LBNL Bicycle Coalition

Who are we?

The LBNL Bicycle Coalition is a group of bicyclists from the LBNL community working (as volunteers) to encourage bicycle commuting through education and improved facilities.

As of September 2000, the LBNL-BC is an official LBNL employee association. The officers of the LBNL-BC are:   President, Steve Greenberg;   Vice-President, Saira Mian;   Treasurer, Bruce Nordman;   Secretary, Derek Shuman.

Our agenda

• Road hazard reduction
• Improved bike parking
• Improved shower and locker facilities
• Improved shuttle access
• Improved site access for bikes
• Maintain onsite bike tool availability
• Include bicycles as official LBNL transportation
• Reimburse for official use
• Make lab bikes available for on-hill use
• Promotion of bicycle use for transportation
• Collaboration with other bicycle advocate groups
• Your suggestion

How to sign up?

We communicate mainly through e-mail; to join the LBNL-BC email list (LOW traffic levels) see click here.
For questions or more information, send e-mail to Bruce Nordman or Steve Greenberg at x6971, MS 90R3111, or Steve Greenberg

Tools

There are LBNL-BC Toolboxes at the south end of building 90 (under the external stairs) and in the "ATM building" near the cafeteria (formally 54A).  The toolboxes have a pump, a reference book, tools, and patches.  

There are also pumps near the entrance to building 62 and at the lower level of building 65.

LBNL Shuttle?

Practice with a parked bus before using the bike rack for the first time.  Check out LBNL Shuttle Bus Schedule for schedules, bicycle information, and routes.

LBNL Showers?

Shower facilities are available at several locations. 

Bldg. 2-Main Entry  Men's & Women's 
Bldg. 6-2204, 2206	Men's & Women's (limited building access)
Bldg. 46-143        Men's & Women's 
Bldg. 50B-3220      Men's & Women's 
Bldg. 50B-3222      Men's & Women's 
Bldg. 55 
Bldg. 58-104        Men's 
Bldg. 62-159        Men's 
Bldg. 64-132        Men's 
Bldg. 64-232        Women's * 
Bldg. 66 Bsmt.      Men's & Women's 
Bldg. 67-1103,-1105 Men's and Women's
Bldg. 77-117        Women's 
Bldg. 77-119        Men's 
Bldg. 80            Men's 
Bldg. 83 
Bldg. 85            Men's & Women's 

* Day lockers

There is a universal shower in building 943 (rm. 213). For building locations see the Lab Site Map.

Pedestrian/Bicycle Access

There are a number of access routes to LBNL that are unfamiliar to many of us.  For many, a proximity card is needed; check the Site Access page for more information on proximity cards. The gates include:
• Below Building 90, off the 'hairpin' curve on the way down to the Blackberry Parking Area is a path to a key-only gate.  Contact the Locksmith Shop to get a key via the Facilities Work Request Center.  Between the gate and the top of La Vereda Street is a short but very steep hill signed for no bicycles.
• Behind Building 71, another key-only gate leads to a path that winds uphill a ways ending at the end of Campus Drive.  This path is best for pedestrians but is navigable by bicycle.  This is opened by the same key as the La Vereda gate (see above).

More familiar gates include:

• The main lab entrance, the Blackberry Gate, which just requires a lab ID to be shown to the guard.  If you have a LBNL parking sticker (see below) on your bike, you can show that to the guard to demonstrate that you are an LBNL person.
• The Grizzly Gate, behind building 69, is the upper lab entrance off of Cyclotron Road.  It is only staffed weekdays from 6:30-9:00 am and 3:00-6:30 pm.  You can't get in when unattended but you can get out anytime using the pushbutton.
• The Strawberry Gate, below building 74, is the one near the UCB Botanical Garden.  For getting into the lab it has a proximity card reader.  For getting out use the pedestrian gate in the eastern (inbound) car gate (there is a detector in the pavement but it doesn't seem to register bikes).

LBNL Parking Stickers If you bicycle to the lab (rather than take the shuttle), you may find it helpful to get an LBNL "Sticker" to put on your frame.  These are nominally used on motorcycles to identify them for parking purposes,but for bicycles, it lets the guards at the main gate easily see that you are an LBNL employee or guest.  You can get these stickers at the Site Access Office.  Note that they are strictly optional--not required, and getting one does not require surrendering a car parking permit if you have one.

Lab policy prohibits bikes being parked in pathways or in areas that could compromise access to life-saving or emergency equipment (such as fire hydrants, fire alarms, and emergency rescue boxes).   They are also prohibited inside building corridors, stairwells, entrances and exits. (source: TABL, Nov 14, 2008)

For help finding these see the Lab Site Map.

Other LBNL Info

• LBNL Site Access
• LBNL Green Team

Classes?

Missing Link Bike Shop at 1988 Shattuck Avenue offers a series of free classes. See Missing Link or call 510-843-7471 for current schedule.

