Mission
Our Mission: SABA represents bicylists. Our aim is more and safer trips by bike.
Our Vision: Bicycling for everyday transportation is common it is safe, convenient and desireable.
Our Motto: Making Sacramento a cycling capital.
Latest News and Events
Hot off the heels of last year’s campaign to implement a three-foot passing law in California, California Bicycle Coalition (CBC) and the City of Los Angeles are at it again after Senate Bill 910 was vetoed by Governor Jerry Brown in October. SB 910, requiring motorists to give bicyclists at least three feet of clearance when passing from behind, passed the California Senate and Assembly but was struck down by the governor. With some lessons learned and refreshed political savvy, the bill is back on the table in 2012 as Senate Bill 1464. 
Introduced in February by Senator Alan Lowenthal of Long Beach, the new three-foot passing bill is identical to last year’s three foot bill but without the clause to which the governor objected last year– an exception to the three-foot requirement intended for drivers in dense urban traffic. Without this exception, CBC is confident that the bill will become law and that California will join the twenty other states and the District of Columbia that have already enacted a specified minimum passing distance for motorists.
The Senate Transportation & Housing Committee reviewed and voted on SB 1464 at a State Capitol hearing on Tuesday, April 17. Witnesses, including SABA staff , testified at the hearing in support of the bill where it was passed unanimously. Leading up to the hearing the Committee received over 500 letters from bicyclists, individuals, coalitions, and businesses– including one from SABA– in support of the safe passing bill.
What does this bill mean for SABA and its members? It is legislation aimed directly at more and safer trips by bike. From-behind collisions are the leading cause of deadly vehicle-bicycle collisions in California and the U.S. This bill helps solve this safety issue, which directly supports SABA’s goal of safer trips by bike. And by requiring drivers to give bicyclists more space when passing, it will help more people feel comfortable about choosing to ride their bike. For the many Californians and Sacramentans who want the health, environmental and economic benefits of riding a bicycle for transportation or recreation but feel too uncomfortable to share the road with motor vehicles, this bill will help to make bicycling a real option.
Read more about the three-foot passing bill and the California Bicycle Coalition at calbike.org and givemethree.squarespace.com.
A recent graduate of the Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning program at UC Davis, Amy Lee comes to SABA with a background in transportation planning. In her time at Davis she conducted research for the Sustainable Transportation Center exploring attitudes and preferences toward bicycling, and has presented this study at various local, national and international conferences and seminars. Amy most recently worked with Sacramento Area Council of Governments and part-time with SABA on Safe Routes to School. Amy looks forward to using her expertise and enthusiasm to spearhead advocacy campaigns and further SABA’s mission of more and safer trips by bike. When not at the SABA office, she’s often out bicycling, backpacking, or otherwise adventuring through California or abroad.
SABA is proud to have Amy on staff. She officially started her new role in January as Advocacy & Outreach Coordinator. This is a new position for SABA that expands its capacity for membership and volunteer engagement and includes technical work in advocacy.
Retiring Volunteer Coordinator Larry Robinson and Amy worked hard over the past several months to hand over the reins. You’ve probably seen her efforts as she has revamped and promoted SABA’s volunteer program, and you’ll be hearing more from her in the next few months about Safe Routes to School, Safe Routes to Transit, and other policy and planning related topics.
Please send your warm farewells to Larry & welcomes to Amy by emailing volunteer@sacbike.org.
Larry Robinson smiles for the camera (left)
Everyone here at SABA has a story about Larry that will make you smile. In fact, if you’ve spent much time bicycling around Sacramento you probably have your own story. From his time as owner of The Rest Stop bike shop to his time with SABA, Larry has gotten to know many bicyclists.
SABA’s loved and respected Volunteer Coordinator has taken a step back from his role here at the office and into an advisory role. As Larry says, his role as “Professional Arm Twister” will now be “Arm Twisting Consultant.”
Larry told us on his last day as Arm Twister, “The best part of working with SABA was meeting new volunteers. I’d have never met such great people otherwise… And, riding the 19th and 21st Street conversions was pretty cool. Oh, and the number of events. Yep, SABA has really grown.”
If you’d like to get in touch with Larry just send an email over to volunteer@sacbike.org. We’re happy to make sure he gets it. Or for quicker contact, just hang out around the American River Parkway for a morning – he’s sure to turn up!
Larry will be missed!
Last updated 2011-04-5 01:00:26 PM (EST). Please send corrections and revisions to our Webmaster.