This first time, I was forgiving as it was Christmas Eve at dusk and the driver looked like a worried woman whom I thought made a mistake and drove through the open gate that leads to the bike path. Christmas stress, I thought. Its wide open, that gate. NO SIGNAGE. Yet, it happened again, December 26th around 5PM, this time a pinched face man with a clenched jaw. No wave of apology for taking over my bike lane. His big truck, my tiny bike. This leads me tonight, December 28th, and I’m not so forgiving, one car while heading east bound and two cars while heading west bound took over my bike path. It’s dusk. I stormed into the Featherly Park office at the end of my ride to inquire who I make my complaint, both workers, lackadaisical, I don’t know. Caltrans?

I provided my original complaint to Featherly Park employees this evening December 28th around 5:30PM, and honestly I don’t think they cared. I believe they’d be concerned if they saw a monstrous SUV barreling in their direction ON THE BIKE PATH. I asked who to direct this complaint, as it’s happened now five times, like I said they both said, Caltrans. But, I don’t know if that’s true?

Apparently a road in the park has damage, or bridge, not sure, from the recent rain. Caltrans is doing work there. The only route now for cars is ON THE BIKE TRAIL. However, there are NO SIGNS WARNING bikers. Yet there is a sign a short distance from the gate that reads, “Motor Vehicles and Motor Scooters Prohibited on Trails.” I think on the bottom of the sign it reads, “OCCO. ORD. SEC 2-5-296”

Yet Featherly Park is allowing its paying extended visitors to ride on the trail and failing to provide notification to ANYONE USING THE BIKE PATH.

I ride at a moderate pace and can image if one those bikers in excellent shape with the decked-out gear zooms at lightening speed around that blind corner, not good.

If they had signs warning bikers…something. Instead it’s a shock to see headlights aiming for you.
Update January 1: I sent an email to Caltrans on December 28th. No return email from Caltrans or phone call. Rode on the trail today and the gate is still open and there’s no signage to warn bikers of cars maneuvering on this tiny bike path with a few blind corners.

I speculate Featherly Park is telling its extended RV residents to use the bike trail after dark when the trail is least in use. Because each time I’ve met one of those big stray trucks on the bike trail, it’s dusk.

I don’t know who to direct this concern as I’ve already notified Featherly Park and Caltrans. Hopefully, a reader of this site will have more power than I to shake things up and get proper care.

Thanks,
Lisa Marie