Good morning,
I came across this article this morning and I've asked the author if I could plagiarize it to draft a letter to our local authorities making a similar proposal.  However, I have 2 questions...

1) Who should I send it to?
I'm considering the Dominion Post, Daily Atheneum, MPO and traffic commission

2) Who should I send it as?
Should I sign it as a concerned citizen, director of Positive Spin or Bicycle Board member?  All of the above?

I'd also appreciate any help in drafting it.  I'd like to get it done this weekend before the user fee projects are finalized. Ideas, assistance?

Thanks,
Nick Hein

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: Ralph Fertig <sb-ralph@cox.net>
Date:  Thu, 20 Sep 2007 20:08:11 -0700

==========
The South Coast Needs Bikes!
Santa Barbara Can Learn from European Cities

By Ralph Fertig, president of the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition.
Thursday, September 20, 2007

Last July 15, Parisians woke up to find 10,600 new bicycles available 
throughout the city for their use. The public/private initiative was 
crafted by Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoë to propel the city toward a 
greener future.

Where did this innovative program come from and what does it mean for us? 
Specifically, how might the South Coast benefit from a similar program? 
Judging from the success of programs already in Europe, it would reduce 
our traffic congestion, cut pollution, promote fitness, and be a popular 
means of travel for residents and visitors alike. How can we lose?

Throughout Paris, there are bicycle stations every 300 yards. Each 
station has an electronic vending kiosk with instructions in eight 
languages. Using your credit card at the kiosk, you get a bike card to 
swipe over one of the waiting bicycles to release it. When you return 
your bike, you lock it into a smart post that identifies you, the 
bicycle, plus where and when the bike was rented. If you exceed your free 
30 minutes, it bills your credit card. Diagnostic software automatically 
checks tire pressure, gears, lights, and brakes. If a bike fails the 
tests, it¹s locked out of service and a mechanic is directed to it.

The bicycles are a custom design. Each one has a low step-through frame, 
adjustable seat height, roller brakes, always-on front and rear dynamo 
lights, front wire basket, three-speed hub gears, chain guard, cable 
lock, puncture-resistant tires with reflective sidewalls, and a kickstand 
that lifts the bike off its rear wheel. Every part of the bike has 
security bolts that require special tools to undo.

Paris is joining other cities with new-generation bicycle rental 
services. They include Lyon, Stockholm, Vienna, Seville, Brussels, 
Barcelona, Córdoba, Singapore, and Copenhagen.

Two years ago, Lyon, France, initiated a bike program similar to the one 
in Paris. They have 4,000 bicycles at 175 locations. The average number 
of rides per day is 15,000. Office workers account for 40 percent of the 
rentals. Ninety percent of all journeys on bikes last fewer than 30 
minutes, which means they¹re free. Users who opt to keep them longer 
incur charges. Bikes which aren¹t returned within 24 hours are billed to 
the user¹s credit card, in the amount of 150 Euros.

Lyon¹s Deputy Mayor Jean-Louis Touraine reported that bicycle use has 
increased 30 percent since the program began. At the same time, 
automobile traffic has declined by 4 percent, reversing Lyon¹s previous 
1-3 percent annual increase in motor vehicle use. For those now renting 
bikes, 55 percent said they are driving less than before. The program has 
eliminated 3,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions during the past two 
years, and air quality has improved. Touraine observed that ³we¹re 
finding a city that is more humane, more convivial, less dangerous, less 
stressful, and less polluted.²

So what is happening in the U.S.? As American cities contend with growing 
traffic congestion, they¹re paying attention and moving to adopt similar 
bicycle programs. Washington, D.C., will have rental bikes available 
later this year. Last month, Portland, Oregon, sent out a ³request for 
proposal² for a bicycle rental system of 500 bikes. New York, Chicago, 
and San Francisco are also investigating the possibilities of such a 
program.

So why not do this on the South Coast? Campers at Carpinteria State Beach 
could bike into town. UCSB students could bike to the airport, Amtrak 
station, or Camino Real Marketplace. Campus visitors could use the bikes 
to get around without cars. Santa Barbara workers could pedal to 
restaurants for lunch, and tourists could go from hotels to popular 
destinations without adding to traffic.

How would we pay for it? Paris is trading space on 1,600 billboards for 
the bikes. Some cities generate revenue with ads on the rental kiosks. 
Here, we could sell kiosk ad space or enter into agreements with major 
employers. It might be operated by the Santa Barbara Bikestation 
headquartered in the Granada Garage, or it could be an MTD transportation 
program. Maybe we could tap into part of the 2008 South Coast Measure D 
transportation tax.

Teaming today¹s computer and bicycle technology to address the issues of 
traffic congestion, obesity, oil prices, climate change, and air 
pollution provide a timely solution for everybody. It¹s time to bring it 
here!
==========

Ralph Fertig received this email from Harold & Karen Karabell on 9/20/07 
7:24 PM