25 Year Silver Anniversary

Cars are Basic™ Incorporated (CAB™) is a transportation policy watchdog, motor vehicle infrastructure ombudsman and motorist advocacy organization since 1998.

Life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, plentiful employment and a healthy economy depend, in part, on free movement of people, goods and services. We all have a right to the transportation method we choose. CAB, Inc.™ believes that government must uphold this freedom of transportation choice. ...

The transportation method chosen by the majority of Americans is a motor vehicle fueled by gasoline, electricity, hybrid gasoline/electricity, hydrogen, propane or diesel. Cars are Basic™ believes government's transportation and transportation infrastructure policies should primarily reflect the transportation choice made by the majority of the population.

Cars are Basic™ is a grass roots organization operated solely by volunteers from the Santa Barbara County. We have been reviewing and advocating transportation issues for over 20 years. CAB™ Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization, and all contributions to it are tax-deductible.

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December 6, 2023, at 6:30 PM, is the next meeting (PARTY! - RSVP and please bring a wrapped gift for exchange)
at the Santa Barbara IHOP on State St. at Valerio. (Click for map) at 6:30 PM (usually last Wed. of the month)

COME - ENJOY - DISCUSS

November notes:
The issues of the City of Santa Barbara NOT notifying neighbors of nasty and expensive street obstructions is hitting home. When asked by residents and businesses if they approve of the actions by this anti car Council the answer is easily 80% against. The Council has fully ignored the HLC determinations about State St. and these street obstructions (Sola St. example). If there were a special election tomorrow to vacate the Council base just on traffic it wold easily pass.
It is now clear the Santa Barbara Council does not care about the voters....the only voice they hear is the one sided echo in their heads.
How about vision zero that aptly should be named "zero vision." It will create congestion, it will not generate the now 30 year failed active transportation, and more.

Goleta is in the same camp. They have made plans that are too expensive and will hurt businesses in Old Town Goleta, and have had to reject bids that are 400% greater then they thought. The Patterson Bike path is the same myopic view of the world. Passed last year it is only half the plan that was proposed that would go from Cathedral Oaks to the Ocean. This badly conceived plan will not create new bike use, and SWALLOWED 100% OF THE CALTRANS GRANT FOR THE TOTAL PROJECT. The Goleta Council continues to refuse to do a comprehensive bike use study so they will not be held responsible for failure. Think of it they want to narrow streets that will cause congestion, and interfere with commuters going to work from the fatally flawed commuter rail depot.
The must be channeling the City of Santa Barbara. Note the "last mile" commuter rail plan for busing people to work crashed in Santa Barbara in a spectacular fashion.

Conversation drifted to Santa Maria and the potential trap their density infill plans can have. Right now because of open land around Santa Maria the impacts do not appear to be that significant. But then again that is what they said about Goleta and Carpinteria 20 years ago.


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In a comment that might be appropriate for Santa Barbara County as well, Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst stated, "‘Bailout Bankrupt Boondoggles.’ That’s more appropriate for Washington’s track record of finding new ways to fund failed projects.”

Several proposed traffic projects have been shown by CAB to violate Coastal Commission Permitting due to increase of the number of Vehicle Miles Traveled / Driven (VMT). This should be an interesting issue.

CAB brought this issue before SBCAG at the beginnning of the year with Al Clark sitting as the representative for the City of Carpinteria. He ducked his head and refused to comment.
See PDF of Legislative Items of Interest HERE.
CLICK HERE To receive these Legislative Items Of Interest emails weekly.

Businesses Protest SB Spending Unfunded Millions to Place COVID-Control Housing in Old Town.

The City of Goleta has stepped in it big time - CEQA AND COASTAL COMMISSION.

Santa Barbara has created a joke with their bike plan.

There is the issue of Solvang - this could be really big - included in the virtual Santa Ynez Valley Traffic Circulation and Safety Meeting 5-6:30PM Tuesday, May 19, 2020. Click to register for meeting.

SBCAG's TrafficSolutions still reports as of 6/19/2020 that, "In response to COVID-19, early morning Pacific Surfliner train service is canceled until further notice."

For more news, see CABlog here.

The Six Missions of Cars are Basic, Inc.™

1) Promote freedom of choice in transportation and oppose attempts to deny that freedom.

2) Monitor government transportation policies and distribute information about those policies.

3) Advocate a system of properly engineered, well-maintained roadways which enable the safe and efficient movement of motor vehicles.

4) Advance the principle that alternative means of transportation, such as public mass transit, ride or car sharing, bicycles, skateboards, or walking cannot be government mandates. They must remain a choice to which everyone has a right to make or not make.

5) Oppose publicly-funded, alternative transportation programs which: are frivolous uses of taxpayer funds intended to cater to politicians' favored constituencies, gratify a special interest or redistribute wealth.

6) Explain the contribution that motor vehicles make to a healthy economy.

Videos

Worthen One on One: "25 Years” Anniversary of CAB (Cars Are Basic) with Scott Wenz & Jim Worthen

Contact

1180 Eugenia Place, Suite 220
Carpinteria, CA 93013-2000

(805) 960-5211
cab@carsarebasic.org