As reported by Sara Rubin in the 6/19/14 Monterey County Weekly, Ken Higashi of Higashi Farms laid gravel between farm roads and the paved road, to help draw off mud clods from ag vehicle tires.

Tip of the helmet to Higashi Farms for  taking a positive step to address this challenge. We appreciate solutions that  promote harmony between all legal users of Blanco Road–whether they are farming, biking, or otherwise using this prime connection between Salinas and the Monterey Peninsula.

What’s legally required? One individual’s comment posted on the Weekly’s 6/19/14 story cites in error “Section 1003.1 (5) Paving at Crossings in the CalTrans Highway Design Manual” – click here – with regard to this issue. However, my understanding is that section applies only to Class I Bicycle Paths (and that it does not apply to Class II Bike Lanes, as on Blanco).

What’s applicable in the Blanco Road situation is instead California V C Section 23112, Throwing Depositing or Dumping Matter on Highway.

23112.  (b) No person shall place, deposit or dump, or cause to be placed, deposited or dumped, any rocks, refuse, garbage, or dirt in or upon any highway, including any portion of the right-of-way thereof, without the consent of the state or local agency having jurisdiction over the highway.

Among Higashi family members is cyclist Shari Higashi, who knows both the challenges of people conducting farming operations and the challenges of people biking.

Shari is certainly not alone! Our county’s ag community and bike community are united through their relationships as often as not. As well as being a person who bikes, I am myself a farmer’s daughter (and granddaughter), with numerous friends who farm in Monterey County.

My opinion? It is to everyone’s benefit if all parties make every effort to communicate with and respectfully consider the needs of other users of Blanco Road.

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See Kids Bike to School in Monterey County to learn some ways that other local ag leaders are supporting more bicycling, through the “Pedal to Perfection” program.

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The below was previously published in 2011.

Board of Supervisors affirmed Blanco Road bike lanes

Farmers’ concerns

1. If you are a farmer or work in agriculture, please contact me to discuss any concerns you may have about Blanco Road bike lanes.  As a farmer’s daughter, I am especially interested in hearing your viewpoints.  I know that many of you are both farmers and cyclists yourselves.
   
2. Most bike commuters are keenly aware of what’s happening alongside the bikeways.  This makes the presence of more cyclists along Blanco Road an asset to those with farmland here, because cyclists can serve as a “neighborhood watch” for these farmers.
3. As bicyclists, one of the ways to build a more bike-friendly county is to consider the concerns of others, including farmers, and how you might be of help.  Farmers not only grow our food, they benefit our county’s economy in a huge way!  How might we help them in turn? Green Pedal Couriers owner Michael Baroni shared ideas in his 12-6-11 public comment at the  Board of Supervisors meeting.
4. As farmers, one of the ways to build better relationships with people who bike is to troubleshoot ways to be sure your farming operations are in harmony with legal requirements, such as laws prohibiting depositing of rocks and dirt on any roadway. Keep in mind that rocks and dirt, along with spray from irrigation sprinklers, can combine to create slippery conditions that endanger, or prohibit the travel, of cyclists who legally share the roadways.

My younger brother, Emil John Lynch, with my son.

My dad and his farming mentor, Emil Kiliman-

(godfather to my brother, and for whom he was named).

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Thank you to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors who voted 4-1 on December 6, 2011 to reaffirm their earlier unanimous approval for the Blanco Road bike lanes.  A video of the meeting can be viewed online at the County’s website. (The public comment of Mike Baroni can be heard at  3:07:00.)

Please refer to the “Acknowledgements” section of this post to learn about Monterey County residents who actively participated in this process, doing education and outreach.  These individuals deserve much credit for improving our county’s bike infrastructure.

The above, posted 12/6/11, is an update to the info that follows.

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• Exchange ideas with a farmer? Attend today’s meeting? Sign a petition?  Contact the Board of Supervisors? Why are people who love biking in Monterey County being urged to do this?
• Better bicycle facilities/bike infrastructure–like the bike lanes approved and funded to be added on Blanco Road–are vital to safer travel, and to more people bicycling.

What’s up:

1. The Blanco Road bike lane project that had been approved as part of the Monterey County Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan is now at risk.
2. The Monterey County Board of Supervisors will revisit this issue December 6, and a December 30 deadline looms when the County stands to lose $200,000 in approved funding for the project.  You may write to the Board of Supervisors by addressing the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors via email, CTTB@co.monterey.ca.us or via postal mail, P.O. Box 1728, Salinas, CA 93902.
3. Attend the Board of Supervisors meeting on December 6, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. If you cannot attend the entire meeting, note that Blanco Road  is unlikely to come up on the agenda before 2:30 p.m.; for the most updated agenda: http://publicagendas.co.monterey.ca.us/.  
4. Turn off cell phones and pagers, as usual, and please enter quietly if you must arrive late.
5. It is not necessary to fill out a Speaker Request Form if inconvenient/interruptive to do so.  You may still offer your comment during the Public Comment Period for that agenda item.
6. Because public comments are normally limited to three minutes, it is helpful to prepare your comment in advance, timing yourself, so your public comment will be concise and most effective.
7. Can’t attend?  To watch the meeting live, go to http://monterey.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=5.
8. Sign an informal petition at Change.org, which will be provided to the Board of Supervisors to show public support for Blanco Road bike lanes; contact Phil Yenovkian, [ by email:  warrantone [AT] gmail [DOT] com ] with any questions.
   

