From: Barbara
Sent: Monday, June 1, 2026 1:33 PM
To: Mary Gourley <[email protected]>
Subject: Apple Blossom Trail
Dear City Council members,
My name is Barbara Isaksen. I am an 81 1/2 year old woman who has been living at Burbank Heights and Orchards for 15 years. As you well know this is not the first time we had to reevaluate the reasonability of having a bicycle path go thru BH&O. The idea of establishing family/children friendly one on the south side of Bodega Avenue is a noble one. However with each passing year the reasonability dwindles. I say this mainly because in the last 15 years :
1) the population of BH&O has significantly changed. People are living longer, some have become more frail, often there are calls for more healthcare workers. The fire department and emercency vehicles are quick to respond to our residents calls. We are in deep need of more parking space.
2) Our bus service has been a blessing and I forsee in the future it becoming even more a quality of life enhancing for our aging population as they stop driving. That said the nature of our road ( 2 blind curves, steepness of the hills, its width, the eƯicent placement of the bus stops) has become more congested.
Many of our population take more time in crossing the road, not just after getting oƯ the bus, but going back and forth from the garden and emptying their garbage.
3) With the last 5-6 years our culture has changed. Delivery services go well beyond Meals on Wheels for seniors and a Friday night pizza delivery. On line shopping and essential food supplies keep traƯic here hopping.
Indeed our culture is changing and naturally there will be clashes. The bicycle section recently done on Bodega Ave is a suprize to me. They seem so skinny! Sports cyclists will probably appreciate them as they go to West County. Smooth connecting from the J.Rodata trail thru town will never satisfy everyone. For me what is important is that local families, children, senior cyclists have a safe and pleasant way to make it from Ives Park up the hill to North Pleasant Hill Road with the least intrusion on to private or public property. Certain times during the day Bodega Avenue West is incredibly congested.
I propose that the Apple Blossoom Trail continue from Ives Park(JewelAve) to Dutton connecting to Washington onward to North Pleasant Hill Road. This way allows for a more pleasant and safe ride to Ragle, the schools, Mill Station Road area and beyond. This rather than 앖앒앓암압 the possible endangerment of a senior community, disturbance of local flora to get to ride thru a cemetary that ends in a very busy intersection.
Thank you for allowing me to go on! I claim my age for it! Claiming elder aging comes in handy at times. 뱑뱍뱎뱏뱒뇪뇫뱐
In all sincerity and seriousness,
Barbara Isaksen