1 Levesque, Jennifer
From: Serratto, Matthew
Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2024 10:46 AM
To: Levesque, Jennifer
Subject: A John Derby article to attach
Merced’s
Bike Path
Coalition
Needs Help
By JOHN M. DERBY
The Times Publisher
We are tired of getting lip service from the City of Merced, and the County of Merced, over proper and safe bike paths.
Here are the facts:
Money is being allocated for safe bike routes; however, the creation of new Class I bike paths are being put on a low priority list. Meetings regarding the city’s bike system have low attendance, or sometimes they are canceled.
No one seems to give a damn.
We do have some nice scenic bike paths, but they were built years ago, and need to be upgraded and /or repaired.
The other thing is that these bike paths, like the Bear Creek Bike Path and Fahrens Creek Bike Path, are essentially recreational routes going east and west. What is needed is a good, north-south, Class I bike path, which takes bicycle riders safely from one end of town to the other.
Who should be riding on this bike path? The hundreds of students attending both Merced College and UC Merced, as well as the other students and everyday residents who would be using bikes to get around town if it were safe.
But the city’s north-south Class II “bike lanes” are not safe!
Those white lines on M, G and McKee are anything but safe.
Our city and county needs to get real. They need to take some of the money which they are hoarding, and do the right thing, and that is provide decent, transportation-oriented Class 1 bike paths. And this, not only goes for Merced, but for all the communities in the county.
We are spending millions on cleaner air in the valley. Every car owner who uses a bike to get to where they are going saves our air. We have a Valley Air Control District and they do not address this issue. 2 Yes, they are trying to remove gas lawn mowers and wood burning stoves, but the thing which is right in front of their face, they seem to avoid.
Merced has one major route which would be ideal as a north-south bikeway. It is wide, in most cases, and can easily be used for a Class 1 bike path. This is Parsons Avenue.
The dream that Merced had of making Parsons a major thoroughfare for cars died years ago, but the city has not accepted the reality. Today it sits there and most of the street is unused.
Let’s turn it into a safe and sane Class I bike path. If the city does not understand what this is, then take one of those city-sponsored trips to Alameda or Davis. Just look at the amount of use their bike paths get. Families are seen out there enjoying the fresh air and exercise in a safe manner. Other people use the Class I bike paths to get to work, get to school, or just for recreation.
It is a win-win situation.
Electric cars are not the answer to California's future transportation needs.
The bicycle is. All we have to do is learn to use it properly and this involves good bike paths which actually go someplace.
ENOUGH SAID!
Sent from my iPad