We COWs love a good trail. Whether for riding, hiking or biking, there is nothing quite like spending a time on a scenic trail. We, COWs, are rightfully proud of Woodside’s trails but there are other great trails near by that we can also enjoy. One such trail is the Bay Area Ridge Trail for hikers, horse riders and bicyclists, with its spectacular vistas as it winds through mountain ranges and forests. It even comes complete with campsites!

This trail will eventually be 550 miles long. Begun more than 20 years ago, the trail is about ¾ of the way complete with the most recent segment bringing the total to 326 miles available to the public. About 10 to 15 miles of the trail are being opened each year. The project goal is to preserve and connect the large corridor of wilderness still remaining in one of California’s most populous regions. Going from the Wine Country to Silicon Valley and from the East Bay hills to the ridgelines of the Santa Cruz Mountains it is exciting, worthwhile project.

The Bay Area Ridge Trail Council, a San Francisco nonprofit, which is coordinating the project has the goal of linking communities, providing opportunities for health and fitness, creating open space corridors for wildlife, and providing a place where all ages can experience nature. It is hoped that by learning about nature, people will want to protect it. We agree! Visit their very user friendly website here.

The website features a great interactive map. The trail features amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge from the Marin Headlands, wonderful former ranch lands on Mount Hamilton and a route through East Bay parks from Mission Peak to the Carquinez Strait. One segment is right on our doorstep in the trees above Crystal Springs Reservoir. Blue signs mark the way.

The trail also includes many of the Bay Area’s most beloved parks such as Alum Rock in San Jose, Tilden in the Berkeley Hills and the Presidio in San Francisco. According to Inside the Bay “The trail passes Jack London’s grave in Sonoma County, John Muir’s orchards in Martinez, the cinnabar mines of New Almaden in South San Jose. It skirts past the summer home of 19th-century cattle baron Henry Miller near Gilroy, and Sweeney Ridge near Pacifica, where in 1769 Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portola first set eyes on San Francisco Bay.”

The website has a wonderful event map. Coming events include the Lynch Canyon Guided Park Ranger Tour. Saturday July 17th Date: Saturday, July 24, 2010 - 10:00 am and ‘Banana Slug Redwood Ride’ on July 24th in partnership with the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. We hope we will meet you on the trail this summer.

As we all know, the wagon wheels of government turn slowly. The June 22nd COWncil meeting included a status update on the controversial parking restrictions along Woodside Road. The COWncil approved the restrictions last September but they still haven’t gone into effect. We can finally look forward to the Woodside Road parking restrictions this summer – probably.

It started as a battle royale between parents of Woodside Elementary students wanting to drop off their children and bicyclists and other users of the road who have suffered twice-daily traffic jams. There were heated words between the COWncil and residents. Eventually, through collaboration between all of the interest groups, common-sense solutions were agreed upon. (See our previous reports on this important public safety issue here and here.

This stretch of road which creates the parking, traffic, and safety issues that affects us every weekday are part of a public highway under CalTrans’ jurisdiction. According to staff, the holdup wasn’t on Woodside’s end. The Town Manager’s report stated that the project still, after eight months, hasn’t been approved by CalTrans. She reported that CalTrans’ formal position has changed repeatedly over the months and that the Town would “elevate the matter to the regional office” later this month, if it’s not resolved at the field staff level. Town Engineer Paul Nagengast was somewhat more optimistic.

Reportedly, there were three complete rounds of discussion between staff and CalTrans. CalTrans had tried to change the Town’s wording on the proposed signs, violating the spirit of what the COWncil approved. CalTrans lost correspondence between the Town and itself. Then, it had to be assured by the Bicycle Committee that local bike users were on board. This was important to Caltrans since this whole process was triggered when CalTrans proposed banning parking along Woodside Road because it blocked bicycle access. Finally, staff has recently nailed down the width of the new striping with the State. While acknowledging the headaches, Paul seemed confident that CalTrans now seems inclined to go with the Town’s desired signage. The current plan is to install the signs over the summer so that drivers can get used to them. Enforcement will begin before the new school year starts. We certainly hope that another school year does not go by without this important change to parking and traffic flow.

The COWncil had some questions about where the cars that currently park on the roadside will go. Paul stated that the school had freed up quite a few spaces, which hopefully will help. Then, he noted that “no one said this would be easy,” which is why he had been tasked to “live and breathe this for awhile” by the COWncil.

Both Paul and Susan George referred to this as an ongoing process, since the current regulations are unlikely to be the final versions. As the Town sees how traffic is affected, “tweaks” are likely. Even the possibility of widening the road and allowing room for parking spaces and an adequate walking trail was discussed as a future possibility.

A reminder of the parking restrictions soon to be in effect along Woodside Road:

1. “No Stopping and Parking Anytime”, along the north side of Woodside Road (westbound) from Cañada Road to Miramontes Road.

2. “No Stopping and Parking Anytime”, along the south side of Woodside road (eastbound) from the western boundary of Roberts Market parking lot west of Cañada Road to Fox Hollow Road except during the hours 8-9:30 a.m. and 2-4 p.m, M-F.

3. “No Stopping and Parking Anytime”, along the north side of Woodside Road from Martin Lane to Kings Mountain Road.

4. “No Stopping and Parking Anytime”, along Albion Avenue from Woodside Road to Prospect Street fronting the drainage ditch on the east side and the west side to 139 Albion Avenue.

The Town Manager will be authorized to provide exceptions to the “No Stopping and Parking Anytime” on Woodside Road to accommodate special events.

There will undoubtedly be problems with the new parking restrictions, as people get used to them. Hopefully it will be a big improvement over the current situation. Once the new signs are put in, we encourage all COWs to write in and let us know your experience with these restrictions.