Santa Ana River bicycle path
Encyclopedia
The Santa Ana River Bicycle path (SART) is a bicycle Trail in Southern California
, stretching 30 miles from the Pacific Ocean at Huntington Beach along the Santa Ana River
to the Orange/Riverside county line. Along with the Santa Ana River horse trail, the Santa Ana River bike trail forms the Santa Ana River Crest to Coast Riding and Hiking Trail and Bikeway system, which with an anticipated length on completion of approximately 100 miles (160.9 km), forms one of the longest trails in the Greater Los Angeles Area
. In 1989, the Los Angeles Times
described the path as "a veritable freeway for bicycles." According to CVC Section 21207.5, the portion between Gypsum Canyon Rd in Anaheim - Featherly Park - and Green River Rd in Corona
is a section of Bikeway which is parallel and adjacent to the Riverside Freeway, a roadway dedicated exclusively to auto, truck and motorcycle use. Therefore this section of the SART is mixed use as a result. Motorized Bicycles (both 406a & 406b) have been permitted to travel on this portion of the SART to commute, if they so wish, since 1980
. In 1990, safety on the trail became a concern when it was occupied by homeless populations and street gangs. An increased police presence in 2000 led to a reduction in crime, though pockets of homeless camps have reappeared under some bridges along the trail.
In 2005, heavy rains caused extensive erosion on the path, requiring repairs from the state at about $1 million, part of an approximately $43 million clean-up in Southern California occasioned by the disaster.
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Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, stretching 30 miles from the Pacific Ocean at Huntington Beach along the Santa Ana River
Santa Ana River
The Santa Ana River is the largest river of Southern California in the United States. Its drainage basin spans four counties. It rises in the San Bernardino Mountains and flows past the cities of San Bernardino and Riverside, before cutting through the northern tip of the Santa Ana Mountains and...
to the Orange/Riverside county line. Along with the Santa Ana River horse trail, the Santa Ana River bike trail forms the Santa Ana River Crest to Coast Riding and Hiking Trail and Bikeway system, which with an anticipated length on completion of approximately 100 miles (160.9 km), forms one of the longest trails in the Greater Los Angeles Area
Greater Los Angeles Area
The Greater Los Angeles Area, or the Southland, is a term used for the Combined Statistical Area sprawled over five counties in the southern part of California, namely Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County and Ventura County...
. In 1989, the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
described the path as "a veritable freeway for bicycles." According to CVC Section 21207.5, the portion between Gypsum Canyon Rd in Anaheim - Featherly Park - and Green River Rd in Corona
Corona
A corona is a type of plasma "atmosphere" of the Sun or other celestial body, extending millions of kilometers into space, most easily seen during a total solar eclipse, but also observable in a coronagraph...
is a section of Bikeway which is parallel and adjacent to the Riverside Freeway, a roadway dedicated exclusively to auto, truck and motorcycle use. Therefore this section of the SART is mixed use as a result. Motorized Bicycles (both 406a & 406b) have been permitted to travel on this portion of the SART to commute, if they so wish, since 1980
History
In 1977, the bike path was designated a National Recreation TrailNational Recreation Trail
National Recreation Trail is a designation given to existing trails that contribute to health, conservation, and recreation goals in the United States. Over 1,000 trails in all 50 U.S. states, available for public use and ranging from less than a mile to in length, have been designated as NRTs...
. In 1990, safety on the trail became a concern when it was occupied by homeless populations and street gangs. An increased police presence in 2000 led to a reduction in crime, though pockets of homeless camps have reappeared under some bridges along the trail.
In 2005, heavy rains caused extensive erosion on the path, requiring repairs from the state at about $1 million, part of an approximately $43 million clean-up in Southern California occasioned by the disaster.
Description
The asphalt-paved path is 12-feet wide, divided into two lanes so cyclists may ride abreast.There are a couple of different routes but one of them is waterman avenue est 37 miles from start to the nature preserve past the nature preserve is a dirt path with glass, thorns, etc As of 2006, 70 miles (112.7 km) of the path were complete; when finished, in conjunction with the equestrian path, the trail is expected to bridge three counties, touching on 17 cities and two national forestUnited States National Forest
National Forest is a classification of federal lands in the United States.National Forests are largely forest and woodland areas owned by the federal government and managed by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. Land management of these areas...
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