On our petition, which was entitled “Protect Pogonip: Keep it Bike-free”, we provided space for signers to offer comments. They are listed below. None of these comments were either solicited or suggested.
Many elderly and others are frightened by fast bikes on so-called multi-use trails. Please keep a sanctuary for walkers/hikers.
I have observed that in areas with some trails designated as “no bikes” (such as in Nisene Marks State Park), bikers inevitably end up exploring those sanctioned trails. The ped-only trails are then subject to erosion, short-cuts, and other abuse, and walkers are intimidated by fast-moving bicyclists. A MU trail further away from the pedestrian trails in Pogonip is a good solution to this problem.
Please keep Pogonip free of bikers so we have a somehow save place to walk. Please!!
Allowing the Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz to design the proposed trail is very bad public policy. It excludes reasonable public participation.
From my experience as a walker/hiker, “multi-use” trails favor bicycles and endanger pedestrians. Please stay true to the original intent of the Pogonip open space and do not build the proposed trail.
I believe it is important to have a few places where people can walk and enjoy nature without the stress and disruption created by fast-moving traffic of any sorts of vehicles. Pogonip is currently one of those rare places, and I think it is important to keep it this way. The suggested trail along the railroad tracks would be a far better way to create a connecting link for bicyclists and others.
I am one of those older people who fear being run into by a biker! I have been run into. Let's keep a place for just pedestrians.
The 90% of the population who are not mountain bikers need one sanctuary, Pogonip where they can walk without dodging bikes.
The construction of the proposed “multi-use” trail would result in destruction of a considerable amount of wildlife habitat in the eastern part of the Pogonip preserve and would effectively provide bicyclist access to other pedestrian and nature trails within the preserve (which some already use illegally); thus, endangering or intimidating and discouraging hikers. Please save Pogonip as the one preserve in the county for the peaceful enjoyment of the beauties of nature by people on foot; where they are not constantly forced to be on the lookout for mountain and dirt bikers suddenly careening around turns as is the case at Wilder Ranch and other local perserves where hikers no longer feel comfortable. Thanks very much for your attention to and consideration of my concerns.
The multi-use trail is simply a push in the wrong direction…more traffic…and eliminates a pedestrian sanctuary and tears up open space. Other options are there, use them, please!
The rail line is the call!
I have occasion to walk on the trail from time to time because my daughter lives on Hagar Court. Please don't allow bikes to destroy the relaxing experience of hiking the trails, as well as degrading the trails.
Stop erosion, the city council, non-natives and other threats from ruining our cities Green Crown.
I was greeted by a bicyclist—plus his unleashed dog—peddling up Golf Club Road toward the clubhouse earlier this week. Pogonip is a refuge for wildlife also. Bicyclists, with or without their dogs, do not belong there!
Keep bikes out for the sake of our kids. Few groups of adults ignore rules more than bike riders on park trails.
The proposed “multi-use” trail as currently laid out by Parks staff working with Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz, comes within 50 feet of an existing pedestrian-only trail (the Fern Trail) and would co-exist with another currently existing pedestrian-only trail (the Lower Meadow Trail). This would encourage bicyclists to stray onto these and other pedestrian-only trails in the Pogonip.
Having a ‘bike-free’ place to walk makes it a much more relaxing hike. I would love to keep it that way!
The majority of trail users are very opposed to “sharing” trails with a fast moving, adrenaline fueled vehicle. “Multi-use” is a lie, as a trail that allows mountain bikers quickly becomes the exclusive use of the bikers, as other traditional trail users are driven off due to user conflict and quality of life issues.
In Boulder Colorado, IMBA headquarters where mountain bikes have been given free rein, land managers and City Councilmembers are now closing trails to bikes for the same reasons, user conflict, environmental damage and quality of life considerations.
Historically there is little conflict between traditional users. Trail riding and hiking are considered passive recreation as runners, hikers, and trail riders are all moving at about the same speed. The City of Los Angeles forbids mountain bikes on all City Park dirt trails. They are allowed on paved roads, but not on equestrian and hiking trails.
Mountain biking is an extreme sport. Other equestrian extreme sports such as rodeo, pole bending, barrel racing, cross country jumping events are held at equestrian expense in rented fields, and arenas. Equestrians come together, put up the money for the rental and pay their own insurance. BMX biking, ORV etc. do the same.
Mountain biking is a well funded sport. They need their own area to perform their thrill seeking events. It is outrageous that mountain bikers expect to have access to public lands, expect the public to pay for their sport, and then put the public at risk.
For safety, the City doesn't allow bicycles on sidewalks. Why would they allow them on this unique 1.5 mile walking nature trail? It is setting up a beautiful trail for conflicts and safety hazards.
If mountain bikers would like to enjoy this trail, they can walk like everyone else. Just leave the bikes home.
Thank you for your wonderful work and for helping Pogonip remain a beautiful peaceful sanctuary!!
