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 . . .

Exciting News! Calistoga City Council Approves Grant Resolution

Last Tuesday, February 19, 2013 the Council passed a resolution 5-0 to authorize staff to apply for a $50,000 grant from the Bay Area Ridge Trail to pay for part of the engineering for the Fairway Extension project. Here's a picture of the mayor calling for the vote.

Mayor Canning, surrounded by the Council

This grant will make the project 'shovel ready' which means it is far more likely to qualify for Federal and State funding. The project itself is extending the Class I Washington-Dunaweal Bike Path to Lincoln Avenue, along the old railroad right of way.

Before the vote, a member of the Calistoga Bicycle Advisory Committee urged the Council to support the resolution. If you want to see the 6 slides, click here or on the caption below.

BAC Presentation to Council

Basically this is free money for Calistoga which will enable Calistoga to get even more free money to build a $1.2 million project with no City contribution. If you thought this would not be controversial, you would be thinking wrong. 

A couple of residents spoke against bicycling and bicyclists  in general (not the resolution), basically painting a picture of terror and/or horror which is grossly overstated by the following R-Rated video . . .  removed it after some reflection.
 Anyway, it seemed funny at the time, and you can find it pretty easy if you want 
(remember, you've been warned):