Maria Gutzeit | The Most Important Bike Conversation
We’re wrapping up National Bike Month. What’s been in the news here in Santa Clarita? Heated debate about the plastic-paddle protected bike lane on Orchard Village Road and tons of complaints about kids on ebikes. Those issues need resolution, but an even more important bike issue hasn’t even been talked about: sharing the road.
My friend Gary Horton, mad about the plastic-bedecked pre-existing bike lanes on Orchard Village, declared “we’re a car town!”
To which I replied, “No Gary, we are a people town.”
I’m no fan of the faux sense of security sprinkled on Orchard for too much money. I’m also no fan of out-of-control anybody riding anywhere on anything – ebikes, emotorcycles, regular bikes, and yes, in cars. What we aren’t talking about enough, though, in bike month and all year round, is common courtesy and sharing the road with vulnerable road users.
The city has a glorious network of peaceful off-street bike trails. Both the city and county also have designated bike lanes and bike routes. However, bicycles are allowed to ride on any road (unless there is a bike lane on........
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