Local press coverage includes:

1. 12/4/11 story by Andy Stiny in the Salinas Californian, “Bike lane debate rolls out Tuesday for Monterey County Board of Supervisors.”
2. 11/13 story by Andy Stiny, “Proposed Blanco Road bikeway hits a snag,” and 11/16 story by Sunita Vijayan, “Proposed Blanco Road bikeway projects stalls,” in the Salinas Californian.
3. Sara Rubin’s 12/1 story, “Farmers weigh in against county’s planned Blanco Road bike lane as funding times out appears in the 12/1-7 Monterey County Weekly.It makes sense that, with the volume of information we are all faced with daily, some in the farm community were unaware of the proposed Monterey County Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.  As reported in the Monterey County Herald on June 10, 2011, TAMC urged public input.  That same message was also conveyed in the “Local Bike News” section of the BicyclingMonterey.com website, beginning in November 2009.  (Of course, few farmers–or cyclists–would have read the 190-page document itself and noted the Blanco Road plans.)
   

So, where are we now?  My parents farmed, and I have many friends in agriculture, so I am especially attuned to the unique challenges of farmers. Among the benefits of creating Class II bike lanes on Blanco Road, thereby increasing the numbers of bicycle commuters, there is a benefit for farmers.  Most bicyclists are keenly aware of what’s happening alongside the bikeways.  This makes the presence of more cyclists along Blanco an asset to those with farmland here, because cyclists can serve as a “neighborhood watch” for these farmers.  (Cyclists typically carry cell phones and can quickly phone in a tip if they see suspicious activity, such as a theft-in-progress of ag equipment.)  See “Neighborhood Watch by Bike” for examples of the effectiveness of such vigilance in our county.

Other benefits of Blanco bike lanes are encouraging this transportation option for students and staff  traveling to CSUMB from Salinas, or peninsula residents traveling to Hartnell.  Check in with Hartnell instructor Frank Henderson, a League of American Bicyclists safety instructor, about this bike commute.

There are also numerous others who reduce the motor vehicle traffic on Highway 68/Monterey-Salinas Highway by bike commuting.  Ask Jan Valencia, the Velo Club Monterey’s Answer Man and a Salinas business owner who bike commutes from his Seaside home daily and knows firsthand that Class II lanes on Blanco would be a great alternative to biking Highway 68.

Yet another advantage:  Class II bike lanes would encourage more touring cyclists to consider that there is much more to Monterey County than just the coast!  By heading inland to experience the Salinas Valley and surrounding areas, these visitors will carry away a new appreciation for the Salad Bowl of the World, as well as leave tourism dollars behind in Salinas and other inland communities.

With much respect for the contributions of Monterey County agriculture to our county and far beyond, I ask our Board of Supervisors to go forward with the approved, funded bike lanes on Blanco Road.

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Lack of understanding of the perspectives of others is not uncommon, of course, including in the ag community and in the bike community.  It takes time to learn about one another’s concerns and to communicate about those thoughtfully–time that often is not as available as desired in people’s busy lives.  It’s hoped that any possible future controversy about Monterey County bicycle infrastructure projects will be resolved in a more harmonious manner.  Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Acknowledgements

Several local bicycling advocates worked especially hard to share info with fellow cyclists, our Supervisors, and the general public about this issue, including  Phil Yenovikian, Frank Henderson, Jan Valencia, Cath Tendler-Valencia, and Michael Baroni.  

Take a ride soon with Phil or Frank on Blanco (see “Cyclists want you–and are ready to help” below); then ride with them again after the new lanes are in, and see what a difference improved bicycle infrastructure makes.

Cyclists and other supporters, you are urged to stay engaged in improving bicycle infrastructure in Monterey County (or wherever you live):

• Refer to the Bicycle Shops, Services, Clubs and Resources page to get involved with local bike clubs, our local infrastructure people, and more.
• Check the Local Bike News section of this site for periodic news.
• Participate  in Monterey County and elsewhere in the Monterey Bay region, when the public has special opportunities to give input about improving bicycle infrastructure.
• Please also consider volunteering your time or making a donation to further local bike advocacy.  If it’s desired that info and resources will continue to be available, your help is needed.

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Commute to Salinas?

Cyclists want you–and are ready to help.

Bike buddies on Blanco Road

Beginners welcome!

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Want to give it a try just one direction due to point of departure, stamina, or schedule?  Consider riding with Phil or Frank one-way, then doing the MST bike-and-ride the other way.

Want to take a peek at the Blanco or Highway 68 routes?  See the Transportation Agency for Monterey County’s countywide bike map in the Maps section.  TAMC’s map was last published in 2008 and an update is forthcoming. [Updated in 2016; click here.] Meanwhile, riding with Phil or Frank, you’ll learn about improvements not yet reflected on the TAMC map.

Need some added motivation?  Velo Club Answer Man Jan Valencia is another who, like Phil and Frank, bike commutes from the Peninsula to Salinas daily.  Check out some of the many beautiful photos from Jan’s photo stream and know you’ll be treated to such views as these–too often overlooked when zipping by in a car.

Regarding Salinas, also see “What to do in Salinas” section of the Tips for Bicycling Monterey County guide, “Salinas youth and others for bikes,” and other Salinas posts (type “Salinas” in this site’s search window, or contact me).

Regarding infrastructure, see  Monterey County Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and other infrastucture news in the Local Bike News section of this site.

Biking along Spreckels Boulevard

Special thanks to Frank Henderson for shooting photos and to Phil Yenovkian for his assistance with this post as well.

This post was originally published on November 3, 2011.