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Sacramento region planning a bike ‘freeway’ system on trails from the American River, Sutter Buttes, and the Yuba River.

4/29/2021

 
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The end result, though, would mean a multi-use path from the Sutter Buttes through the heart of two cities and out to the Yuba River, Harris said. 

Fifty years ago, the state transformed Sacramento by creating an interconnected highway system through the capital region. Now it’s time to do the same for bicycles and pedestrians, a group of regional planners says.
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The Sacramento Area Council of Governments, representing city and county leaders in the six-county area, is asking people this week to submit their bike travel interests in an online survey that will serve as a bike and walk signpost for future trail planning.

The survey can be found at www.sacog.org/pod/get-connected.

“I think we could be the cycling capital of the United States,” said James Corless, executive director at SACOG, which covers Sacramento, Yolo, El Dorado, Placer, Yuba and Sutter counties. “We have a great climate. A lot of our region is flat.

“The demand for safe spaces to walk and bike for families and kids is not going away. It’s a way to connect low-income people to jobs. It’s a public health issue.”

The region already has a disconnected patchwork of off-street biking corridors that will serve as a starting point. It includes the 32-mile American River Bike Trail, the off-street bike trail systems in Folsom and Davis. There are also levee-top and creekside trails around the region and the blustery Yolo Causeway bike path that connects Davis with West Sacramento.

The city of Sacramento is planning to turn a four-mile stretch of an old railroad corridor into an off-street bike lane running from Meadowview to William Land Park, and Citrus Heights and Orangevale are scheduled to be connected via a three-mile bike and walking trail running on an electrical power corridor next to Arcade and Cripple creeks.

SACOG plans this summer to design a better-linked system that fills in the blanks and will make it easier and safer to travel on bikes - both for long and short rides.
Planners say they estimate the region would need 300 more miles of trail to augment the existing 450 miles now in existence.

The system could include something as dramatic as turning an old rail line into a multi-use bike, hike and even horse trail between El Dorado Hills and Placerville. Or a bikeway over the American River next to the Capital City Freeway.

The plan would make it easier for cities to win funding for more localized bike routes, such as one in Yuba City and Marysville that would take advantage of an unused Union Pacific rail corridor to link residential areas, shopping districts, parks, medical facilities, and offices.

Yuba City Councilman Shon Harris, a member of the SACOG board, said the regional plan would help his city tap bike planning expertise and funding opportunities for what would be a defining project for the two cities - but an expensive one. The cities and counties likely would have to negotiate with UP to buy the right of way, and would have to figure out a way to get cyclists safely across Highways 20 and 99.

The end result, though, would mean a multi-use path from the Sutter Buttes through the heart of two cities and out to the Yuba River, Harris said.

“It will take a lot of planning and money,” Harris said. “But it’s a win-win. We just need to get the pieces in order.”

SACOG is conducting a public survey on its website asking people to tell them where they live, and what places they would like to travel to via bike or walking, if they felt the route were safe. The survey is set to close on Friday.

“Where does the public want to go?” Corless said.
SACOG provides basic information on its website about the process of designing the project. SACOG officials estimate that the region may have has as much as one-quarter of a full system of trails already in place.

The concept has been in the planning for several years. SACOG officials say the timing is good to come up with a design for a comprehensive system. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused bike sales to increase, and the Biden administration has recently proposed a major new infrastructure funding concept that would include more money for biking systems.

One key goal is to link under-resourced and lower-income neighborhoods to jobs, shopping and recreation. That is one of the goals in particular of Sacramento’s planned Del Rio Bike Trail in south Sacramento.

A SACOG analysis found that about 48% of the region lives within half mile of a trail of any length. Only 25% of trails are located within disadvantaged communities in the region, while 37% of the region’s residents live in disadvantaged communities.

Another issue that needs tackling is how to bring cyclists safely into densely packed job areas, like downtowns. The city of Sacramento has begun experimenting with closing some midtown streets to through car traffic and is discussing closing off other streets or sections of streets to create a direct bike path into the central business district.
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CLICK HERE to see the original article and images in the Sacramento Bee newspaper.

