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New group seeks to make
biking safer By Zerline A. Hughes Tren Morris has seen friends miraculously survive accidents with minor injuries -- and he's broken a few ribs himself -- from bicycling on streets with inattentive drivers and bicycle-unfriendly roads. As a result, he says, he will support a new countywide bicycle organization forming to increase bicyclist awareness and improve and increase the presence of bike lanes throughout Ventura County. "There are good things and bad things when it comes to the bike routes here," said Morris, who has bicycled in Ventura County for 18 years. The Ventura County Bicycle Coalition, based in Camarillo, hopes to gain community support to challenge, what, members say, is an alarming disappearance and deterioration of bicycling facilities throughout the county. Board members hope to be fully operative by January. At the coalition's first public meeting this month, board members successfully rallied support from Ventura County Supervisor Kathy Long, transportation officials from the city of Ventura and prospective members from the community. "There are bicycle coalitions in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, but they only deal with their counties," said Bicycle Coalition board member Aron Hanson. "Because Ventura County is such a wonderful atmosphere E we decided to start the coalition when we noticed a disturbing trend that saw more roads being built and fewer bicycle facilities being built." Every five years, Ventura cities re-evaluate their transportation plans to qualify for federal, state and local funding. To be eligible for funds, the plans must include bicycle facility plans. As a result, the Ventura County Transportation Commission has designated bikeways throughout the county and built the 15-mile Ventura River Trail that stretches to Ojai. Bicyclists, however, are upset about encountering glass, rocks, and in one instance, a couch, in bike lanes. They also fear bike lanes are decreasing. Several cities have considered removing bike facilities on roads because of liability issues, according to the Transportation Commission. In the past 15 years, Simi Valley removed its on-street bike lanes because the city wanted to reduce the possibility of accidents. "To my knowledge, that has not continued and a number of cities are in the process of redoing their bicycle master plans," said Chris Stevens, spokesperson for the Ventura County Transportation Commission. "They're not only recommending corridors for future bike facilities, but how (existing) facilities will be maintained." Hanson hopes to identify and change all problems facing bicyclists but says he doesn't want the coalition to be labeled as a group of complainers. "We just want to bring something positive to the community, and this organization is a great resource for Ventura." |
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