New Canaan Advertiser, Thursday June 18, 2009, Page 6A, 10A
Eco Man
Bike culture on the Orange Coast
For years, the bicycle shop located at 240 Thalia Street in Laguna Beach was staid and uninteresting. No more.
One evening in the late summer of 2000, I walked into French 75, an upscale bar, a few blocks south on the Coast Highway. I met Deborah Richards, an interesting and attractive woman living in Las Vegas, who owned a beach home in Laguna. We spoke by phone a number of times. During one conversation, she recommended I visit Laguna Cyclery. She said Patrick, the new owner, was pretty cool.
When I walked into Laguna Cyclery, I knew she was right.
Patrick Fetzer, soft spoken, but charismatic, has transformed that store into a place to be, not only by his personal presence, but also by developing by a select inventory that draws you down the aisles and to the cash register.
Over Memorial Day weekend, Mr. Fetzer threw a party to celebrate the store’s 38th year and his ten years in business. Saturday May 23rd started with a 7:30 a.m. bike ride up Laguna Canyon Road. With a little help from his friends, Mr. Fetzer transformed the bike shop parking lot into a stage for party, which commenced at noon. Those friends included a former bike shop owner-turned-food caterer, excellent musicians and a friendly, relaxed crowd.
British-born Jason Feddy’s performance (joined on lead by “somewhat legendary” Laguna Beach guitarist Bob Hawkins) may have been the high point of the day. The duo flawlessly played one cover after another. Songs included Sexy Sadie, I Shot the Sherriff, Brown Eyed Girl and MIchelle. Ms. Bennett closed the celebration with an angelic interpretation of Elton John’s Your Song.
One Laguna Beach resident I met at the afternoon festivities was Michael Hoag, who is involved in local community affairs. Mr. Hoag participates in a monthly critical mass ride on a series of streets parallel to the Coast Highway on the third Saturday of the month at 9 a.m. Think of Laguna as a “City Different” – it’s historically been a bit progressive and bohemian. Timothy Leary took up residence in Laguna Canyon back in the 1960’s. In follow up e-mail communication, Mr. Hoag listed Village At as a sign-off and in a phone conversation I learned that Mr. Hoag serves on the City’s Long-Term Business Assistance Task Force’s Mobility Committee. The City Task Force is co-chaired by longtime public transportation advocate and Laguna Councilwoman Toni Iseman.
Bicycling home to San Juan Capistrano at dusk that evening, I experienced one delightful change since my last visit to Orange County. As part of Pacific Coast Highway improvement project, the lanes on the Coast Highway in Dana Point had been reconfigured and re-striped to accommodate bicycle lanes! For years, from a bicycling standpoint, that stretch of Coast Highway in Dana Point seemed inhospitable. From a “place” perspective the re-striping makes a big difference on how that ride feels. The City also plans to convert a pair of one-way streets back to two-way streets in the downtown area.
It leaves me hopeful: if that stretch of the Coast Highway in South Orange County can be reconfigured to be more bicycle friendly, that feat should be able to be replicated in communities across our country.
So did the action by the Connecticut General Assembly on June 1. On June 1, the House concurred with a previous vote by the State Senate in approving S.B. 735, An Act Improving Bicycle and Pedestrian Access. Most notably the Act, which was fashioned and championed by the Connecticut General Assembly Transportation Committee vice-chair Tom Kehoe (D-Glastonbury) as a “complete streets” bill, establishes a Connecticut Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board. The duties of that board shall include “examining the need for bicycle and pedestrian transportation, promoting programs and facilities for bicycles and pedestrians in this state, and advising appropriate agencies of the state on policies, programs and facilities for bicycles and pedestrians. The board may apply for and accept grants, gifts and bequests of funds from other states, federal and interstate agencies, independent authorities and private firms, individuals and foundations, for the purpose of carrying out its responsibilities.”
In 2008, State Rep Tom Kehoe guided a 3-foot passing bill through the Connecticut General Assembly. His speedy ascent to Vice-Chair of the Transportation Committee this year and his success in seeing the Complete Streets bill through this legislative session may put him on par with New York City’s Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, who in a very short period of time has implemented many bicycle friendly measures on New York City streets.
This is the first in a series of two articles by New Canaan resident Richard Stowe, founder and director of Rail*Trains*Ecology*Cycling. He may be reached at bike.rail.politics@gmail.com
