SCVNews.com | Opinion/Commentary: Message from Mayor Cameron Smyth

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1903 - President Teddy Roosevelt visits Gov. Henry Gage at Acton Hotel [story]

Message from Mayor Cameron Smyth

Mayor Cameron Smyth | Tuesday, May 2, 2017

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We are fortunate to live in a city that is dedicated to creating an environment that promotes safe and fun bicycling experiences. In fact, our bike network in Santa Clarita is now over 115 miles. That means you can easily commute to work or school, take a weekend bike ride or challenge yourself by conquering challenging mountain terrain.

This month we are celebrating all things cycling as we host the Stage 4 Finish of the 2017 Amgen Tour of California, on Wednesday, May 17, 2017. Our City has the impressive distinction of having hosted the most stages in race history, with 2017 marking our 13th. The Amgen Tour of California is regarded as the most internationally respected and esteemed stage race in the U.S. and one of the largest sporting events in the country!

You can get in on the fun! The City of Santa Clarita will be hosting several events the week the Amgen Tour of California rolls into town.

Hit the Trail Community Bike Ride – Saturday, May 13 – 10 a.m.
Come to Valencia Heritage Park to take part in a community bike ride and family fun fair. There will be activities for all ages, giveaways and a guided bike ride along our City’s trail system.

Women’s Cycling Social – Monday, May 15 – 6 p.m.
Join other women for a casual ride exploring the City’s trail system, led by the Santa Clarita Valley Bicycle Coalition. This fun ride begins and ends at the South Fork Trailhead located on Magic Mountain Parkway about half a mile east of Valencia Blvd.

Bike to School Day – Tuesday, May 16
All students who can ride a bike are encouraged to. Whether you are in Kindergarten or a college student, saddle up and ride to class. Riding your bike is a great way to get some exercise, enjoy our beautiful trails and take some cars off the road.

Amgen Tour of California/Stage 4 Finish – Wednesday, May 17 – 3:45 p.m.
Don’t miss the professional cyclists roaring into Santa Clarita! Get a prime spot along Magic Mountain Parkway to view the Stage 4 Finish. Parking will be available at Westfield Valencia Town Center.

Bike to Work Day – Thursday, May 18
Take part in a little friendly competition with fellow Santa Clarita businesses to see which employer can get the most employees to ride to work!

For more information on these events and many more, please visit BikeSantaClarita.com.

Another great athletic event will also take place on our City streets in May. On May 7, Santa Clarita will serve as the only West Coast host city for the Wings for Life World Run. As the title notes, this is a worldwide race, with 32 different cities across the globe participating at the same time!

Participants will have to get up early, because this race starts at 4 a.m. Half an hour later, the Catcher Car will take off going just under 10 mph. Gradually, the Catcher Car will increase speed, pursuing runners from behind. Once the Catcher Car passes a runner, that marks their very own personal finish line. All proceeds from the race go toward spinal cord research. For more information, please visit wingsforlifeworldrun.com.

Make sure you get out and explore all the recreation possibilities available to you, thanks to our beautiful paseos and trail system!

Sincerely,

Cameron Smyth

Mayor Smyth is a member of the Santa Clarita City Council and can be reached at csmyth@santa-clarita.com.

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1 Comment

jim says:

Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at

Sure. Everything is fine, and we can all take time from our actual life schedules to ride around town on bikes just as you say.

I’d like to see a statistical analysis of proven bike riding (outside of the City’s puffery about biking)that actually takes cars off of the city’s roads. The SCV contributes to a huge amount of the freeway traffic going south on the I5 and SR14.

Most of those people don’t have the opportunity to use non-motor vehicles because they work over the hill. Those that wish to take the train have to consider the difference in transit time – taking the train from the SCV adds an hour or more to their total travel time. For someone who works in Downtown LA, it’s closer to an hour above what the normal car travel time is.

That’s somewhere between a total of 1 1/2 to two hours of travel, each way. I don’t care how many bikes are being ridden for a few miles here in the SCV – it is not a useful answer to the problem of many local citizens who have to work where the jobs are.

Oh, it can be done – if you have flexible hours at work, and if you have an employer who allows you to miss work when the trains are not working, or if you are capable of a 40 mile bike ride on surface streets to get to your employment on the south side of the Santa Monica Mountains.

All of the hardcore bike riders I know ride in their off-time, except for those who get paid to ride as their primary job.

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