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Bike paths: A step in right direction
Thursday, February 15, 2007
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What is the value of a bike path? What’s the value of commuting without polluting?

What’s the value of a good walk, a long run or a pleasant bike ride? What’s the value of clean air? What’s the value of a healthy life?
The new bike path (a multi-use path with no motorized vehicles allowed) under construction from Solano Avenue to Vallejo Street will make Napa a much better place to live. It will allow generations of users safe passage to school, work, shopping and recreation. It will make our community healthier and cleaner by offering a safe, peaceful place to walk, run, ride a bike and to commute without adding more greenhouse gases to our atmosphere. It will also serve our tourist industry by connecting hotels and motels on both ends with attractions that many tourists wouldn’t otherwise be likely to take advantage of. It will make our community more fun!

Often, people underestimate how much bike paths are actually used and who uses them. One surprising thing is that a substantial number of the users are not bicyclists. People of all ages love to walk and run on them. They are safe and tranquil places to walk a dog or push a stroller. It’s not unusual to see a whole family out enjoying a bike path. What really warms my heart is to see senior citizens out walking the bike paths. That’s not a rare experience; they make up a large percentage of the users — must be that “older and wiser” thing.
Some of the money that makes the new path possible comes from a state grant for the Safe Routes to School program. One of the most significant aspects of the bike path is that it provides a safe way to get across Highway 29, across seven lanes of traffic. That alone would make the difference between a student being transported to school or getting to school on their own accord. The bike bridge is in a place that will serve the students of two of the largest schools in Napa, Napa High and Redwood Middle School, as well as New Tech High, and will greatly improve the safety and well-being of generations of students. The benefits of the bike path to the students don’t stop at getting them to school safely. Burning calories and improving cardiovascular fitness by riding a bike or walking to school, coupled with a new school nutrition program that provides lunches with less fat, fewer empty calories and more fiber (judging by the number of meals sold, popular with the students) we can start to reverse the trend toward childhood obesity and type two diabetes.

Some of the money for this bike path comes from grants designed to reduce motor vehicle traffic and the accompanying pollution. In a world where polar bears are drowning because they can’t find any ice to climb onto, it has become obvious that global warming is real and a serious problem. Locally, our wine industry could be threatened if we do nothing. According to stories that have appeared in numerous publications citing scientific evidence, our Napa Wine Country could become too hot to grow our premium wine grapes if current trends in global warming continue. Building a bike path isn’t going to save the world, or even the Napa Valley, but it’s a step in the right direction, and it will take a lot of steps if we are going to turn this catastrophe around. Even if you don’t think global warming is a problem, it doesn’t hurt to reduce local pollution; it’s always nice to be able to breathe without distress.
The tourist industry revolves around our world-class wine, dining and our county’s natural beauty. Instead of roller coasters and water slides, we have hot air balloons and great bike rides — pretty cool! Neither are unique to Napa, but they both fit like a glove. People use the whole valley for bike riding, and there are touring companies working out of Calistoga and Yountville. This bike path will make Napa more accessible to tourists who choose to be gentler to our valley, our community.

What is the value of a bike path? What’s the value of the place where you live or work?

(Thulin lives in Napa.)
16 comment(s)

Me wrote on Mar 17, 2008 10:01 AM:

" Bruce, you are so wrong. There are so many bicycle commuters out there that can't afford both surviving in this over-priced little valley and what it costs in fuel to drive to work everyday. So they have to park their cars and ride or walk. These people just like the ones that take your money at the grocery store. Make your sandwich at the local deli when you're hungry at lunchtime. Everytime I see one of these cyclist on their way to work, I wonder whether they'll make it home or not. Especially those that have to use Silverado Trail, ranked the 24th most dangerous road in the bay area.

What are you going to do when gas price reach $5-$6 a gallon? Or are you one of the few residents in this little valley where a majority of the money is concentrated and it's just not a problem for you. Me? It's financially killing me and I'm sure I can speak for a lot of other people.

I think training, testing and licensing all cyclists as well as testing and updating motorists on the rules of the road periodically are the best ideas. Not just in the book but on the test, too. Find a way to enforce these rules in regards to cyclist and motorists because it's just not being done. And finally, a bike/walk/run path that runs from Napa to Calistoga.

In regards the the thousands it would cost...can you really put a price on saving a life or saving someone from having to hear in their head that sickening thud of a body bouncing off their car for the rest of their life? "

Ed wrote on Feb 16, 2007 10:37 PM:

" To Bruce, Tim has been hit by a car. Does this make you feel better? Does it make you feel like a man if others suffer by being injured on a bicvcle? Look into a mirror and who do you see? Will your children continue to live the life you live in 100 years if you continue to drive a SUV? It's simple, don't attack others for their hopeful views and think of some for yourself. "

Larry wrote on Feb 16, 2007 8:32 AM:

" Bruce, One of the benefits of a non-motorized trail is that walkers & bikers are removed from the paths of cars; thus, trail usage actually decreases health care costs due to auto/bike & auto/pedestrian accidents because the frequency of accidents decreases. "

Go napa go wrote on Feb 16, 2007 5:52 AM:

" Every city or community that I have ever been to that I left wanting to live there has had many bike paths. Just think going from American Canyon to Calistoga on a long protective bike path. A path that went along the river and throught the vines of Napa. I have always thought a good place for a bike path was next to the railroad next to Solona. Let's do this quick Napa Valley community. Let's make it a world class community with bike paths that locals would use. "