There are many areas in Santa Cruz County for the Mountain Bikers. When they are allowed to enter an area, it becomes a hazard for walkers, small children, animal life, and dog walkers. We need to share the beauty in this community and have places where people can walk, with their families, and not be feeling like they are walking along a highway, fearing being run over. The bikers have already taken over Wilder. It has ruined Wilder for others. We do not need to continue this trend and can allow for both mountain bike and non-mountain bike areas in this county.
I fully support your objective.
I fully support NOT expanding bicycle use in Pogonip. There is already too much illegal use by surley bikers coupled with no law enforcement presence. Increasing legal use in the Pogonip will drive out hikers much as has happened at Wilder Ranch.
There are so many existing problems at the Pogonip that call for greater funding for management. The road/trail would become incised and there would be inadequate funding for management. Allowing a “multi-use” trail will ruin the hiking and peaceful strolling experience for hundreds of people who cherish the opportunity to relax in nature, which is impossible when dodging bikers.
Pogonip is a Natural Area, where mechanical human contrivances must be limited. Rushing bicycles and panting bicyclists are incompatible with contemplative hiking and Nature observance.
Nature first, in our urban environments! Greenbelts are places of slow movement, naturally. Keep insidious development out of all greenbelt properties.
I'd like it to be clear that bicycles aren't allowed. I never hike the Pogonip without seeing at least one bicyclist “poaching”.
Please protect the Pogonip's unique and delicate environment. One only need take a short walk on paths used by cyclists to realize how much damage can be caused.
I am firmly against the proposed trail or any use of bicycles within Pogonip.
My family has had several close calls with bicycles on walking trails. It was in Nisene Marks. It was very frightening to our small children. Please do not allow a degrading of a beautiful walking space.
I would love to keep the pogonip trails safe for kids and adult hikers,horseback riders and all habitat/creatures that live there. No Bikes!!!
I've been hiking in the Pogonip for over 15 years and believe a multi-use trail would fundamentally alter the place in a negative way. Please honor people's right to hike unmolested and keep the Pogonip bike-free.
I would support improved bicycle access along the railway corridor, but not a big new trail.
Keep Pogonip a real Greenbelt!
As a cyclist and a hiker I concur with the above statement to preserve this unique terrain, its species and habitat. Let's keep it tranquil and as pristine as possible.
A “multi-use trail” at Pogonip would ruin one of the last fine hiking trails in the county. The Rail Trail described here would better serve mountain bikers while leaving hikers and strollers in peace. Please do the right thing for all users of Pogonip when you take this historic decision.
Bikes belong on ROADS not trails. Old people like me walk in the woods—we don't need to worry that someone traveling 20 mph is barreling down behind us.
This money could be spent better elsewhere. Not a solution to driving out drug dealers.
People on bikes and walkers and hikers are a bad mix because the machine and driver dominate the walker. Keep the bikes on the road and street where they belong with other machines.
Please direct city funds appropriately regarding priorities and environment. We rely on your judgment. Please be clear about what is best for the long term. Destroying habitat is unquestionably irrevocable, and ultimately unconscionable.
Mountain bikers have their place but, not here where the environment is so vulnerable to the damage that can be done by mountain bikers. They tend to rip up an area while imbibing in their sport. Maybe the suggested alternative would be best for all concerned. Protect Pogonip. She is a beautiful spot.
Keep the Pogonip quiet and peaceful for those of us who enjoy the solitude of that special place.
From Westside locations I believe cyclists have many more choices than walkers and joggers. The angst associated with mountain biking is not compatible with the peacefulness of walking or running. I am a cyclist and I don't think it's a good fit.
Don't want to dodge bicycles. Thx.
There are enough bike trails now, and yes, they do trespass regularly onto pedestrian trails that are clearly marked “no bikes”.
I previously endorsed the City multi-use trail. After reading this, I feel it makes more sense route the trail through the proposed Rail Trail instead.
Just for the record, I ride my bike on average 70 miles a week. I think mountain bikers enjoy nature the same way a pack of Hell's Angels riders do while touring through the Santa Cruz Mountains. The notion that the Mountain Bikers would provide a vigilante group to mitigate the drug trade along the trail is ridiculous, one of dumbest among the host of dumb ideas our city bureaucrats continue to conjure up. Multi-use application of trails has never worked and the trail would soon be overrun by mindless aggressive bikers, yelling “On your left!!!” “On your right!!!”. Who would want to walk on such a path?
Keep Pogonip pedestrian please!
Keep Pogonip Bike Free.
There are so few areas for only pedestrians. West Cliff has become particularly dangerous to walkers and joggers as bikers whiz past with no heads up. Please leave Pogonip to the pedestrians!
The cyclists I have encountered have behaved in a disrespectful manner.
Bikes tore the hell out of Nisene Marks and I can't bear to see it happen again in this much smaller and more fragile place we affectionately still call Pogonip.
No bikes, please.
The Big Trees RR track improvement would be an excellent alternative to this proposal.
Although I am not currently a resident of Santa Cruz, I have spent much of my life in Santa Cruz and my love and appreciation for its natural beauty is BIG! Pogonip is a rare and special area. Thank You.
I urge you to not continue to put bike paths through our beautiful greenbelts.
The Big Trees RR track improvement would be an excellent alternative to this proposal.
