The red, orange and yellow leaves of a deciduous tree...
The red, orange and yellow leaves of a deciduous tree formed a colorful backdrop as a cyclist pedaled along the Escalona Drive segment of the Santa Cruz Bikeway in December. The Santa Cruz Bikeway is an 11-mile, segmented bike route created by Ecology Action, a local nonprofit environmental consultancy that specializes in implementing climate-friendly programs, sustainable transportation and energy efficiency. The route was created as a pilot project in August with the intention of helping "riders of all experience levels feel more confident navigating Santa Cruz by bike." Matt Miller, Ecology Action’s director of mobility transformation and one of the route’s key architects, explained that the pilot project is in keeping with the nonprofit’s mission to reduce vehicle trips across the city while fostering an increase of bicycle ridership among active users and those who haven’t started pedaling yet. According to an article in the Sentinel by PK Hattis when the route premiered as a pilot program, Miller said, “If you can reduce the amount of overall car exposure and then reduce the speed at which you’re experiencing those cars then the result is you feel more comfortable and you feel more safe and it’s just a more straightforward route to navigate.” While some of the temporary signage has degraded since the end of the pilot program, the bikeway's website and online maps remain active and are publicly available. Ecology Action surveyed users of the Santa Cruz Bikeway and found that 86% of respondents reported they felt “safe” using the route, 95% of respondents said they would like to see more designated low-stress routes like this in the Santa Cruz area and 56% stated that the route encouraged them to ride more often. (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
More than 160 "wayfinding" signs with route arrows, like this...
More than 160 "wayfinding" signs with route arrows, like this one on Frederick Street pointing riders to the Bikeway's route through Arana Gulch, keep cyclists oriented. Many of the signs include QR codes and neighborhood maps. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Cyclists pedaling along the Bikeway segment near the entrance to...
Cyclists pedaling along the Bikeway segment near the entrance to the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf this week cast long shadows. (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
Cyclist Karen Poret crosses Branciforte Creek as she pedals along...
Cyclist Karen Poret crosses Branciforte Creek as she pedals along the Santa Cruz Bikeway on Monday. (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
A fiery sunset fills the sky above a rider pedaling...
A fiery sunset fills the sky above a rider pedaling on Sunday along the Escalona Drive segment of the Santa Cruz Bikeway. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)
The Santa Cruz Bikeway is an 11-mile, segmented bike route created by Ecology Action, a local nonprofit environmental consultancy that specializes in implementing climate-friendly programs, sustainable transportation and energy efficiency.
The route was created as a pilot project in August with the intention of helping “riders of all experience levels feel more confident navigating Santa Cruz by bike.”
Matt Miller, Ecology Action’s director of mobility transformation and one of the route’s key architects, explained that the pilot project is in keeping with the nonprofit’s mission to reduce vehicle trips across the city while fostering an increase of bicycle ridership among active users and those who haven’t started pedaling yet.
According to an article in the Sentinel by PK Hattis when the route premiered as a pilot program, Miller said, “If you can reduce the amount of overall car exposure and then reduce the speed at which you’re experiencing those cars then the result is you feel more comfortable and you feel more safe and it’s just a more straightforward route to navigate.” While some of the temporary signage has degraded since the end of the pilot program, the bikeway’s website and online maps remain active and are publicly available.
Ecology Action surveyed users of the Santa Cruz Bikeway and found that 86% of respondents reported they felt “safe” using the route, 95% of respondents said they would like to see more designated low-stress routes like this in the Santa Cruz area and 56% stated that the route encouraged them to ride more often.
