HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/6/2021 Item 4b, Erbstoesser
From:Ryan E. <ryanerbstoesser@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday,
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:Parks & Recreation Commission : Dirt Jumps / Bike Track Citizen Request
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Dear Parks & Rec Commission,
Please accelerate the development of city provided dirt jump parks and a pump track to replace the recent destruction
of the Costco Jumps. This new, or addition to a city park must be in an area that is centrally located, easily accessible by
kids via bike, and along designated safe cycling routes already in use to travel between schools and across town. The
acceptable locations include Laguna Lake Park & near Sinsheimer Park along the Railroad Safety trail.
The dirt jumps at Costco while unauthorized, became a valued community resource over their decade-plus existence. I
used them, my kids used them, and they were always in use while I pumped gas at Costco. Jumps like these promote a
healthy lifestyle for riders of all ages and abilities, build skills, teach responsibility with their use & maintenance, and
promote community bonds via easy equitable access. There are many cities with jump parks that SLO can use as a guide.
Just to name a few: Truckee Bike Park, Sedona Bike Skills Park, Bijou at South Lake Tahoe, Snakes Hollow in St. George
Ut, Valmont in Boulder CO. All are incredible and offer a range of beginner, intermediate, and expert features accessible
and challenging to all abilities.
As previously stated, location and ease of access is key. Laguna and near Sinsheimer would promote healthy lifestyle
choices as well as be the most environmentally acceptable locations. A bike park should be located where kids are
already riding and not require a drive by car. Sedona & St George’s bike parks are located directly adjacent to their
middle schools and thus receive massive use. Costco jumps were there for all to see and thus also received steady &
continuous use. For this reason, the suggestion to put a facility out by the sewer treatment plant should be a non-
starter. There is no safe way for a kid to ride their bike to that part of town and the fact that a car ride is required to use
a bike skills facility should give us all pause as we work towards our 2030 climate action goals. Additionally, putting a
bike facility whose primary users will be children near the sewer treatment plant as a homeless encampment deterrent
is in poor taste and poorly thought out. Kids should never be used in this way.
Sincerely,
Ryan Erbstoesser
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