The Drug Activity is Back !!! Putting the Public in Harms way to Scare off Armed Drug Dealer is absolutely absurd !!!
Even though I can no longer hike the Pogonip, I love knowing it's still there as it's been; we need to protect the few spaces we still have.
As a bike commuter and mountain biker I feel it is very important to keep some places free of bikes. Thank you.
I support commuter cycling but I do not support allowing recreational cycling in the Pogonip.
I walk in the Pogonip often and relish the safety of a bike-free trail, as a walker. Thanks.
Thank you for doing this!
Respect the rights of hikers. The speed and noise of bicyclists disturbs wildlife and damages the experience of those who go to Pogonip to observe and enjoy nature.
I find the pogonip a quiet refuge from all the other local green space where bikers are allowed. It seems contrived to think there is any improvement of the homeless or drug use in the park through this proposal. I want to see one city park which is not trashed by bikers making their routes more interesting and eroding more wildlands. Seems there are adequate routes serving this area without jeopardizing the pogonip.
As a mt biker, I know that most mt bikers do not respect the conservation of the trails they use (just go to UCSC and see the many trails that now criss-cross the hillside down to Hi 9) and they generally do not want to be restricted as to the trails they use. I fear that the proposed trail will lead to increased use of the other trails by bikes and take away the unique hiker-only quality that Pogonip offers the community.
YEA !!! nice work team.
Pogonip is one of the very few areas that I am able to take my dog with out fear of being run down by bikes. I support the new trail, just keep it bike free.
Pogonip is the last large open space in the Santa Cruz area that is currently closed to bikes. As such, it is the only safe haven for the elderly, differently abled, children, and other to walk without fear of being struck by mountain bikers. Illegal mountain bike use on the Pogonip already damages trails and fragile ecosystems and degrades the experience of Santa Cruz's diverse pedestrian users. Please don't allow or encourage more mountain biking on the Pogonip with a new “multi-use” (i.e., bike-dominated) trail. I am a dedicated commute cyclist, and I know that there are plenty of other ways to get back and forth from Santa Cruz to UCSC without riding a bike thru the Pogonip.
As a resident near Pogonip and frequent hiker, I think there are several good reasons to abstain from making the lower part of Pogonip usable for mountain bikers. One, mountain bikers tend to stray from trails. The honeymoon trail would be very inviting, and it is a steep area sensitive to erosion. Two, parking at the end of Golf Club Drive is very limited. Already there is crowding on the weekends, and access for fire trucks to Pogonip is sometimes really narrow because of vehicles parking on both sides of Golf Club Drive. Three, the trail would open up Pogonip to claims by other users, and I love it as a public area that is, at the moment, just quiet nature.
Please keep Pogonip as it is, bike-free, for us hikers to keep enjoying the quiet and the beauty there.
Please keep Pogonip bike free we need to keep open spaces wild. Where is our natural life going to have a place to go!
Good Work!
I support the Rail Trail instead of the "proposed" Pogonip trail.
I grew up near here. Hate to see pogonip go to the bicyclists. They take from the wildlife precious undergrowth ecosystems. Plus the entrance to this trail is already impacted by cars. Save Pogonip.
I hike in Wild two or three times a week. At least once a week I'm scared by a really fast Mt bike coming out of nowhere. 95 precent of Mt bikes are great but it just takes one to destroy a peaceful walk. Retired State Park Ranger, Chuck Edgemon
Mountain bikers are a menace to pedestrians and to the condition of the trails, which they tear up.
Please help us to protect this unique natural wonder from inappropriate uses.
Please help maintain the health and tranquility of the Pogonip by rerouting the proposed multiuse trail away from the Golf Club Drive entrance.
I support pedestrian only trails.
This is one of the few truly peaceful places left in the county. It would be a tragedy to lose the quiet and serenity there.
As regular user of Pogonip, I whole-heartedly support this petition—just try taking a walk in areas like UCSC upper campus where biking is allowed. It can be nerve-wracking experience, no matter how courteous the riders are. Packs of cyclists come through—another indication that there are many areas in the county where they can cycle.
I very much appreciate the win-win approach of your efforts, whereby you invite the community to advocate for a bicycle trail along the tracks, in addition to preserving a safe and serene experience for pedestrians in Pogonip.
You will not solve the problems on “Heroin Hill” by putting unsuspecting citizens in harms way. A trail will only create even greater access for Homeless Campers and Drug Gangs.
Mountain bikers are incompatible with hikers and walkers. Pogonip is a gem in Santa Cruz County. I leave Soquel to walk in peace. DO NOT put bike trails in. Bike trails will not clean up the area, but only cause more degradation.
I now oppose the bike trail. I was originally undecided — however, I fear the bikes will not simply stay on the proposed trail and will endanger everyone else. There is not enough enforcement in the Pogonip to maintain safety. I walk/run there several times each week.
Logging industries are lobbying by use of “activity access” as bicyclist (and 4x4 coalitions across U.S.) to EXTRACT NATURAL RESOURCES. Don't be fooled, they don't have any USE RIGHTS to public lands.