Willow Glen Extra reported the other day on a threat to the “Three Creeks” bike trail proposed to link trails along Coyote Creek, the Guadalupe River, and Los Gatos Creek. The trail is planned by the city of San Jose to be built along abandoned railroad rights of way, but money hasn’t yet been found to purchase the land.

In the meantime, the railroad has sold portions of the land off to other parties, and now one purchaser is planning to build a structure over the proposed trail site. Stucco Supply Co. is requesting planning approval to build a storage area on the land they acquired from the railroad.

Because planning approval is needed there’s still time for input from the public. With enough support, the planning department can require the property owner to grant an easement for bicycle access through the site, allowing the bike path to pass through the area without having to be diverted onto busy streets.

See the WGx article for more detail, including the names and addresses of appropriate government people to contact if you support development of San Jose’s cycling infrastructure.

Rail crossing at 7th and Jackson in Japantown.

If you’re a bike commuter, one of the most dangerous parts of your ride is probably that rail crossing. The one with broken pavement and giant potholes all around it and a Himalaya range of mounded up pavement running along each rail. To cross this track without landing on your face, you’ve got to pick your path carefully, and that might mean swerving out into the traffic lane to cross at a relatively flat spot.

In my case, that rail crossing is at the corner of 7th and Jackson Streets, just on the east edge of Japantown. Getting to my old job, it was on 10th Street, just north of Hedding. There’s probably a few crossings just as bad scattered around other parts of town too.

For years, whenever I mention these problem crossings to city staffers, they’ve told me they rely on Union Pacific railroad to maintain railroad crossings, and there’s little they can do to get them fixed. But just this week, I had a chance to mention that crossing again to a group of city transportation engineering managers, and I learned something new.

Jay Thorstensen from the Transportation department emailed me a day later and let me know its possible to contact UP directly to let them know about dangerous track crossings. Contact details are found on the UP website. Basically, for non-emergency track or crossing maintenance issues in California, the number is (916) 789-6114. That gets through to a real person, though its not clear how quickly he can actually respond to problems. I’m hoping at least that enough calls about a particularly problematic crossing can move it to the top of the list for repairs.

Bike to work day is coming up again, Thursday, May 14. With over 50 energizer stations (listed here) set up around Santa Clara County, and lots of other bikes on the road keeping motorists aware of bikes, Bike-to-Work Day makes it easy and safe to ride your bike to work, even if you don’t have an established biking routine. And just getting a routine established might be enough to turn you into a regular bike commuter, so give it a try!

There’s also a raffle open to people who pledge to ride their bicycle for work or errands at least once in May, with prizes including bikes from Marin and Dahon, and gear from REI. And, of course, Team Bike Challenge continues, with teams Bone on Bone from Cisco Systems, Vander-Bikers from Vander-Bend Manufacturing, and Garden City Rollers featuring San Jose Councilmember Sam Liccardo leading the Santa Clara County standings.

Graphic: Steren/Openclipart.org

As reported yesterday in Velo News, and relayed by Silicon Valley Business Journal, Amgen Tour of California cycling stage race organizers are planning for some changes next year. The tour dates are expected to be moved to mid-May, rather than February as in past years. This is hoped to make better weather more likely, bringing more spectators out to the course. The likelihood of warmer weather will also make it possible to take the race into the Sierras, where more substantial climbs await. It’s not clear if opening more territory to the tour will make it harder for San Jose, which has hosted a stage start or finish for at least two years running, to secure a spot on the itinerary.

The new date would also put the California race on the same dates as the Giro d’Italia, the biggest race on the European calendar after the Tour de France. This isn’t expected to reduce the field of possible headline teams for the California tour, since teams contending for the Tour de France typically skip the Giro anyway, and Amgen organizers apparently hope to bring some of those teams over for a less strenuous event.

Photo: Len Gilbert

Bike to Work Day isn’t until May 14, but you can start early and make it last all month by joining Team Bike Challenge. Form a team with up to 4 friends, and sign up on the website. Then each day in May when you use your bike to get to work or run errands, go back to the website to log your ride and score points.

The idea is to create new bike commuters, so your team must have at least one “novice” rider, and novices, “weekend warriors” (recreational riders), and “big wheels” (executives and civic leaders) score extra points for each ride. At the end of the month, the teams with the most points win some small prizes; but the real prize is getting some cars off the road, and getting some new riders onto their bikes.

This spring Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve trails will be open after hours only to bicyclists.

The 3,882-acre Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve is located in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains in south Santa Clara County. There are over 8 miles of foothill trails just for bikes during this special after hours activity.

Riders are required to register on-site and attend a short briefing before heading out to the trails. Registration begins 2 1/2 hours before the ride’s start time in the Casa Loma Road parking lot. Parking is limited to the first 50 vehicles that arrive at the staging area. This activity is restricted to adults (18 and over). Riders must have a helmet, headlamp and bike lamp. A rear light is recommended. This is a free event.

Rancho Cañada del Oro
399 Casa Loma Road
Morgan Hill 95037
408-224-7476

From Highway 101, take the Bailey Avenue exit west. At the intersection with McKean Road turn left. Where McKean Road becomes Uvas Road turn right onto Casa Loma Road. The staging area is at the end of the paved road on your left

The spring rides are scheduled for the first and third Fridays of April and May…

Friday, April 3
7:00 PM to 10:30 PM (Registration 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM)

Friday, April 17
7:15 PM to 10:45 PM (Registration 4:45 PM to 7:15 PM)

Friday, May 1
7:30 PM to 11:00 PM (Registration 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM)

Friday, May 15
7:45 PM to 11:15 PM (Registration 5:15 PM to 7:45 PM)

Amgen Tour of California Stage 3

Stage 3 of the Amgen Tour of California got rolling just before noon today in downtown San Jose. After a quick “neutral” tour of downtown San Jose, though, the actual race stage officially began at the corner of Taylor and 13th Streets in the Northside neighborhood. Today’s stage rolls over the hills to Modesto, where its expected to end at about 4 o’clock.

As of this writing, the wet and slippery weather had led to a few spills in the race, including one involving race leader and Northern California native Levi Leipheimer. No word yet on whether Leipheimer’s crash was serious.

A few more photos from the race start, and at Calaveras Road above Milpitas can be found in my Flickr set, and of course there’s a whole Flickr group for the race where you can see photos from dozens of photographers and cycling fans.

Stage Three of the Amgen Tour of California cycling road race comes to San Jose on Tuesday, February 17, 2009. Reversing last year’s route, the stage will begin in downtown San Jose and head over the hills to Modesto.

The stage begins at the corner of San Fernando Street and Almaden Boulevard at noon on Tuesday and heads over Sierra Road, past Calaveras Reservoir, through Livermore and Tracy, and finally after 104 miles, ends in downtown Modesto. A detailed map is available from the stage page at the AToC website. The race features teams you’ll recognize from the major European races, such as Astana, Quickstep, and Rabobank, as well as local teams such as Jelly Belly Cycling Team. Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong is also riding, but in a supporting role after a couple of years of retirement. Armstrong will be backing last year’s Amgen Tour winner, Levi Leipheimer on team Astana.

In today’s Prologue stage in Sacramento, Saxo Bank rider Fabian Cancellar had the best time, while North Bay native Leipheimer took second.

On Monday September 22, people from around the world get together to celebrate a day without cars. With gas prices at an all time high, Carfree Day is the perfect time to leave your car at home and get around your neighborhood and the region by foot, bike, bus, and train or by sharing the ride.

I did not find any events listed for San Jose nor did I find any information on the VTA site saying what a great day to take public transit. Carfree Day is not mentioned on the San Jose Green Vision site. People asleep at the wheel. You and I knew about World Carfree Day, right?

While driving south on 280 between 85 and Apple’s main campus I noticed a humongous white plastic looking object on the left side of the freeway. What could it be? — A utility pole? A transmission tower? Would it soon be seeking signs from Martians?

This is what I have discovered:

Once upon a time, (two decades ago) the city of Cupertino was busy getting ready to connect Mary Ave. This would be accomplished with a car overpass spanning 280. Earthen ramps were readied on both sides. Then the city began to hear that the residents living near Stevens Creek were raising concerns. What impact would the traffic have on their neighborhood? The work was halted.

Fast-forward to 2008 and we find that the city of Cupertino is once again attempting to traverse 280. This time it will be with a Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge. For reference: walkers and bicyclists will be able to move from the area of De Anza College to Homestead High School with ease.