Bike Santa Cruz County released its second annual survey report, showing that unsafe traffic, poorly connected routes and concern for youth safety are among the biggest worries for local cyclists.
cycling
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Bikers need real protection on Soquel Drive – the county and RTC must act
Soquel Drive is a critical bike corridor connecting Mid-County communities, but its protected bike lanes have deteriorated as safety bollards have been damaged and removed, write Mikey Cohen, board chair of Bike Santa Cruz County, and transportation activist Jack Brown. They say the current design no longer provides reliable protection and can even create hazards for cyclists and drivers. They call on Santa Cruz County leaders to invest in more durable bike lane barriers, traffic-calming measures and ongoing maintenance. They believe improving Soquel Drive would create a safer, more practical transportation corridor for riders of all ages and experience levels.
Posted inLatest News
Carmageddon: County takes another step toward more improvements for Soquel Drive
The next phase of work on Soquel Drive, from State Park Drive to Freedom Boulevard, is moving forward despite a funding gap of more than $5 million.
Posted inRecreation & Sports
Bike Santa Cruz County’s cycle fair set for April 11
Bike Santa Cruz County announced that the Santa Cruz Cycle Fair 2026 will take place Saturday, April 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Bicycle Trip at 1001 Soquel Ave.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Let’s design streets for people, not cars – Vision Zero can’t wait, too many in Santa Cruz County are dying
After losing his 19-year-old friend in a crash — and surviving one himself — local activist Kevin Norton argues that traffic deaths aren’t accidents, but the result of street design prioritizing cars over people. In Santa Cruz County, deaths and serious injuries happen every two days, yet real safety fixes like protected bike lanes crawl forward. Santa Cruz County has the deadliest streets for cycling in the state, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety. The uncomfortable truth, writes Norton, is that saving lives will be inconvenient for drivers, will remove parking and anger some. But he believes protecting feelings matters less than protecting lives. He calls on both elected leaders and the community to move faster on Vision Zero.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Santa Cruz says it wants fewer cars. So why is it making biking so dangerous?
Santa Cruz could lead the nation in safe, active transportation — yet city leaders keep stalling, writes local bike enthusiast Brooke Secor. While e-bikes boom and collisions rise, officials have not added even basic protections for cyclists and pedestrians.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Why Soquel Drive is worth the investment for bikers – and why it matters to all of us
Matt Machado, Santa Cruz County’s director of community development and infrastructure and an avid cyclist, knows Soquel Drive; here, he explains improvements the county is making to ensure a 5.6-mile stretch of the road is safer for bikers, pedestrians and drivers.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Soquel Avenue bike lane improvements are good – we need even more
Avid biker Dan Arias takes issue with a recent Lookout op-ed criticizing balusters on Soquel Avenue as dangerous for cyclists. On the contrary, he says, officials should be praised for finding ways to separate bikers from traffic. He makes a plea for more such efforts, particularly on Soquel Avenue.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Letter to the editor: Cyclists need more protection, not less
In a letter to the editor, a Santa Cruz resident pushes for more protection for cyclists.
Posted inLatest News
Ironman 70.3 Santa Cruz triathlon draws 2,200 from 33 countries
More than 2,200 athletes from 33 countries and 41 U.S. states competed Saturday in the Ironman 70.3 Santa Cruz triathlon. Sebastian Radilla, representing Mexico, won the men’s competition with a finish time of 4:01:30, while Serena Xue, representing Canada, won the women’s race with a time of 4:47:22.
