Daily Archives: May 2, 2025

Bicycle & Motorcycle Safety Month

The Goleta Police Department is encouraging everyone to be alert to keep bicyclists and motorcyclists safe. With the arrival of warmer weather, more people are using their bikes and motorcycles for commuting, exercise or recreation, making it essential for all people to look out for one another and save lives.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 1,105 people killed while riding a bike in 2022, and an estimated 46,195 bicyclists were injured. Also according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data, there were 6,218 motorcyclists killed in traffic crashes in 2022, representing 15 percent of total highway fatalities for that year. In California, 634 motorcyclists were killed in 2022, an increase of 3.8 percent from 2021.

To help keep people biking or walking safe, the Goleta Police Department will conduct a traffic safety operations throughout the month focused on driver behaviors that put bicyclists and pedestrians at risk, such as speeding, making illegal turns, failure to yield right of way and stop sign/red light running.

The Goleta Police Department has the following safety tips for bicyclists and drivers:

Drivers

  • Slow down and follow the speed limit. Be careful traveling through intersections.
  • Look carefully for bicyclists and pedestrians before making a turn or opening a car door near streets or bike paths.
  • Be patient when traveling behind a bicyclist and give them space when passing. California law requires drivers to change a lane, when possible, to pass bicyclists and always pass with at least 3 feet of space.
  • Never drive distracted or impaired.

Bike Riders

  • Use lights at night.
  • Although not required for riders 18 and older, always wear a properly secured helmet. Helmets significantly reduce the chance of a head injury in the event of a crash.
  • Bicyclists must travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow-moving vehicle.

Yield to pedestrians, just as a driver would. Pedestrians have the right-of-way within marked or unmarked crosswalks at intersections

To help protect motorcycles, the Goleta Police Departments wants you to keep the following tips in mind while driving or riding:

Drivers

  • Always check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes.
  • Do not follow a motorcycle too closely. Always keep a safe distance.
  • If you see a motorcycle with a signal on, be careful. Be sure that the rider is turning before moving ahead.

Motorcyclists

  • Always wear a U.S. DOT-compliant helmet with eye protection.
  • Wear leather or other sturdy clothing such as a jacket, pants, boots with nonskid soles and gloves. Add reflective strips or decals to your clothing and motorcycle to make it easier for other drivers to see you.
  • Ride defensively. Don’t assume a driver can see you. Avoid riding in a driver’s blind spot.
  • Always keep your lights on, even during the day.

Lastly, both drivers and riders should never drive/ride distracted or under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Funding for both programs is provided by grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office provides police services for the City of Goleta.

Sponsors STILL Needed to Help Fund 4th of July Drone Show

City Aims to Finalize Funding by May 15th

The City of Goleta is still seeking funding partners to pilot a free community 4th of July Drone Light Show at Dos Pueblos High School (7266 Alameda Avenue). With Independence Day just TWO months away, the City is hoping more sponsors will step up and help fund the remaining costs to put on this first-time event, including security, audio/visual, custodial services, and entertainment.

All donations made in support of this free community event may be considered a charitable contribution to the City of Goleta and may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. The City aims to have all funding in place by May 15th.  If your business or organization is interested in supporting the drone show, do not hesitate and please email pio@cityofgoleta.org.

Community Relations Manager Kelly Hoover said, “We are so appreciative of the generous community partners who have already jumped in to get this drone show off the ground.  While individual community members have offered to give to this event, we are looking for larger donations due to the short time period needed to fund the event this first year.”

Sponsors so far include the Santa Barbara Unified School District, Yardi Systems, Teledyne FLIR, Deckers, Goleta Valley Historical Society, MarBorg, Community West Bank, Santa Barbara Air Bus, Cottage Health, and Fuel Depot and Point Market. Who can we add to this list?

While planning is still in the works, doors will open at 6:00 p.m. at the Dos Pueblos High School stadium. There will be food trucks, DJ Darla Bea playing, a dance floor, a stage, and potentially more fun activities for all ages. The drone show will begin at approximately 8:30 p.m. While the choreographed, animated light show will be potentially visible to the surrounding community from up to ten miles away, the best viewing experience will be inside the stadium. Stay tuned for more details as they become available.

Whether the drone show becomes an annual Goleta tradition will depend on how well it is received and the level of community support.

If your business or organization is interested in supporting the drone show, do not hesitate and please email pio@cityofgoleta.org.

Take Survey on the Future of Goleta’s Butterfly Docent Program

Complete Short On-line Survey by June 1st

The City of Goleta and community partner Ellwood Friends is requesting your input to help shape the future of the monarch butterfly docent program. Since its inception, the docent program has introduced thousands of school groups and visitors to the monarch butterflies of Ellwood Mesa. The docent program was paused for several years as the City addressed public safety and habitat restoration in the Goleta Butterfly Grove. Now is a timely opportunity for residents to provide feedback on how this program can be revitalized, ensuring it meets the community’s interests and benefits the butterfly habitat. Please take a moment to complete this short online survey by June 1st. Click here to share your thoughts on the docent program.

George Thomson, Parks and Open Space Manager for the City said, “Goleta is undertaking the largest monarch habitat restoration project in California, if not the United States. The revitalized docent program will help connect that work with the public—through education, engagement, and hands-on stewardship. The docent program is a great opportunity for people who care about monarchs to get involved.”

An input session was held on April 30th at the Goleta Community Center where thoughtful ideas were captured. The session was attended by both community members learning about the program for the first time as well as longtime docents. The session was facilitated by Carrie Kappel of LegacyWorks, who also created a live graphic recording to capture the community’s input.

Take the survey at https://tinyurl.com/zx32pft6.

For questions about the docent program, contact Leonel Mendoza-Diaz at lmendoza-diaz@cityofgoleta.org.

Photos from April 30 input session:


Breakout session


George Thomson speaking to the group