Greenway Announces Support From Over 100 In Surf Community
Santa Cruz, CA, May 19, 2021 – Santa Cruz County Greenway, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising broad-based support for transforming the unused Santa Cruz County rail corridor into a positive community asset, announced today the support of members of the local surf community. Santa Cruz County surfers and ocean enthusiasts have come together to endorse the Greenway vision of a multi-use trail on the corridor, creating a wide enough path to accommodate bike and pedestrian use, as well as new e-mobility forms of active transportation.
“It’s time for the community to come together around Greenway. The Regional Transportation Commission’s studies have made it clear that a train is not financially feasible,” said Kyle Thierman, big wave surfer, writer and local podcaster. “The community would benefit so much from taking up the tracks and building a wide multi-use trail for safe routes to schools, biking to work, and recreational use of all kinds.”
The Greenway plan involves railbanking (preserving the corridor for a possible future rail option), removing the existing and unused tracks, and building a world class trail down the center of the rail corridor using existing bridges and trestles, to optimize safety and ease of travel. Imagine being in a park-like setting and having the ability to bike to the beach, safely use your wheelchair, take a stroll with your family, walk your pet, or cruise to work on an e-powered mode of personal transit, all on a grade of less than 3%. Greenway envisions the coastal corridor being the backbone of a network of pathways connected to trails like the Pajaro River Levee, Slough Trails, and enhanced protected bike lanes on city streets. South county residents will have access to the magnificent sloughs and beaches as well as a safe transportation alternative.
The Santa Cruz surf community realizes the importance of creating recreational opportunities for all residents of the county, as well as providing alternative forms of non-polluting green transit. The Greenway vision promotes a healthy lifestyle, something our local surfers have embraced since the first waves were ridden at the San Lorenzo River mouth by three Hawaiian princes in 1885. “By building Greenway, our community will be setting a positive course for future generations, one that is in keeping with the character, ideals and environmental ethos of the people that live and work here,” said Tyler Fox, Publisher of Santa Cruz Waves magazine and big wave surfer. He added, “The best form of public transit going forward is an improved METRO bus system and Greenway.”
Justine Willeford, water woman and sustainable swim wear brand owner, commented, “The rail proposal is insanely expensive, forever in the future, and won’t benefit the populations that need affordable public transit the most. A new bike and walking path would cost very little by comparison, be completed quickly, and be heavily utilized by the community.”
Blake Anderson, surfer, waterman and Santa Cruz Harbormaster would like to see the corridor near the Harbor be used for bike commuters and recreational travel. “The benefits of having bicyclists cross the Harbor via the trestle and not the Eaton Street bridge will result in fewer accidents and alleviate bike versus pedestrian pinch points at the upper harbor.”
Big wave surfer Shawn Dollar agrees with the safety factor the multi-use trail will provide to users. “Building Greenway would be a huge benefit for alternative, safe transportation in our county. You could quickly and safely get across town—choosing a bike would far outweigh sitting in traffic. Currently, cutting through town is a zig-zag of roads and mixed bike lanes. It’s dangerous and not friendly for kids. I really hope one day I’m able to hop on a bike with my family and use this path.”
The following list of surfers and ocean-minded watermen and waterwomen are the vanguard of rising support for Santa Cruz County Greenway. Unite with them in their support for the creation of an environmentally friendly, affordable and safe Greenway, which will be used for transportation and recreational purposes for generations to come. Interested community members are encouraged to learn more at sccgreenway.org, where they can and add their name to the Greenway petition that has already gathered over 10,000 signatures.
Shawn Dollar
Nat Young
Kyle Thiermann
Blake Anderson
Frankie D’Andrea
Noah “Waggy” Wegrich
Darshan Gooch
Matt Myers
Justine Willeford
Jimmy Herrick
Mairen Torr
Ryan Lynch
Wilem Banks
Jesse Colombo
Shannon Theiss
Bud Freitas
Bryan Garrison
Taylor Lane
Kyle Buthman
Kevin Rafferty
Jake Weber
Neal Kearny
Pete Kerney
Django Davis
Koa DePuydt
Tessa Timmons
Tighe Melville
Rob Crompton
Nick Alheit
A.J. Pappas
Jai Grace
Andy Hofman
Ethan Downey
Zac Adams
Matt Hofman
Russell Simpkins
Timmy Rubicaba
Paul Torrez
Tom Haid
Kegen Mayo
Will Mayall
Fred Heim
Dane Nabal
Henry Madsen
Brook Goddard
Trevor Durtchi
Ella Madsen
Keaton Port-Gaarn
Jeff Peters
Emmett Madsen
Doug Erickson
Zack Fusari
Price Foulger
Guy Kawasaki
Jake Fusari
Kena Foulger
FJ Anderson
Bryan Rawles
Craig Muirhead
Steve Ferris
Anders Cochran
Aubrey Muirhead
Matthew Quinn
Craig Waltz
Joseph Barton
Tyler Port-Gaarn
Chris Manns
Maddie Barton
Brian Payne
Jason Hernandez
Rick Martin
Dave Sullivan
Nick Hernandez
Emily Martin
Jack Boston
Chelsea Thiermann
Kaleb Martin
Janee Medved
Marshal Julian
Ian Howard
Troy DePuydt
Max Train
Mitch Howard
Heather Rhodes
Wes Leviki
Reunan Varene
Kyle Marty
James Manns
Jenny Bennett
Dan Rhodes
Deva Kane
Danny Bennett
Erin Torr
Alex Beck
Taylor Frame
Guy Vachon
Scott Leiserson
Shelby Frame
Olivia Quinn
Matt Taylor
Cody Hill
Toby Thiermann
Justin Davis
Dave Wagner
Greg Heath
Becca Davis
Christian Heyward
Makenna DePuydt
Taj Davis
Jenni Heyward
###
Santa Cruz County Greenway is a 501(c)4 non-profit advocacy organization whose mission is “to transform Santa Cruz County into a safe, affordable and equitable transportation community.” Please visit our website at sccgreenway.org for more information.