Public Works: We Have a Problem.

A few minutes after the previous posting reporting the short green light for people wanting to cross Lincoln on a bike, received this from Public Works.

So I called the Caltrans number, left a message, sent a follow up email to Mr. Montelli outlining my dismay at his response, and copied the Mayor. The Mayor stated that a different response was in order. Hopefully the City will add its endorsement to one person's complaint and the recalibration of the traffic light will happen before anyone gets hurt.

Good on you Mayor Canning!

Public Works, We Have a Problem!

Been riding around town more lately thanks to the April Fools Challenge. Happened to be crossing Lincoln Avenue on Washington and noticed how short the green light is if the pedestrian crossing button has not been pushed. So I took this video.

I remembered that Lynn Goldberg sent me a link to Calistoga's Public Works complaint submission form, so I filled one out and sent it in.

emailed to pworks@ci.calistoga.ca.us

Hopefully the Public Works team will get the signal recalibrated before somebody gets hurt. I will let you know. If you have ideas for safety issues that need attention, maybe you could send in a form too?

Planning Meeting: Time Well Spent!

Just last week the members of the Bicycle Advisory Committee met to review the Calistoga Bike Plan and set priorities. Facilitated by BAC member Tom Sherman, the group was joined by Karen Chang representing the Green Committee, Bob Beck owner of the Cottage Grove Inn, Vito Serrano representing Solage Resort, and Lynn Goldberg, Calistoga's Director of Building and Planning.

Lynn Goldberg, Brad Suhr and Karen Chang - into the Bike Plan

The group agreed that the number one priority is completing the protected bicycling and walking link between the Oat Hill Mine Road trail head and Bothe Napa State Park. Not only does this link serve the recreation needs of Calistoga Families, it places Calistoga at the nexus of the Napa Valley Vine Trail and the Bay Area Ridge Trail where these trails overlap to cross the valley floor. That should put Calistoga on the map as Bicycle Friendly!

The BAC was surprised and grateful to have so much support from the community and its government for this planning session. Even more exciting was news in the Calistoga Tribune of April 5, in the page 1 article 'City council constructs goals and objectives'

that the Council has set a goal to "Promote Calistoga as a city friendly to walking and biking."

By unanimous vote of the Council

Maybe things are looking up . . .

Planning Meeting on Wednesday!

Want to help set priorities for improving the safety of biking in Calistoga? Want to get acquainted with the members of the Bicycle Advisory Committee that serves the City? Considering becoming a member of the BAC? Here's the meeting notice sent out today.

Despite the date, this is for real. Please come if you want to help.

Get Out of Town!

Sometimes the best thing about living in Calistoga is getting out of town. You see stuff you just don't see too often around here. Like this . . .

Not a mariachi. Ole!


Or this . . .

Protected Bike Lanes in Golden Gate Park

Or even this . . .

Wow . . . they have suspended bike lanes!

For those wanting to go further north, a Class I transition off the bridge, to Sausalito

Looked like fun, but I was running out of time.

Seems like everywhere I went with my bike I felt welcome . . .

Even President Wilson.

And even when I cut through a neighborhood littered with villas, I felt expected and respected.

Makes me want to come back to ride again. Good job San Francisco!



Open Seat on Bicycle Advisory Committee

Do you want to help make Calistoga a safer place to get around by bike or on foot? Do you have some time to actually do stuff in addition to attending a monthly meeting? Do you play well with others? If this sounds like you, fill out the application and get involved. Here's the BAC at work just a week or so ago.

Tom, Dieter, Brad and Erik planning a brainstorming session to prioritize the Bike Plan

The BAC team agreed to meet April 3 at noon for a 3 hour session to set priorities for projects embedded in the Bike Plan. It is a public meeting, so it's a perfect way to get involved if you are thinking of joining the BAC. Maybe one of the things they will agree on is getting parklets in Calistoga with more bike parking. Here's one of the many parklets you can find in San Francisco.

Park your bike, get a coffee, relax and take in the scene.

Parklets encourage visitors and locals to linger downtown, and parklets are proven to improve business for adjacent shops. Here's a fledgling parklet in Calistoga . . . just need to add a few bike racks in the red zone and there we have it!

Just add bike parking!

Inevitably, the question will arise, 'Do we need really need more bike parking?' A picture is worth 1000 words, etc.

One well-utilized bike rack: 3 people parked in the space of 1/4 of a truck.

Another 1000 words . . .

No room at the rack . . . enough said!

 

This Just In:
Calistoga Gets $200k for Trail!

Who says miracles don't happen? An anonymous donor (said to reside in Calistoga!) has donated $200,000 to the Napa Valley Vine Trail to pay for the engineering necessary for building the missing parts of the Calistoga segment of the Vine Trail from the Oat Hill Mine Road to Bothe-Napa Valley State Park. This trail will also become part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail, serving as the Napa Valley crossing.

When completed, this portion of the Vine Trail, a Class I multi-use path, will provide safe off-highway connections to two of the most beautiful hiking and mountain biking resources in Northern California.

Blue line indicates the approximate route

This is really big deal. With proper engineering plans in place, this planned segment of the Napa Valley Vine Trail will be considered "Shovel Ready", which means as of this fall, it qualifies for Federal and State funding. So instead of Calistoga being at the end of the Vine Trail's project list, it is now near the top. Thank you to our generous neighbor, whoever you may be; clearly you understand how good this trail will be for the residents and visitors of Calistoga.

Absolutely awesome!  Here's the complete press release.