HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/16/2021 Item 12, Rands
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Janine Kennel Rands <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Protect against night hiking and moutain bicycles
Attachments:SLO CIty Council No to night hiking, biking letter.odt
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Dear Mayor and City Council
Please see my attached letter to plead to protect our Open Spaces from night hiking and mountain bicycles - beyond the
normal 11 hours of available access.
Sincerely
Janine Rands
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Janine Kennel Rands
j9rands@gmail.com
San Luis Obispo
805-704-0148 (c)
1
March 16, 2021
SUBJECT: Say no to Night Hiking and Mountain Biking – protect our open spaces
Dear Mayor Harmon and Members of the San Luis Obispo City Council,
It’s been two years since your Council voted 3 -2 to agree to increase night hiking and
bicycle riding hours on Cerro San Luis Natural Reserve. You opened this for a study of
two years. I am concerned that the study has not been fulfilled and evaluated, because of
the Pandemic.
In 2018, the San Luis Obispo City Council voted “3 to 2” to increase winter night hours on
Cerro San Luis Natural Reserve for mountain biking and public access. It was allegedly a
two-year trial program. I’m requesting that you reevaluate your decision and reinstate the
guidelines of “one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset”. This time frame still
allows 11 hours of public access.
As a City Council, I request that you do everything to prevent even the smallest of
accidents. Two major falls have occurred that were life -threatening and required helicopter
rescues. June 11, 2019 around 8am, a 19 year-old woman fell 50 feet, rescued by
helicopter. Another 18 year-old student fell 25 ft also off Bishop Peak, with severe injuries
and a huge cost to family and friends. Imagine if this had been during the night hours with
zero visibility for rescuers. Accidents can be prevented and reduce the trauma to families
with students who have sent their beloved child to study at CalPoly, only to be severely
injured due to our lax rules of night a ccess to the mountains. As a parent, it is not a
comfort. People of all ages can’t be expected to make good decisions if their visibility is
limited by light.
We citizens must do more to protect our environment, the critters on the hills, the fragile
flora and fauna that are invaded by night access. It is impossible to expect that tires and
footprints will protect these fragile areas. As important, is to not be in the space of wild
animals, whose only home is our Open Space. Let’s put ourselves in their footprints – we
would be seriously upset, frightened and angry if someone burst into our home
unexpectedly, and trampled all over, having a grand time while trying to perhaps protect a
newborn calf or newly emerged plant.
Please provide protection for the City's Natural Reserves and Open Spaces and do not
reverse the City's Open Space Ordinance's Wildlife Protection. Our city population is
expanding with all the new homes being built. We need better protection of our Open
Spaces than less with the influx of young people looking to get out and enjoy our beautiful
City.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Janine Rands, San Luis Obispo