

The newest murals in Fresno were viewed on a Clean California mural ride jointly sponsored by FCBC, Caltrans, the Fresno Arts Council, and the City of Fresno.  The event on June 28 was attended by about 40 bike riders.  Eric Martinez from the Fresno Arts Council was the docent, and several artists were on hand to share the meaning of the murals or the opportunity that the Governor’s Clean California initiative brought to artists and the community at large.

Twenty of the murals are on columns at San Pablo Park below the State Route 180 freeway.  Four are on the slope paving below freeway bridges between Blackstone Avenue and First Street.  Three are on freeway columns near Romain Park, and one is on the side of the community center building at Romain Park.

Several bike riders started the trek to San Pablo Park from Steven’s Bicycles in North Clovis and were joined by additional bike riders along the way.  For those who were unable to make the mural ride, the murals are worth visiting on your own.  The City of Fresno is also planning a block party at San Pablo Park towards the end of July to mark the completion of the murals.

Legislative Update

There are several bicycle-related bills working their way through the legislative process, as highlighted below:

• Assembly Bill 954 would establish a pilot program of a numbered bicycle highway network beginning in two major metropolitan areas in different parts of the state.  The pilot would require by 2030 for Caltrans to develop a proposal to be included in the draft Interregional Transportation Improvement Program (ITIP).  The ITIP typically funds interregional freeway expansion projects and intercity passenger rail projects.  The intent of the bicycle highway network is to serve bike trips of five miles or longer and support travel speeds up to 25 mph.  The bill is in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

• AB-891 would establish the Quick-Build Project Pilot Program with the Caltrans Maintenance Program to expedite the development and implementation of low-cost projects on the State Highway System.  Caltrans would have until December 31, 2028 to identify and commit to fund at least 6 quick-build projects statewide.  The projects would use low to moderate cost materials and would last from one to five years.  The projects could be related to pedestrian and bicycle safety, but that would not be a requirement.  The bill is in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

There are several bills related to e-bikes:

• AB-544 would require e-bikes to have a red reflector at all times, and not just at night.  Minors cited for not wearing a helmet would be allowed to attend an e-bike diversion program.  The bill has been enrolled and submitted to the Governor.

• AB-545 would prohibit selling an application that could modify the speed capability of an e-bike such that it would no longer meet the statutory definition of an e-bike.  The bill has been enrolled and submitted to the Governor.

• AB-875 would allow a peace office to seize and impound an out-of-class e-bike.  The bill is in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

• AB-965 would prohibit a person from selling a Class 3 e-bike to a person under 16 years of age.  The bill passed the Senate and is back in the Assembly for enrolling.

• Senate Bill 586 would define the term eMoto as an electric two-wheeled device built on a bicycle infrastructure that does not have pedals and designates eMotos as off-highway vehicles.  These are potentially more powerful and faster than e-bikes and could be used off-road only.  The bill is in the Assembly Committee of Water, Parks, and Wildlife.

Next General Membership and Board Meetings

The next general membership and Board meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, July 15 at 6:30 pm and 7:00 pm, respectively, via Zoom.  The general membership meeting is for members and nonmembers to meet with the Board prior to the official Board meeting to ask questions or raise issues for the Board to consider.  Board meetings are restricted to members only.

If you would like to participate in either or both meetings, register here, and you will immediately get the Zoom link.

Membership

If you are not yet a member of FCBC or need to renew, please visit https://fresnobike.org/join to become a member or renew your membership.

Have a comment or suggestion?  Contact us at info@fresnobike.org.