Bruce wrote on Feb 15, 2007 10:55 PM:

" One of the greatest health benefits of riding a bike is the opportunity to get hit by a car. I know many cyclists who have been hit by cars. The longer you ride, the greater your opportunity to be hit by a car. I know one cyclist who has been hit twice and two who have suffered brain damage. Yes, amazing health benefits. Oh, I forgot, we need to ban those evil cars driven by fat neo cons intent on destroying the world and harming our children. Only those who are healthy, enlightened, and ride bikes should be allowed on our streets. Do you wonderfully enlightened people ride your bikes when it is raining or freezing cold? Many of my bike riding friends spend thousands and thousands of dollars on their bikes and lycra clothing and then look down upon those who don't ride bikes. What a bunch of elitist snobs who think they are better than non cyclists. "

Larry Lagarde wrote on Feb 15, 2007 8:58 PM:

" A bike trail may sound expensive - until we consider the role that it can play in keeping health care costs in check. We Americans are more obese and inactive than ever. As a result, diabetes, strokes, heart attacks, etc. are all on the rise. Sure, we can control many diseases/illnesses with medication, surgery, etc. but that is costly. For example, the average open heart surgery costs $150,000. If building a $10 million bike trail prevents the need for just 67 open heart surgeries, the trail has paid for itself. Such is the value of exercise. If we are going to reverse unhealthy behaviors like overeating, healthy behaviors must be more attractive. Bike trails make walking, jogging & biking more attractive, providing a car free place for families, seniors, etc. to exercise/recreate. Respectfully, Larry RideTHISbike.com Urging bicycling for recreation, commuting, health and a better future. "

Are you serious? wrote on Feb 15, 2007 5:50 PM:

" It's the Tour of California -- a major sporting event. These swift cyclists are never anywhere for long, so don't expect much in the way of disrupted traffic. It will be GREAT to watch them come through our Valley! "

JimClark wrote on Feb 15, 2007 4:15 PM:

" So, why do you want to disturb the lives of people in areas that do not have bike lanes? "No cycles or motor driven cycles". What is this February 20 bike race that will disrupt traffic on Highway 29, Silverado Trail and Highway 128 up to and including Lake Berryessa? "Law enforcement? Psha. Mr. Thompson? "

To Bruce wrote on Feb 15, 2007 3:44 PM:

" I use the bike paths. I would use them more if they went to where I was going, but many of them are not thouroughfares, and are dangerous where they are broken up. Thus, we actually need more complete and safe bike lanes, not fewer. "

Bruce wrote on Feb 15, 2007 12:32 PM:

" I drive along many of the Bike Lanes alredy existing in Napa and hardly see any cyclists using these existing paths. It cost a great deal of money to put up all the signs and paint the bike logo in the streets every 200 feet or so, yet nobody uses these existing paths, so lets spend more tax money on new ones so we can all feel good about solving global warming ( which man has little influence over anyway ) I have a better idea, why don't we force people to ride bikes everywhere for their own good? Why don't we ban those horrible cars? It's all for the greater good and to save the planet after all--isn't that what's important? We need big government to tell us how to live more than it already does. Tim, Tim, Tim, it's all apples and oranges. My old friend--- Lets tear down electricity producing windmills because they are killing birds. Let's tear down electricity producing dams because they are killing fish. Tim, let's especially tear out all non-native trees in Clifornia--it's all apples and oranges isn't it Tim? Save the planet---save the whales----save the environment---save the pale, red, eyed jumping toad---the real agenda is to stop all economic development because capitalism is evil and socialism is good---What a Ludite you and your kind are. Oh yes, Tim--apples and oranges--do you know who I am, yet? Yes, I want to destroy the planet and damage our children because I am an evil neo-con. Tim, if I see you, I will sure offer you some apples and oranges for the good of the planet and so we can all live together in harmony "

Happy And Healthy wrote on Feb 15, 2007 12:00 PM:

" I'm with Napa Girl: I bike to work as often as i can (90% of the time I would estimate.) It keeps me healthy and makes me happy and energized by the time I arrive at work and back home. It takes care of exercising for the day and it doesn't pollute. I would love to see Napa become even more bike friendly, and Napa Girl's suggestions are a great idea. "

Louisa wrote on Feb 15, 2007 11:40 AM:

" Great job, Tim! The more we can do without being forced to use our cars, the better. For everyone. "

NAPKIN wrote on Feb 15, 2007 10:57 AM:

" Bikes need to be licensed and fees need to be paid. They need to start pay their way for all this nonsense "

Jimmie wrote on Feb 15, 2007 10:38 AM:

" Let's not forget that once you've biked safely to Solano Avenue you can go all the way to Yountville on that low vehicle stretch of Solano. Mix in the river trail through downtown and now you can go to Kennedy and Skyline park. This will be a HUGE enhancement to the Napa Valley. Let's not waste any time on these valuble projects. "

Not justified wrote on Feb 15, 2007 9:11 AM:

" That's all well and good, but in my little world I don't know a single person that will be using it. And just exactly how much money was spent on it? If I want to walk, jog, or bicycle someplace in Napa I will, bike path or not, and not necessarily from Solano to Vallejo Street. Don't get me wrong, I'm into saving the planet and all that, I just don't think spending hundreds of thousands (or was it millions) on this bike path was the best use of our money. "

Napa Girl wrote on Feb 15, 2007 8:22 AM:

" I'd like to see on-street parking banned on major arterial roads, and more bike lanes put in...with physical barriers to make it safer. "

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