16-0118_DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS OAK, LLC_E1a_Correspondence- Cory, Leslie1/18/2016
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From: Leslie Cory
Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2016 10:32 AM
To: Maria Morris
Subject: Proposed Bike Path
Dear Ms. Morris,
I am writing on behalf of equestrians that utilize the berm trail adjacent the Oaks project in San Juan
Capistrano. I am aware there is a proposed new bike path that will share this berm trail with
equestrians in order to connect 'mountain to sea' bicyclists. I see this as a recipe for disaster. I board
my horse at Mission Trails at the end of Avenida Siega/Calle Arroyo and have been riding my horse along
the berm trail since 1998. There are a lot of horse riders who utilize that area and ride in and out of the
creek as well as accessing the new Reata Riding Park and the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding
Park. Recently, the new Oaks project has expanded their equestrian facilities which run adjacent the
new proposed bike path. This has added even more riders onto the trail who use this to cross over to
the RMV Riding Park. The problem as I have experienced is that the bicyclists are not familiar with
how horses might react to the presence of a fast moving bicycle coming up behind them. Some of them
are polite and announce they are coming, but most do not. Currently, since the trail is dirt, they are
deterred from going very fast as they might do on an asphalt path. I totally understand that this would
be ideal for the bicyclists to have this short path paved, but I am fearful of horse accidents that may
occur as a result. I would recommend leaving it as is. It is wide enough for everyone to share. If it is left
as is, perhaps the city can put up signage directing the bicyclists to stay to one side of the trail closest to
the fence. This would allow riders to use the rest of the trail for open access to and from the creek.
Best regards,
Lem Cary