Happy Birthday

#14 for Sophia who is in 8th grade and going to Christian Brothers High School next year. Jeffery is a sophomore at University of San Diego, Lauren is a junior at St Francis. Avery is in 5th grade, Carson in 1st. Brooklyn, the youngest cousin, is in kindergarten.

D1 Community Conversations

District 1 is Sacramento City Councilmember Lisa Kaplan’s district. This evening at Heron School,

Mayor Steinberg, the local fire department captain and local police captain, and Lisa Kaplan spoke to a members of the community.

There were also many opportunities to ask questions and make comments to various committee chairpeople and commissioners. There were about 10 of us. My station:

Your bike rides this week

Monday March 27. Tony and Maria:

Minerva took this picture of Brenda and Agueda:

Wednesday March 29. Rachel and Brenda riding in Pacific Grove:

Thursday March 30. Brenda and Rachel:

Saturday April 1. Tracy took this picture of Jim and Paul.

Brenda, Rachel, and Lennore:

On my solo ride on Fisherman’s Lake Parkway, San Juan Reservoir beginning to dry out:

Project Ride Smart

at H Allen Hight Elementary School. Five 5th grade classes with just 5 minutes between classes. Wednesday a day of indoor teaching because of rainstorms. I worked with Deanna:

Thursday and Friday: blacktop drills plus one hour after school to coach beginning riders. Long day of physical work. Before school we take 40 bicycles out of a shipping container plus set out about 100 cones for the course. At the end of the day the bikes are repacked and we get the kids in the final class to pick up the cones. The one hour after-school coaching sessions were quite rewarding.

There were probably 15 kids each day. Some just needed riding time to refresh their skills. Others needed to learn from scratch. Our final success story on Friday: Vincent. We talked about a strong power pedal, eyes on the horizon. I ran alongside, barely holding him upright. After a few passes I told him, “I haven’t been holding you up. You’re actually riding on your own.” Vincent: “I am?” That was all he needed to know. Everyone who came to coaching is now riding a bike. LCIs Gina and Pierson were also there to coach and encourage.

And I’m one tired person. Three days of physical labor.

Retirement

This afternoon was a celebration for Becky Heieck, who has retired after 16 years of leadership for North Natomas Jibe. A separated area at Track 7 Brewing.

Friends from several biking or community organizations (except for the first person at left, I don’t know who she is): Deb Banks/SABA, Jennifer Donlon Wyant/Active Transportation Program Manager, City of Sacramento, Michelle Reynolds/Jibe, Jonathan Burke/N Natomas Community Coalition and neighbor:

You will not see a picture of me in this post. I worked Project Ride Smart from 7:15 – 3:15 and had no time to become presentable by 4 pm. What a great venue and event! Becky will be missed but Jibe will continue its mission with Mellissa Meng as Executive Director.

Your bike rides this week

Wednesday March 22. Rachel and Brenda:

Thursday March 23. Maria and Tony:

Friday March 24. Rachel and Agueda:

Saturday March 25. Paul and Jim:

Brenda and Agueda:

Michael, Kathy, Yingce, Stacy, Dani

BarbaraB and Cheryl:

Sunday March 26. Me, Brenda, BarbaraL:

BarbaraB and Cheryl:

SABA Social Ride

Brenda, BarbaraL and I rode in from N Natomas. Because Discovery Park was closed due to flooding, our safest choice to get across the river was Highway 160. We used the on ramp from Northgate Blvd, took the lane while 45 mph-traffic moved left to go around us. Being Sunday morning, there wasn’t a lot of traffic. Just after crossing the river, we were able to move right onto a Class IV cycle track onto 12th St. We met at Drip Espresso at 24th & J Streets.

At 10:30, the ride began: a tour of murals created by and featuring women.

State of Natomas

Jibe invited me to this annual event put on by the Chamber of Commerce. Many speakers shared upcoming projects and ideas for the future. Mayor Steinberg, State Senator Angelique Ashby, Councilmembers Lisa Kaplan and Karina Talamontes, and leaders from many local agencies.

Councilmember Lisa Kaplan, me, Lisa Pray/North Natomas Community Coalition, Mateo Ramirez-Mercado/District 1 Director. I work with Lisa and Mateo as the District 1 Active Transportation Commissioner.

Michelle Reynolds/Jibe’s Program Manager for Business and Community Outreach: