HomeMy WebLinkAbout1/16/2018 Item 9, Bennett
From:Mike Bennett <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:PILOT PROGRAM FOR WINTER OPEN SPACE HOURS OF USE / Item 9 January 16th
agenda
Attachments:V2 Cerro San Luis Access Proposal Steve Edits.docx
Good morning Madam Mayor and SLO City Council Members,
Bike SLO County is happy to stand with our friends at CCCMB to support the proposed pilot program to extend open
space access hours. The attached letter was an Op Ed that we submitted to various local media outlets before the
holidays, but it was never published. The letter describes Bike SLO County’s position on the matter.
Respectfully submitted,
Mike
Mike Bennett
LtCol USMC, Retired
Executive Director | Bike SLO County
Managing Director | CCDDAP
mike@bikeslocounty.org W:805.547.2055 | C:760.815.4069
www.bikeslocounty.org
www.CCDDAP.org
1
Cerro San Luis Evening Trail Access Op Ed – “A Little Recreation Equity in SLO’s Open Spaces”
There are very few things that are universally agreed upon within the medical community. The benefit
of exercise on a person’s physical and mental wellbeing is, however, a wonderful exception. Similarly,
the personal benefits that can be reaped from spending time in natural surroundings away from the
hustle and bustle of our busy lives is very well documented and supported. From stress reduction to
improved metabolic function, the benefits gained from physical activity in a natural environment make it
one of the best possible uses of a person’s time and resources in the pursuit of a healthy and balanced
life.
With the requirements that the modern workplace put upon the average human, opportunities to get
active outdoors can be few and far between. In the vicinity of SLO City we are very fortunate to have
access, almost at our doorsteps, to wonderful open spaces for recreation and for the appreciation of our
natural environment. Closest at hand is Cerro San Luis and its network of trails. The mountain is a true
treasure and its proximity makes it a readily accessible resource for walking, running, horseback riding,
and mountain bike riding.
For many SLO residents, however, it is a resource that becomes unavailable when the hours of daylight
wane in the Fall. Current City law restricts trail access to the hours of daylight. This law may permit an
after‐work hike in the summer, but that same after‐work hike, completed at the exact same time of day
(let’s say 6:00 to 7:00 PM), may end up costing a resident $561 once Daylight Saving Time expires.
The law’s restriction and penalty keeps many hard‐working citizens, the very people who need some
healthy, active stress relief, from being able to take advantage of the trails in the same way that
residents and visitors with more flexible schedules can. A proposal for a pilot program to address this
issue is before the City Council. The proposal would extend trail access hours to 8:30 PM and provide a
degree of recreation equity to SLO’s citizens by enabling more of its working residents to regularly use
the trails.
The open space in SLO has two roles that are not mutually exclusive. One is to provide a space for flora
and fauna to flourish and one is to provide a space for we human animals to recreate and gain an
appreciation of how we fit into the natural world. The roles can and do overlap. People who gain a
greater appreciation for open space because of time spent enjoying it will be strong supporters of open
space now and in the future, donating their time, labor, and dollars to preserve what they understand to
be a vital resource.
The proposal for a pilot program to allow trail access on Cerro San Luis until 8:30 PM is a limited and
measured approach toward enabling more working residents to have an equal opportunity to utilize the
wonderful resource that is Cerro San Luis. This middle path will help get more of us on the trail to a
healthier and happier life without sacrificing the quality of life of the animals and plants residing in our
local open spaces.
Mike Bennett
LtCol USMC, Retired
Executive Director, Bike SLO County