In the Lane

Bike Santa Cruz County Newsletter

October 2026 - Issue #20

October is here, and it's a great time to be out and about on a bicycle Read on for the latest Santa Cruz County upcoming bike events, news and advocacy updates. Learn how you can support our mission to make our streets more safe, functional, and bike-friendly.

Two Ways to Get Moving This October: Biketober + A Week Without Driving

If it’s October, it must be Biketober!

Brought to you by Ecology Action’s Modo program, Biketober is a month-long celebration of bicycling, featuring bike advocacy, safety training, and even prize-winning challenges.

You can join the fun by logging your daily rides through Modo’s Love to Ride program throughout the month.

You can also take part in A Week Without Driving, October 1–8, sponsored by ahost of local transportation and public health agencies. Kick off the week at a special, family-friendly community event at Capitola Mall on Friday, October 2, from 4–7 PM.

So lube that chain, don your helmet, check those lights - and let’s ride! Happy Biketober!

Bike Advocacy Meeting: Capitola and Countywide Issues

Join Bike Santa Cruz County for our next quarterly Bike Advocacy Meeting, with a focus on biking in Capitola. Capitola is in the middle of important planning and transportation work, including its Active Transportation Plan, improvements to Bay Avenue and 41st Avenue, roadway safety planning, Coastal Rail Trail connections, and ongoing discussion about the Capitola Trestle.

We’ll share updates on these projects, talk about what BSCC is working on across the county, and of course leave time to hear from you. What safety issues are you experiencing riding? What connections are broken or missing? What projects or policies should BSCC be paying attention to?

Although this meeting will focus on Capitola, the discussion is open to bicycle advocacy issues from across Santa Cruz County. Bring a concern, an idea, a project you want to support, or just come listen and meet other people interested in making biking safer and easier.

Monday, Oct 5, 2026 5:30pm @Dharmas Restaurant, 4250 Capitola Rd - Dinner’s on us! 

Everyone is welcome. You do not need to be a BSCC member or an experienced advocate to participate.

Volunteer Opportunities This Weekend!! Yes THIS Weekend!

We could really use some helping hands at two big community events - this weekend! Here are the details:

• Saturday, October 3rd: Bike Valet Volunteers for Sunrise Rotary Finish Line Event: Sign-up Sheet
• Sunday, October 4th: Bike Valet Volunteers for Run by the Sea: Sign-up Sheet

Your time and commitment is greatly appreciated!! We hope to see you there!!

Submit Your Wheelie Award Nominations by Oct 15th!

Do you know someone who has done exceptional work this year for better biking in our community?

It's that time of year! Bike Santa Cruz County is gearing up to present Wheelie Awards to people, organizations, and projects that have made a positive contribution to biking in Santa Cruz County in 2026.

2026 Award Categories:

• Advocacy
• Community Building
• Education
• Business Partner / Business Champion
• Infrastructure
• Bike Parking 

Check the nomination form for more detailed information. 

For a recap on our 2025 winners:

https://www.bikesantacruzcounty.org/newspage#2025wheeliewinners

Please share your nominations by Thursday, October 15th to be considered!

Watsonville Ride with Watsonville Wetlands Watch Wraps Program with a Splash!

Our September 20th Watsonville Community bike ride marked the end of a series of successful rides for 2026! We finished off strong with a special guest partner, Watsonville Wetlands Watch, who shared some valuable information about the wetlands and the slough ecology and wildlife. A big shout out to all of regular riders and our ongoing partners, Community Bike Collective, Watsonville Cyclery, Supervisor Felipe Hernandez, & Community Traffic Safety Coalition. We look forward to starting these rides back up in 2027, stay tuned for more details!

16th Annual Bike Summit 2026 Coming to the Peninsula

Our friends over the hill at the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition, a two-county version of BSCC serving a 2.7 million-citizen service area, is holding the 16th Annual Bike Summit in Burlingame on October 22. The event takes place at a time when the momentum for active transit is stronger than ever. This year’s summit explores how bike infrastructure, e-bikes, and innovative technology can transform urban mobility and create safe, clean, and accessible streets for all. 

Key sessions include: Redesigning suburban mobility for all ages and abilities; Leveraging e-bikes for transit integration and family mobility; and Using policy and technology to advance Vision Zero safely and equitably. Several BSCC board members will be in attendance, and you are welcome too!

Win for Active Transportation with AB 2168

September brought good news for people who ride bikes in California (more of us all the time). On September 14, 2026 Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2168. The bill was carried by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (East Bay) and sponsored by our statewide corollary CalBike. Rather than a complete overhaul or major new funding increase, it functions as a fine-tuning law that optimizes how existing funds are spent. Importantly, it strengthens California’s Active Transportation Program (ATP) by improving how walking and biking projects are chosen, funded, and delivered.  

The new law will expand ATP’s focus on safe walking and biking connections to public transportation. It also encourages larger, more connected improvements by aligning ATP project corridors with State Transportation Improvement Program funding. Finally, it strengthens accountability through progressive penalties for agencies that repeatedly fail to use awarded ATP funds in a timely manner. (No word yet on whether this last stick may be relevant to Santa Cruz’s Coastal Rail Trail project). Ultimately, these changes will help limited transportation dollars deliver more connected, accessible walking and biking networks. AB 2168 takes effect in January 2028. Thanks to those who responded to our call-to-action notices and sent messages urging its passage.

Partner Spotlight: Growing Greatness & Calles Libres

Growing Greatness is a Watsonville-based nonprofit dedicated to cultivating leadership, wellness, belonging, and community transformation through outdoor adventure, experiential learning, mentorship, and community action. They work alongside youth, women, and families, creating free and accessible opportunities to bike, hike, camp, learn new skills, build relationships, and become active participants and leaders in their communities.

Their philosophy comes alive at Calles Libres — Día de los Muertos celebration on Sunday, November 1, 2026, from 12–4 PM at Callahan Park and Brennan Street in downtown Watsonville. The event is free and open to everyone. The event transforms Watsonville streets into welcoming spaces for people rather than cars.

Growing Greatness brings together local partners, youth, businesses, artists/performers, and residents for an afternoon of biking, walking, music, cultural performances, community altars, wellness activities, bike education and repair, family activities, food, art, and connection.

Calles Libres invites us to experience our streets, and one another, differently. By opening public space for movement and community, families can ride together, young people can take leadership roles, neighbors can meet one another, and Watsonville’s culture and traditions can be celebrated in the heart of the community.

Growing Greatness is grateful to Bike Santa Cruz County and the many organizations and community members who make our streets and trails safer, more accessible and possible.

Together, we are creating more than an event or a bike ride. We are building a community where movement creates connection, connection creates belonging, and belonging creates opportunities for people to lead and grow. Better Together.