Suzi Tompkins, San Clemente
When I read the article regarding bikes and e-bikes on the San Clemente Beach Trail, I strongly felt that I should comment.
Many of us who walk the trail do so because it is off the roadways, quieter and so much more enjoyable to be by the ocean than walking on a sidewalk alongside the busy streets. My main concern is that adding another vehicle, especially electric bikes that can generally be faster than a standard bicycle, which in my experience are sometimes ridden very fast on the trail, removes the joy of a beautiful trail that is a very special privilege in beautiful San Clemente.
Since the city has put so much time, money and effort into adding bike lanes to our roads and the Beach Trail by its nature seems to be used primarily for foot traffic, it seems adding another vehicle use to the trail defeats the reason the majority of us utilize the trail.
In addition, bicycles use the trail outside the parameters of the allowed time frame, from June 15 to Labor Day. It would be just as difficult to enforce an electric bike user to abide by the stated time constraints. I may have missed a notice that residents could have had a say in the Council’s decision, but if given the opportunity, I would vote against adding e-bikes access to the Beach Trail.
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