About Us
This beautiful region on the Central Coast deserved more time in the spotlight as a destination for cyclists, so local bike clubs reached out to their elected officials and cycleCalCoast was born.
The Grand Loop
It started with a single route, but not just any route, this was The Grand Loop, connecting some of the best bicycle infrastructure in the region with a scenic route through the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains.
The Grand Loop
Bicycle-Friendly Businesses
Expanding bicycle tourism is a three-legged stool: we needed more infrastructure, a website, and bicycle-friendly businesses who would support the modest needs of bicycle tourists. Today there's a self-enrollment process for businesses to promote their amenities to the traveling cyclist.
Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett
Building the website
We were inspired by the dramatic success of Travel Oregon's Scenic Bikeways — our goal was to mimic their efforts. Frank Peters had just moved to Santa Barbara from Portland; he knew the bikeways and the Oregon website – over the course of a year he would expand cycleCalCoast to include two dozen of the best rides in the region, using the latest mapping tools from RidewithGPS and photos courtesy of Jeff Clark.
Mission accomplished? In March 2018 cycleCalCoast is featured at the Oregon Bicycle Tourism Summit in Portland.
Today we have the website, the routes, the commitment of our local elected officials and their transportation staffers to promote the cycling opportunities of the central coast to the world.
Mission accomplished? In March 2018 cycleCalCoast is featured at the Oregon Bicycle Tourism Summit in Portland.
Today we have the website, the routes, the commitment of our local elected officials and their transportation staffers to promote the cycling opportunities of the central coast to the world.
We're featured at the 2018 Oregon Bicycle Tourism Summit
Our Mission
We're out to make Santa Barbara and Ventura counties the premier national and international bicycle destinations, attracting tourists, and improving the quality of life for residents. Our goals:
- Make Santa Barbara and Ventura counties premier bicycle tourism destinations and facilitate cycling along the California coast
- Improve the safety, livability, and quality of life of our communities by improving the bicycling environment for local commuting and recreational uses
- Convene a unique coalition of businesses, tourism, advocacy, and government organizations to improve bicycling in our area and communicate opportunities for bicycle-centered adventures
- Develop a sustainable structure for cycleCalCoast to ensure long-term success
The team