PEER wins court case to restore ban on e-bikes on non-motorized trails

4/22/2021

 
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From the Backcountry Horsemen of California Spring 2021 newsletter, published today:
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Backcountry Horsemen of California
PUBLIC LANDS UPDATE
By VP of Public Lands Troy Patton

E-Bikes – There is good news and bad news.
First, the bad news - Tahoe National Forest has put forth a plan to add a total of 97 miles of trails for e-bikes by changing non-motorized trails to motorized trails and building new e-bike only trails. This means they are taking trails used by hikers and equestrians and allowing e-bikes on them, which basically makes them unusable for hikers and equestrians. They are avoiding putting e-bikes on motorcycle trails and are making separate trails for motorcycles and e-bikes by removing trails used by hikers and equestrians. Thank you to all who sent in comments against this plan. We soon will see how they answer our concerns.

The good news is that the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) won a court case to restore the ban on electric bikes on non-motorized trails in national parks.

The lawsuit challenges a 2019 order by the Department of Interior that directed the National Park Service to allow e-bikes on trails that allow bicycles.

The order was issued after an industry- dominated advisory committee lobbied the Interior Department to issue this order. This ruling gives their case the go-ahead to proceed and, hopefully, hints that the actions of the former Park Service leadership may not have been legal.

We will keep you updated. As you know, the Forest Service rules consider e-bikes a “motorized vehicle.”


Troy Patton, VP of Public Lands
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​To read more about this PEER case and its history, CLICK HERE.


Placer CO to form new Parks and Open Space department

4/16/2021

 
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The Placer County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday supported a recommendation from County Executive Officer Todd Leopold to move forward with the creation of a newly formed county parks and open space department.

“Strengthening our parks, trails and open space system is vital to maintaining the high quality of life we expect…” - Todd Leopold, Placer County Executive Officer


Following the ordinance approval, the new Department of Parks and Open Space will better position the county to accommodate the expansive park management responsibilities, increased service demands, and ensure the long-term financial viability of the county’s parks and open space operations.

“Strengthening our parks, trails and open space system is vital to maintaining the high quality of life we expect in Placer County,” said Placer County Executive Officer Todd Leopold. “This new department will better position the county to meet the future outdoor recreation needs for our residents and visitors as Placer continues to grow.”

With significant growth anticipated across the county in coming years, the county’s parks service model must grow and evolve to provide a more holistic parks, trails and open space strategy to a larger, more expansive outdoor recreation community than in years past.
The second reading of the ordinance, scheduled for April 27, is needed to officially establish the new department.
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Following the formation of the new department, a recruitment for the new director will begin. It is anticipated that a new director will be on board prior to July 2021.

To see the complete article and more photos, CLICK HERE to see them in Roseville Today newspaper.


Brand NEW Pacific Crest Trail Interactive MAP!

4/9/2021

 
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From the Pacific Trail Dirt Newsletter: "We've created a brand-new interactive map to help demystify the PCT and get you inspired."
And, once you are inspired, you can CLICK HERE to get all the FAQs about our most famous National Trail.

Exploring the Olstead Loop

4/9/2021

 
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The fire bellied newts mate in Knickerbocker Creek. I’m sure there is a more scientific name but that is the name Eric Peach gave them, so it is good enough for me. Dozens of mating balls just under the surface. Each with anywhere from two or three up to eight to 10 entangled lizard-like creatures in the spring mating frenzy.

o get to the creek and the trailhead that leads you there, head to Cool, California in El Dorado County. You can park for a $10 day use fee in the Auburn State Recreation Area parking lot just behind the Cool Fire Station. Your hike begins behind the large green gate on the paved road. The road will curve to the right. You will leave the road and catch the trail on your left, look for signs.

The wide open spaces of Cool can be a refreshing change from the more forested areas, dense with trees and brush of our foothills. But the open air exposes you to direct sunshine. Take extra water and maybe a floppy hat.

he Knickerbocker/Olmstead hiking area is a maze of trails on gentle rolling hills. It is easy to get lost. The Canyon Keepers park volunteer group added some signage and there is a map but deer trails can be confusing. I know Highway 49 is behind me and the lights on the tall antennas are on my left going in and the opposite on the way out.
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Mary West is author of the book series Day Hiker – Gold Country Trail Guide I, II and III (Available on Amazon). The books are a collection of the Day Hiker columns where West shares her longtime love of the outdoors, favorite hikes in Northern California’s Gold Country and beyond. West was the recipient of the 2017 and 2019 CRAFT Award for Best Outdoor Column and the 2020 Craft Award for her second book in the series-Day Hiker Gold Country Trail Guide by the Outdoor Writers of California. You can follow West on Facebook and Instagram.

To see the original article in The Union newspaper and more photos by Mary, CLICK HERE.

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