Get rolling on bikeways
It’s amazing, but sometimes, the system works even better than
it’s supposed to.
A group of local people met recently to discuss the state of
bicycle transportation in and around Hollister and what might be
done to improve things.
Get rolling on bikeways
It’s amazing, but sometimes, the system works even better than it’s supposed to.
A group of local people met recently to discuss the state of bicycle transportation in and around Hollister and what might be done to improve things.
At the end of that initial discussion, there is cause for hope.
First, San Benito County has an existing Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, and an update is due soon.
The plan puts it best: “San Benito County has many of the attributes needed to become a bicycle-friendly community. This includes small towns and cities, a moderate climate, flat terrain throughout most of the county, many recreational attractions, geographic proximity to employment and school centers, and a population interested in health, environment and livable neighborhoods.”
The existing plan stitches together a network of pedestrian and cycle paths that link schools and commercial centers to every neighborhood in Hollister.
What’s been lacking are the resources needed to execute the plan.
Bike lanes around town end abruptly in crumbling asphalt. Dropoffs at the edge of streets and gaping rail crossings can pitch riders to the ground and into traffic. There are no routes offering safe access to downtown for walkers or cyclists coming from the residential neighborhoods to the east and south.
Improvements have occurred piecemeal, as other development took place, but that’s beginning to change. The Highway 25 bypass project through Hollister includes provision for cyclists. The recent street overlay work performed in Hollister was accompanied by creation of welcome new bike lanes.
Seeing further progress was the reason the ad hoc group of planners, engineers, transportation officials and business interests met in a city conference room on Park Hill.
With the planning and the engineering already done, San Benito County can begin transforming itself into a model for alternate transportation – at little or no cost to the public.
As one of the participants at the meeting pointed out, “now, it’s just a matter of buying the paint.”
Expanding the local transportation network is a great opportunity for Eagle Scout service projects, for service clubs and advocacy organizations.
Solutions don’t always require going to the tax well. The real secret, as borne out in the recent meeting, is public involvement, and a willingness to contribute time to our community. To lend a hand, call the Hollister Downtown Association office at 636-8406.
