County joins city's push for new Arana Gulch trail

Supporters of a bike path through the city's 68-acre Arana Gulch got a boost Tuesday when the county Board of Supervisors committed to backing the project.

[Its a bad idea]

Just be honest and call the plan what it really is: A paved walk way for shopping carts to get the homeless off of Soquel Avenue.
Bike-riders who want the path are so out of touch with reality. You think the pathway will just be clear so you can just ride on through?
I really resent the using of wheelchair bound people to try to push this through. No physically impaired person in their right mind would go out there when the place will be riddled with drug activity, sleeping, crime.

Also, mark my words, there will be little kids getting run over by bikes. The only reason it doesn't happen more on West cliff is because it is out in the open. Arana Gulch is hidden.

[Ray in Santa Cruz]

Put in a road, that will relieve traffic issues elsewhere, and still leave a lot of acreage for the plant no ordinary person knows about.

[nocklebeast]

Hmmm... it appears that it's a debate between the usual adversaries: NIMBYS vs everyone else.
Still... the Harbor bridge and Soquel are fine for cycling on.

[Ron - Capitola]

Excellent idea whose time is long overdue. The bicycle / ped path is a direct shot off the Soquel Ave route, which by the way does not need a lane cut out for cyclists - too clogging for autos and too dangerous for cyclists. Just make it happen.
This route would inch Santa Cruz closer to more progressive cities such as Boulder, Colorade, which has bike paths traversing the city end to end *without touching streets*.

[Sarah]

They pave paradise to put up a parking lot.

These words still ring true. This will not be a litle path, it will be an 8 foot wide cement road with lights. Arana Gulch is a special place that is going to be ruined. It's also going to be dangerous d/t speeding bicyclists. Neal Coonerty, I'm sorry I voted for you, you should be ashamed. Maybe you don't live on the Arana Gulch side of town so it doesn't affect you except when you want to ride your bike through this area. Have you even looked into other routes? Why not through Frederick Street Park to the Yacht Harbor up to Brommer? Or would it take the bicyclists 30 secs out of their way? I guess speed and convenience always win over over beauty and and protecting the land. Same ole story.
How can we can afford this project when nonprofits and parks are closing? This is a waste of money!

[Seabright Resident]

I think an east west bike path through the area is necessary. Just take a look at the number of people carrying their bikes up and down the stairs between Frederick Street Park and the Harbor. By the way, replacing the stairway with a ramp woud provide a decent east-west bike route and keep the open space intact.

[sc eco fraud]

Can't they do this and protect the tarplant at the same time? Seems like a pretty simple matter to me. All the money spent on lawsuits and fighting protecting the tarplant could have been spent managing that property better. Even if the local political leaders are in support, is USFWS going to issue a permit for this? If not, it is DOA.

[sc eco fraud]

nocklebeast wrote:

Hmmm... it appears that it's a debate between the usual adversaries: NIMBYS vs everyone else.
Still... the Harbor bridge and Soquel are fine for cycling on.

Not really CNPS is full of botanists who actually know what they are talking about..and most don't live nearby...in which case you would demonize them by calling them "carpetbaggers" or "trannies", and not "NIMBYS".

[Voice_Of_Reason]

Supervisor Stone should have abstained from this vote as he is now on the Coastal Commission too.

He claims he didnt have time to review this plan??? It's been public for at least 3 to 4 years ++!!

Maybe he should spend less time wasting jet fuel to go swim across the English Channel and more time reading up on local issues!

[Question]

Poor use of money for a bankrupt county.

Just the first step in putting a road through there.

Just more blacktopping of what used to be paradise.

Please Stop Now.

[Lives by Gulch]

Do it!!! I love the idea!

[Justsoyouknow]

If this was a paved road for cars, the bicycle community would be dead set against it.
But since it is for their interest, they have forgotten one of the core reasons for riding.
Protecting the environment.
Paving Arana Gulch is wrong.

[Eastsider]

What I have done for years and wondered why they have not figured it out yet is the Frederick Park, harbor route been doing it since 1973. works fine can put a ramp down the side of the hill and be done with it.

[5genSC]

Its a bad idea wrote:

Just be honest and call the plan what it really is: A paved walk way for shopping carts to get the homeless off of Soquel Avenue.
Bike-riders who want the path are so out of touch with reality. You think the pathway will just be clear so you can just ride on through?
I really resent the using of wheelchair bound people to try to push this through. No physically impaired person in their right mind would go out there when the place will be riddled with drug activity, sleeping, crime.
Also, mark my words, there will be little kids getting run over by bikes. The only reason it doesn't happen more on West cliff is because it is out in the open. Arana Gulch is hidden.

Actually, making areas more accessible to the general public and encouraging their use DECREASES an areas appeal to "shopping carts and drug activity". It is about the community owning and using it's public spaces.

[Sarah]

Eastsider wrote:

What I have done for years and wondered why they have not figured it out yet is the Frederick Park, harbor route been doing it since 1973. works fine can put a ramp down the side of the hill and be done with it.

Yes! Perhaps too simple?

[Sarah]

Justsoyouknow wrote:

If this was a paved road for cars, the bicycle community would be dead set against it.
But since it is for their interest, they have forgotten one of the core reasons for riding.
Protecting the environment.
Paving Arana Gulch is wrong.

Well said. Thank you!

[5genSC]

sc eco fraud wrote:

<quoted text>
Not really CNPS is full of botanists who actually know what they are talking about..and most don't live nearby...in which case you would demonize them by calling them "carpetbaggers" or "trannies", and not "NIMBYS".

Actually, a "trannie" is one who does in fact live nearby, but has not done so long enough to develop historical/cultural ties to a specific area, most often applied to the migratory yuppies from the Santa Clara Valley when they buy up beachfront property in the Santa Cruz region and then attempt to surf longboards at the Lane, ignoring etiquette and inspiring the derogatory use of the term.

have fun.:)

[SkiSanger]

A bike bath through that area isn't a bad idea but why do we need a bridge? Just improve the path that is already there.

[Amazed]

10 years ago when my children were little and just beginning to ride bikes we discussed the future plan for the east west bridge and how much safer it would make bike riding. Well, they are 14 and 18 now and have spent the last 10 years either carrying their bikes up and down the steep wooden stairs at Frederic Park or riding on Soquel. When I mentioned that the bridge may actually become a reality they just rolled their eyes. I think living in Santa Cruz has given them very little faith in the public doing what's right for the greater good. I hope that in the end they will get some of that faith restored. As for the environment - the opponents should spend some time in Arana Gulch in the evening. Then they can see the wildlife roll out their sleeping bags, use the outdoor bathroom and leave their debris everywhere.

[bike commuter]

We don't need to put a paved trail through rare coastal prairie habitat with an endangered species. I've been cycling around Arana Gulch for over 20 years and do just fine. Plus, we're getting the rail-trail that will be a car free cross county connector. Paving this sensitive open space would be an unnecessary waste.