Southern California - SART Closing for 3 years!

I came here for more information but I guess its still pretty new:

Trail Closure (http://www.riversidebicycleclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/nl-30-june-093.pdf)

TRAIL CLOSED ALONG THE 91 FOR 3 YEARS!!!
The Orange County Department of Public Works has two upcoming projects
that will require the closure of the Santa Ana River Trail between Green
River Road and Gypsym Canyon Road (Featherly Park).
THIS CLOSURE IS SCHEDULED TO LAST FROM OCTOBER 2009
UNTIL AUGUST 2012. But don’t worry, RBC Ride Chairman Hugh
Thornton & our own trail guy Pete Staylor are attending the meetings and
speaking up for all of us. Stay tuned for more info. And check the web also
for updates.

Well kinda a bummer since I use this area go bike to Orange County; I'm not sure how IE riders are going to get into OC now, since there's that narrow strip and no roads....anyone know any alternate paths?

Wwbd?

Carbon Canyon?

LCI_Brian posted about this a couple of weeks ago I think.

I just received a phone call from CABO (California Association of Bicycle Organizations) about this. They are getting involved and so should everyone!! This could affect a lot of us.

Hi,

Hope that a number of cyclists attend the meeting. I use that section of the path a couple of times each year when I ride to my parents house near Temecula. Back in the old days, we had to ride on the shoulder of the 91 freeway for a short distance to get past that area and I never like riding on freeway shoulders.

There is a "working meeting" next week to which cycling club/advocacy leaders have been invited. I have been invited to the meeting, so if anyone has some input feel free to pass along to me. The closure wouldn't be until October, so there is some time, and the county has been proactive so far in trying to reach out to the cycling community to find a workable solution.

Also, further to my previous request from a couple of weeks ago, if anyone knows of any commuters or other transportational cyclists through the area let me know.

Cleave, back when you had to use the shoulders of the highway (I'm guessing it was probably really an expressway back then, not a full freeway), what roads/exits was it between?

The original plans for the SART (back in the early 1980's when the funding was originally approved for its entire length) called for an alternate bike path along the railroad tracks on the other side of Green River Golf Course....it was put there because it wouldn't be vulnerable to heavy rains, flood control projects, freeway expansions, or the use of the golf course.....don't know why it was never put into place, but I'm sure with a little sweat equity from the OC and Riverside Clubs, we could at least get something moving so the link doesn't disappear for three years.

Given the membership #'s of OCRR, OCW, BCI, and others on the coastal side of the orange curtain, not to mention the legions of those in Riverside that currently park in the lot and ride into the OC, we should be able to get something done.

Anybody talk to Green River Golf Course and get permission to post a sign or something to draw attention to this where everybody parks now?

Cleave, back when you had to use the shoulders of the highway (I'm guessing it was probably really an expressway back then, not a full freeway), what roads/exits was it between?

Hi,

The 91 was a regular freeway back then (early 1980s). I remember that we would come down the 71 (before it was a freeway) and get on the 91. I can't remember exactly where we would get off the 91 -- maybe Gypsum Canyon? I know we got off the 91 at a normal exit.

Sorry, but I'm getting old. :rolleyes:

LCI_Brian posted about this a couple of weeks ago I think.

.

I posted detour info in that thread.

Tonight's meeting went well. The county is looking at a temporary bridge at Coal Canyon to get cyclists over to a temporary path on the north side of the river through the golf course, maintaining 24/7 access. On the other side by Green River they need a temporary bridge anyway to get the golfers across the river. There is still some work to do to finalize this option, but it looks very promising.

Sounds like good progress. I've only cycled this section once (and it was hard enough to find as it was!), but it seemed like a very essential cycling link through here. Here's hoping things work out!