Pedaling toward sustainability

By Alexandra Alarcon

Bikes glide through Isla Vista and downtown Santa Barbara, cutting across campus paths and coastal streets. While national celebrations like Earth Day highlight biking’s role in sustainability, around here it’s already part of daily life: it’s fast, convenient, and better for the planet.

“Being able to ride my bike to class every day... it definitely makes me feel more connected to the area,” said UCSB student Milo Roboto, who bikes four days a week and uses his car only when necessary. “The fact that I don’t have to drive every single day makes me feel like I’m making a more conscious effort to live sustainably,” Roboto said.

After a full day of classes, UCSB student Milo Roboto pedals back home along Del Playa’s 6700 block.

Biking is more than encouraged—it has become a core part of how UCSB and Santa Barbara County are rethinking transportation and building toward long-term sustainable habits.

UCSB’s 2023 Commuter Mode Split report found that 83 percent of students and employees use alternative transportation to get to campus, with biking as the most common option. The university supports this with seven miles of Class I bike paths — paved routes that are completely separated from roads and cars — and more than 20,000 bike parking spots. In Isla Vista, the short distances between campus, the beach and local businesses make biking an easy and popular option.

For some students, biking is also a way to reduce their environmental footprint. “The fact that I don’t have to drive every single day definitely makes me feel like I’m making a more conscious effort to live sustainably,” Roboto said.

UCSB student Aidan Bohen bikes to campus almost every day, making the nearly mile-long trip rain or shine. He said biking is about more than just convenience, it’s a central part of student life in Isla Vista.

“Compared to most schools, the biking culture in Isla Vista is insane,” Bohen said. “All my friends have bikes. You can bike to class, to the beach, to get food. Everywhere is super close.” He also sees biking as a key component to a sustainable lifestyle. “It’s better for the environment overall,” Bohen said.

UCSB student Aidan Bohen rides through Isla Vista on his way to meet up with friends.

Bohen said UCSB’s layout makes it easy to get around by bike. “There are bike paths everywhere,” Bohen said. “The school knows how important biking is to students, and it’s very accessible.”

While both students described Isla Vista’s bike routes as generally accessible, Bohen said roundabouts can still be risky when bikers don’t yield to each other. “I’ve seen like five crashes, and I’ve been in a bike crash,” Bohen said. “Not a lot of people wear helmets, so if you do crash, it could be really bad.”

Isla Vista is now set to receive major funding for safer bike infrastructure. The county recently secured a $7.1 million grant from California’s Active Transportation Program to fund projects such as protected bike lanes, bike boulevards and lane extensions with conflict striping—all aimed at enhancing cyclist safety.

Meanwhile, Santa Barbara has already surpassed its 2030 goal of adding 30 miles of new bikeways, part of a broader push to improve conditions for cyclists, according to the city’s Public Works Department.

Bikes fill a rack near Devereux Beach, a popular Isla Vista spot for sunsets, surfing, and daily runs.

Beyond infrastructure, Santa Barbara county is encouraging sustainable commuting through its Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program. County employees who bike, walk, carpool, or take public transit more than 60% of the time are eligible for up to two additional vacation days per year.

Ethan Binns, an appraiser with the Santa Barbara County Assessor’s Office, benefits from the county’s TDM program, which rewards his alternative commute. “It’s kind of funny… I’d be biking anyway, but now I get extra vacation time on top of it,” Binns said. “So I couldn’t be happier. Biking is free, good for the environment and better for your body.”

With Earth Day around the corner, the everyday bike commute takes on a little extra meaning.