Editor’s note: The following is a continuation of last week’s editorial about what could and should be the proper bike paths for the city of Merced.
Bicycling is the No. 1 mode of transportation at UC Davis, and the community strongly supports the safety of cyclists as they navigate through well-designed paths and routes.
In Merced, we do notice the new Campus Parkway route from Highway 99 toward UC Merced has a separate bike path which is commendable; however, it is far from the center of town, and presently not connected to the Lake Road Bike Path to campus. When that is done, it will help serve the needs of the community.
Merced, with its UC Merced and Merced College, should be ideal for becoming a Bike Path City. The problem is most of our bike paths are recreational.
What we need is safe bike paths which go north and south.
For example, the bike path along Bear Creek drive is beautiful; however, it is mainly east and west.
Where should a north and south bike path go? The one street which is perfect for taking bike riders from Bear Creek to Merced College and UC Merced is Parsons Avenue.
There are those who argue another main artery is needed for cars, and perhaps it’s an expansion of Parsons. But after 50 years of being on the city’s traffic plan, nothing has happened, and nothing is going to happen.
Nevertheless, Parsons Avenue could have a bike bridge across Bear Creek, and then another over the Santa Fe railroad tracks, taking it all the way to Golden Valley High School, where it could head further south on Childs Avenue.
There is already a bridge across Bear Creek west of R Street, and that area is not as densely populated as the rest of town.
We look forward to the city and county having a Safe Bike Path plan which will go all the way from South Merced directly to the campuses in the north.