Popular bike trail to close during basin cleanup

Local bicyclists will find their trail options limited this summer by a three-month closure on a popular path.

[Todd Saalman]

This blockhead approach to necessary maintenance is typical of officials in the Los Angeles area. They may 'mouth' the words of conservation and ecco-awareness, but when it comes down to it, they're still just brainwashed slaves of the Big Oil and Car interests and treat bicyclists like second-class citizens.

In Southern California you really have to hunt to find safe biking routes, yet these bozos think nothing of closing down the premier bike trail in the County during weekdays! Can you imagine trying to do that to the Santa Monica freeway so it could be landscaped? Heads would roll just for the suggestion!

Whoever made this decision should be made to commute to work on a bike for the duration of the project.

[Chicken Little]

I`ve always wanted to ride my bike from the SG Valley to Seal Beach down the SG River bike path but was always afraid a group of cholos or bloods would knock me off my bike and mug me once I got past Pico Rivera. Is this safe?

[dailyrunner]

Is there any reason why they have to close the ENTIRE 38 mile stretch of trail in order to scoop away sediment?? Doesn't that seem a bit excessive? I run everyday near the trail head in azuza and I guess I don't quite see the need for a complete closure... could someone explain?

[dailyrunner]

Does someone know who we can write to/call to complain? Thanks!

[BLUEBIKE]

dailyrunner wrote:

Does someone know who we can write to/call to complain? Thanks!

You could try the L.A. County Department of Public Works Road Maintenance Division. The stretch between the 405 and 22 is in Orange County and the responsibility of upkeep and maintenance falls on Seal Beach. Also check online with wikipedia.org and check San Gabriel River Bike paths.

[dailyrunner]

I emailed the author, he replied:

"There has been some confusion about this story, due to a source misunderstanding and some editing problems. The entire trail will not be closed. Rather, an adjacent trail, just accross the river at the spreading grounds, will be closed. Please see the correction in today's paper."

yay!

[Azusan]

The bike trail is pretty safe. I've ridden Azusa to Seal Beach on a weekend and there are plenty of seemingly nice people on the trail. There was some rif-raf along the ride but none that seemed threatening.