There is talk of having a League of American Bicyclists-certified class at LBNL.

For Riding classes. See Bicycle Solutions.

BART?

Taking your bike on BART?  See the BART web site or the "All About BART" brochure (available at BART stations) for permit-free use rules and schedules.

Maps?

There is a web page for biking on the UCB campus.  An East Bay bicycle map from the EBBC (see below) can be viewed at online.  The new 511 web site has links to selected bike maps online.  You can also see a handy route map of San Francisco.  Others (such as Krebs Maps) are available at bike shops and outdoor stores (see lists below).  We distribute the East Bay Bicycle Coalition West of the Hills (East Bay Hills that is) Map and the East of the Hills Map -- free of charge to LBNL employees and guests; contact Steve Greenberg.

Safety

LBNL bike safety policies can be found in PUB 3000 and the RPM.

We have information on techniques, equipment, and laws.  A good place to start is Rolling Through Berkeley.

For the safety of your bicycle, be sure to get it licensed.

Bicycles can be licensed for free through the UC Police Department at 1 Sproul Hall on the UCB campus (usually the licensing is done Thursday 10:30am to 1:30pm on Sproul Plaza). &nspp; : For more information contact UCPD at (510) 642-6760.    There are also commercial registration services that are worth considering.    (Because the above agencies issue a California Bicycle License but there's no state-wide database--so unless a bicycle is recovered by the agency issuing the license, or the recovery folks somehow know what agency to call, they won't be able to connect the bike to the owner.)    The commercial services link the serial number to the owner and provide the information to any law enforcement agency.    One such service is http://www.nationalbikeregistry.com/; another is http://www.cyclefinders.com/ .

Recreational Cycling

For information and advice about recreational cycling, including noontime rides, contact Richard DiGennaro.

General Information

Looking for something you can't find?  Maybe we can help (though we can't promise immediate turnaround!) -- contact us.
Other transit alternatives for lab employees at LBNL Site Access

Other Bicycle Resources

•  
  511.org
  - bike commuting info, bike buddy program, plus car and vanpools, etc.
  
•  
  Bay Area Transit


• UCB Police Dept. at 2150 Kittredge: Parking and General Info: (510) 643-7701;  Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 7:30 am - 4:30 pm;  Wed: 10 am - 6 pm;  They also do the bicycle licensing

Organizations

•  
  Bicycle-Friendly Berkeley Coalition
  - non-profit bicycle advocacy group focusing on the City of Berkeley
  
•  
  East Bay Bicycle Coalition
  - non-profit bicycle advocacy group focusing on the Alameda and Contra Costa County area
  
•  
  San Francisco Bicycle Coalition
  - non-profit bicycle advocacy group focusing on the City and County of San Francisco
  
•  
  Bay Area Bicycle Coalition
  - non-profit advocacy group focusing on the nine-county Bay Area
  
•  
  California Bicycle Coalition
  - non-profit bicycle advocacy group focusing on the Golden State
  
•  
  League of American Bicyclists
  - non-profit bicycle advocacy group focusing on the entire U.S. (formerly the League of American Wheelmen)
  
•  
  The Bicycle Federation of America
  - non-profit bicycle advocacy group focusing on the entire U.S. (hosts the National Center for Bicycling and Walking, Internet Resource Center)
  
• Adventure Cycling Association
  bicycle touring association formerly known as BikeCentennial
  
• Grizzly Peak Cyclists bicycle recreation club based in Berkeley
• Valley Spokesmen Bicycle Touring Club bicycle recreation club based in Dublin
• Rails to Trails Conservancy - non-profit non-profit organization devoted to converting abandoned railroad routes to multi-use trails
• Bicycle Trails Council of the East Bay - non-profit bicycle advocacy group dedicated to promoting responsible mountain bike use
•  
  Institute for Transportation and Development Policy
  - non-profit advocacy group promoting environmentally sustainable and equitable transportation policies and projects worldwide.
  
•  
  International Bicycle Fund
  - non-profit organization, promoting sustainable transport and international understanding worldwide.
  

Shops

• The Bent Spoke, 510-540-0583, downtown Berkeley
• Cycle City, Alameda 510-521-2872,
• Hank & Frank Bicycles, 510-658-1177, Rockridge and two other locations
• Jitensha Studio, 510-540-6240, Berkeley campus area
• Medina Cycleworks, 510-841-4748, southwest Berkeley
• Mike's Bikes, 510-549-8350, downtown Berkeley and four other locations
• Missing Link, downtown Berkeley, 510-843-7471.
• The Pedaler, 510-222-3420, El Sobrante
• Performance Bicycle, 510-725-4540, northwest Berkeley
• Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), 510-527-4140, West Berkeley, Concord, etc.
• Velo Sport, 510-849-0497, west of downtown Berkeley

Suggestions?

Always welcome.  Submit here or see "how to sign up" for contact information.