HomeMy WebLinkAbout05_24-25_2017 PC Correspondence - San Luis Ranch (Bennett)Good Evening, my name is Mike Bennett, I am a Cal Poly Grad class of 1989, a
Retired Marine Corps Officer and the Executive Director of Bike SLO County.
Bike SLO County is supported by more than 4,900 individuals throughout the region
who believe safer complete roads for biking, walking and driving are essential to
communitywide well-being. Replacing personal motor vehicle trips with bicycle,
transit and pedestrian trips saves energy by reducing fuel consumption, reduces air
pollution and traffic congestion and improves public health.
Bike SLO County recognizes the need for a significant increase in the amount of
affordable local housing. Without more affordable housing, the success and
character of the city will be threatened as young working people will not be able to
afford rent within the city limits, middle aged professionals will choose not to move
here due to the cost of buying a house in the area and Cal Poly Graduates, even the
ones with Masters Degrees, will move away from the area for the same reason.
Bike SLO County supports denser, in-fill housing for people who want to live closer
to their jobs in the City so that they don't have to commute long distances, and for
many of whom, riding a bicycle, walking and/or taking transit are viable
transportation options.
We appreciate the fact that San Luis Ranch reached out to the cycling community to
ask for design recommendations, and are glad to see a final plan that emphasizes
bikeways and pedestrian connections on site and to adjacent and close-by
destinations which will contribute to reduced vehicle trips traveled. We support the
elements of the plan that encourage people to use multi-modal transportation
options, including a bicycle-share program, vanpools and neighborhood electric
vehicles.
While the San Luis Ranch project will address a real need in our community, it also
serves to highlight a requirement for the City of San Luis Obispo to develop a time
table and prioritize resources to address the gap in the bicycle transportation
network between downtown SLO and the Laguna Lake area. Improvements are
necessary to mitigate the negative affect that additional motor vehicle trips in this
area will have upon the air quality and transportation congestion in our community.
Without this vital connection in the City’s bicycle transportation network, more
people will choose to travel between downtown and the Laguna Lake area by
personal motor vehicle for safety reasons even though the distance is easily covered
by bicycle or on foot.
Thank you for your time and consideration.