$9 million for new O.C. bike trails, but not on Santiago Creek’s trail

“More than $9 million of federal dollars will be spent to add 28 crucial miles of bike lanes and trails in Orange County, an effort to better connect the region’s bikeway system,” according to the O.C. Register.

That is great news, and Santa Ana will draw some benefit from this expenditure, with new bikeways along 1st St., Chestnut Ave. and Newhope St., and new bike crossings along the Maple Bike Trail.

However there will be no money to complete the Santiago Creek bike trail, which abruptly ends after you pass the MainPlace Mall/5 Fwy. overpass.  Read more about that here and here.  

That trail is being blocked by NIMBY residents of the Floral and Fisher Park neighborhoods – including Rancho Santiago Community College District Trustee Mark McLoughlin.  This issue will cost him plenty in November as he is seeking reelection – and Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez is running against him. The voters now have a chance to give him the boot!

 

Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.
Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

View Comments

  • Dear Michael,

    I'm sure your comments are well intended but some of us can't wait for another study to be completed. We want that bike trail built and we want it built now! Not just the section East of Fisher Park but all the way to the Santa Ana river. It's a crying shame that I have to ride with my kids in the street because Santa Ana officials don't have the guts to get this thing built.
    That said, at least you seem to be in favor of the trail so I guess we are on the same side of the issues. Art, Please make this your #1 issue.

    • I am in complete agreement with you. The request for a study "showing bicycling as a detriment to the community" was a rhetorical challenge supporting biking as conveyance. I have never read, nor been made aware of any fair study showing a community's suffering as a whole due to bicycle advocacy.

      I, too, am displeased with the dangers of sidewalk riding and bicycle unfriendly street crossings that we must navigate as a family due to the failure of Santa Ana to complete their part of the trail.

      Most motor vehicle drivers are courteous and cautious when aware of our presence, but many a time it is a single law-breaking or inattentive driver that puts my children at risk.

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