By John Hankins
During the quarantine, bike riding is flourishing, especially with great weather but also because indoor activities are limited these days.
Within the city of Ventura, it’s up 70% in 2020 which is, from January to June, 241,000 bike trips of real-time counts of six street routes, said Derek Towers, the city’s bicycle coordinator.
This follows a declaration that Ventura is a bicycle friendly city by PeopleForBikes.org with a rating of 3 out of 5 stars, a similar rating earned by Santa Barbara (room for improvement). A rail to trail ‘dream bike route’ that would go from the Saticoy (east) side of Hwy 118 to Santa Paula has advanced with environmental analysis. “It’s been a dream of bicyclists, runners and trail users for decades,” noted Supervisor Steve Bennett. Supported by the Sierra Club, among others, it would hook into the existing Santa Paula Branch Line trail within that city. On the downside, “it does not cross into Ventura much to the exasperation of everyone in Ventura so far,” said Ventura Sierra Club Chair Nina Danza.Nevertheless she and the club are strong proponents for that trail, among many others. To get involved, email: SierraClubVentura@gmail.com
Tower said the push for better bike-friendly corridors allows for “less reliance on vehicles and less pollution for the climate and more livable communities.” The public is responding as “bike sales are through the roof,” Towers said. That’s confirmed by bike shops where there’s often a waiting line for repairs. Notably, new sales of electric bikes “have taken off,” said Robin Gardner of Dogleg (DoglegElectric.com) in Ventura, who said 50% of bikes now sold are electric. Gardner started Dogleg in his garage in Santa Barbara and besides its electric bike specialty, also deals in electric golf carts, mobility scooters and those used at resorts, such as the Chumash Casino and hotels.
Besides reducing emissions, bikes are fun and healthy, just ask Ventura City Council member Christy Weir, who’s been posting her rides on Facebook with her husband Tim, exploring the region during the quarantine. Here’s some of her favorites:
1. Ojai/Ventura Bike Trail, one of my favorite rides, nine miles that parallels the Ventura River. It is a well-paved, scenic bike path that follows the former railroad right-of-way. Views of the river and valleys and hills are awesome any time of year.
2. Emma Wood bike path is newly repaved and so close to the Pacific Ocean, you can hear the waves and smell the ocean air. I enjoy watching the windsurfers and gulls, and seeing waves crash along the uncrowded shore.
3. Canada Larga Road off Hwy 33 and the Ventura Avenue frontage is between Ventura and Casitas Springs. I enjoy the quiet country ride through rolling hills, with cattle grazing and a wide variety of birds and wildflowers. The road is narrow and winding, with no bike lane, but very little traffic leading to private ranches.
4. Ventura River for a pleasant city ride, includes the Promenade. Picturesque, with plenty of interesting sights. The safe bike path goes all the way from Surfer's Point through the State Beach to Pierpont and the Ventura Keys. The river estuary and Surfer's Point area is especially fun to explore with my family on sunny afternoons, watching for dolphins and blue heron and cormorants.
Learn more about our regional bike plans:
- Ventura’s master plan for alternative transportation
- Santa Barbara County Assn. of Governments regional bike plan
- City of Santa Barbara bike plan
- City of Goleta bike plan
Weigh in now on Santa Ynez Valley Biking
The idea of connecting Buellton and Solvang via a multi-use trail is ready for your comments with an Aug. 14 deadline. The public is being asked to comment on a “story map” interactive website, which would analyze various options here. Comments may also be sent to SB County Assn. of Governments, Attn: Jared Carvalho by phone (805) 961-8900 or email: jcarvalho@sbcag.org
