SHOWCASE AREA FEEDBACK

Alpine County: Safety on State Routes

Alpine County is unique among the five counties of this study. It has the smallest population – less than 1,200 people per Census data – which more than triples each summer when the annual Death Ride brings cyclists and spectators to the area. While certainly a popular event, improvements along the rides’s many mountainous passes can improve safety for those seeking to cycle the roadways outside of the organized event, and create opportunities for additional road cycling events. Safety improvements along these corridors would also benefit the residents of Markleeville, Woodford, Bear Valley and other residential areas where State Routes commonly serve as “main street.

We want your feedback regarding Alpine County

Are these the popular bike routes you like to ride currently?

What bike destinations or routes would you like to visit/ride to in the future?

Do you have Safety concerns within any Showcase Area?

Do you have any ideas for supportive amenities (signage, repair services, bike racks, etc) that would encourage bike riding in the Showcase Areas

Send comments to rob@calbike.org

Caltrans District 10 Active Transportation Survey

The Caltrans Active Transportation Plan Survey is asking for your input.

TAKE a moment and SHARE your ideas to improve Bike Riding in Caltrans District 10.

Your survey response will help Caltrans plan for biking and walking. Please click through the following screens to identify concerns that you believe need to be addressed to improve walking and biking on and along State Routes near you.

Survey responses will provide specific data about the type and location of needed improvements, allowing Caltrans to evaluate these locations in developing future projects. Click thru to take the District 10 survey here > https://survey.catplan.org/Home?sid=10

Caltrans wants to align the state’s bicycle and pedestrian network with the needs of local communities, with an emphasis on improving social equity, reconnecting communities, and improving access for all modes of transportation, including people who walk and bicycle. Caltrans will be actively engaging with partners and community members in areas where historic transportation decisions may have created barriers to adequate transportation. To find District 10’s map-based survey, visit survey.catplan.org, and select District 10 from the list. For more information about the Caltrans Active Transportation Plans, visit https://www.catplan.org/district-10.

Using BART and ACE Train to Take a Bike Vacation

How to Get Here Without a Car--A Quick and Ambitious

Sierra Bike Tour

Written by Carl Baker, Motherlode Bicycle Coalition

We recently had a guest visit through https://www.warmshowers.org on a quick bike trip

to the Sierra. He did many more miles than I do in a day and climbed a

ton in four days on his credit card tour.

Brian lives in San Francisco and doesn't own a car, so he made effective

use of transit on his way. He took BART to Dublin and followed

Tesla/Corral Hollow Road to Tracy, crossing the San Joaquin River at

Durhams Ferry. I haven't ridden most of his zigzag across the San

Joaquin Valley, but I've always thought of Caswell Memorial State Park

as a stop there. I also might have taken River Road to Oakdale.

I particularly admire his courageous use of the Salt Springs Valley, but

I would have avoided SR 4 from Hunt Road to Avery. That would require

some serious zigging via Pool Station, Calaveritas Road, Michel Road,

Mtn. Ranch/Sheep Ranch, and Avery Sheep Ranch, but after Avery, SR 4 is

pretty nice.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1cPsvWdfJh5YmgyhFt-kkmt7Q4dO0I4P3&w=640&h=480]

The point here is not to quibble on his route choices but to point out

how he minimized urban riding and slogging through the suburbs to get

out on the road. BART to Dublin is fairly obvious, but his trip home was

downright smart. This trip was during 100 degree August weather, so he

didn't want to have to ride in the afternoon into a headwind across the

valley to get back to BART.

His solution was the”https://www.amtrak.com/san-joaquins-train">Amtrak San Joaquins</a> route from Modesto to Richmond and then back to the City via BART.

There have been a couple times I've been ready to ride to Dublin BART

with an overnight at Caswell only to have circumstances change and have

to cancel in favor of driving. A ride to Modesto or Stockton with train

rides to the City would cut out half the miles and the need for camping

equipment which significantly changes the ride/drive calculation.

There's also the ACE train from Stockton, Manteca, or Tracy to the East

and South Bay, but it's commuter service only. The early departure time

is prohibitive for riding from the foothills, but could work after an

overnight stay in the valley.

Overall, Brian got in a pretty smart trip including eastern Alameda

County, the valley, foothills, Pacific Grade Summit, Ebbetts Pass,

Monitor Pass, and Sonora Pass in four days.

For More Information

https://bikehub.com/