from: wildlands «at» highstream.net
to: Green Wheels (wheels «at» humboldt.edu),
date: Feb 18, 2007 3:15 PM
subject: Re: Green Wheels of HSU: Humboldt Bay area bike map

Hi,

We received the bike map and it is really wonderful. It has areas where I would feel more comfortable biking (meaning away from heavy traffic). I am so pleased that it shows where the bus stops are where we can take a bus that allows bicycles. An extra bonus is that it is such a good map that we are able to plan where we are going to go kayaking and view wildlife. Because the map had provided phone numbers of the transit companies, I was able to contact them for their bus schedules.

I have contacted Adventure's Edge and they no longer rent bicycles. Revolution said they probably will not have bicycles for rent in the summer. Life Cycles did say they rent bicycles.

I just wanted to point out that what makes a vacation special is the fact that we do not have to rely on a car. I live near Estes Park (Colorado) and work in Estes and during the summer months the car pollution from all the tourists is horrendous. We did not want to do a vacation with traffic congestion and air pollution. I teach outdoor environmental education in Rocky Mountain National Park and even some of the tourists that come to Estes Park on vacation claim they will never come back because of the traffic congestion and the fact that it feels like a city rather than a small town. They have told me they come from a city and if Estes is going to feel like a city to them that they might as well either stay home or find a less congested place to vacation.

Many thanks again and we look forward to enjoying our trip to Humboldt County with the idea of possible relocation.

By the way, is there such a thing as flex car in Humboldt County? Seattle has flex cars, I believe. This would be great as one would not have to own a car but would have use of a flex car with others when they needed one.

Oh by the way, we are not spring chickens. My husband is 60 and I am 55. So if we old geezers can do alternative transportation, the younger folk should have no problems.

Thanks again, and Thank You Arcata Chamber of Commerce for selling such a great map.

Susan Wolf

From: Green Wheels
To: Susan
Cc: greenwheels-core «at» googlegroups.com ; director «at» tuccycle.org ; info «at» arcatamainstreet.com ; arcata «at» arcatachamber.com ; kdiemer «at» arcatacityhall.org ; mwilson «at» humboldt1.com ; lcarcata «at» sbcglobal.net ; info «at» adventuresedge.com ; info «at» revolutionbicycle.com ; dclass «at» arcatacityhall.org ; info «at» humbike.org ; danielmintz «at» neteze.com ; john.woolley «at» co.humboldt.ca.us ; ceed «at» humboldt1.com ; ecotour «at» humboldt.edu ; jen «at» rcaa.org
Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 2:19 PM
Subject: Re: Green Wheels of HSU: Humboldt Bay area bike map

Hi Susan,

I want to thank you for your email and for visiting our website at www.humboldt.edu/~wheels. It has taken our group a bit to respond as we brought your correspondence up at one of our weekly meetings. On behalf of Humboldt County, we're looking forward to your visit this summer.

I've carbon-copied this email to various other people who might be interested, including the Institute for Ecological Tourism, Center for Environmental and Economic Development, Arcata Main Street, and Arcata Chamber of Commerce, people with the City of Arcata, Arcata bike shops, and trail advocates, because your email so clearly illustrates the need for more bike infrastructure development in Humboldt County.

Bike touring is such a great way to see a place. I'm glad you were able to find the excellent Humboldt Bay Bike Commuters map and have the Arcata Chamber of Commerce mail it to you. It's a shame they aren't willing to put it on their website. I think it would be a great resource for other travelers such as yourself!

There are not a lot of places where you can ride without sharing roads with cars in Humboldt County. There's work being done to develop a bike trail between Eureka and Arcata, but that will take a while. You can ride in the Lost Coast area, which is incredibly beautiful without encountering many other cars. There's an official tour event every year — check it out: www.tuccycle.org.

As far as bike clubs that meet and ride regularly in Humboldt County, we know of one that meets at LifeCycle (707-822-7755) every Sunday morning at 9am. There's also Fickle Hill Friday.

Hope this helps! Please feel free to bring other questions to our attention.

Aaron

On 2/11/07, Susan wildlands «at» highstream.net wrote:

Hi,

This is an absolutely wonderful website. Thank you so much. My husband and I will be vacationing in Arcata this summer and would like to make use of bicycle trails and the bus and try to sightsee without a car. We are trying to avoid bicycling on the road due to the pollution and the hazards of motorists. I did not see your Humboldt Bay Area Bike Map. Is there one? Can you help us with this info. We are considering Arcata for possible relocation and want to learn as much about alternative transportation as possible. Thanks for your help.

At 10:45am, the same day, Susan wrote:

Hi,

I did locate this map and I have ordered through the Arcata Chamber of Commerce who will mail it to me in Colorado. I spent weeks calling bicycle clubs and bicycle stores who were absolute no help as far as bike trails. I asked the Arcata Chamber of Commerce to put this on their website and they did not seem at all interested. I do not know why these groups who I contacted two weeks ago about bike trails could not offer me any assistance. I am also looking for social bicycle clubs (I am not a fast rider). Thank you.