Press Releases

SOQUEL CAPITOLA INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
Santa Cruz
September 12, 2007 - The project to improve safety and circulation at the Soquel Avenue and
Capitola Road intersection will begin in earnest within the next couple of weeks. The
contractor is now doing the preparatory work including tree trimming. During construction, you
can expect delays on Soquel Avenue and Capitola Road. The public is urged to accommodate
this work by allowing extra time to make it through the work zone, or by using
alternate routes in order to stay clear of the work zone altogether. The construction work is expected to continue through December. Please be advised that during the work, temporary detours can be expected and access to individual properties may be interrupted for short periods of time. During
construction, traffic delays, lane closures, and temporary inconveniences are expected. The
City needs your help and cooperation in safely completing this project on time. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Josh Spangrud, Associate Civil Engineer at (831) 420-5178.

SUMMER IS THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME OF YEAR FOR UNATTENDED KIDS IN AND AROUND CARS
WASHINGTON, June 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the onset of summer, the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS) is teaming with XM Satellite Radio, the National WIC Association, local health clinics, automobile dealers, state highway safety offices, as well as others to remind parents to actively supervise their children in and around cars. More...(PDF file)

BICYCLIST KILLED BY DRUNK DRIVER
Soquel
On May 18, 2007 at approximately 3:15 AM, Suleiman Hodali, a 19 year old Santa Cruz man, was driving a 2002 Toyota Tacoma northbound on Thurber Lane from Soquel Drive at an unknown rate of speed. Preliminary investigation has shown that Hodali allowed his vehicle to drift right, directly into the path of an unidentified man riding a bicycle northbound on Thurber Lane. More...(PDF file)

3 BICYCLISTS INJURED IN SR-1 CRASH
Davenport
On May 14, 2007, at approximately 12:10 pm, a 62 year old Woodside man was riding his bicycle southbound on SR-1 in the area of Cement Plant Road. The bicyclist lost control of his bicycle after driving over a set of train tracks. More...(PDF file)

SANTA CRUZ STUDENTS ANALYZE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION
Students Walk, Bike and Roll to School as Part of the Bike n' Hike Tracking Program Santa Cruz, CA (April 3, 2007) - This past week, students in ten classrooms began tracking the miles they walked, bicycled and skateboarded, roller bladed or rode a scooter to school. As part of an air district grant funded program through the Santa Cruz Area Transportation Management Association (SCATMA) called Bike n' Hike, these students will track their miles for four weeks and then tally the total miles as a class to calculate how much CO2 they kept out of the air, how many calories they burned, and how much money they saved by foregoing a ride in the family car. More...(PDF file)

Drive Safely in Construction Work Zones
The Federal Highway Administration reports that there was a 50% increase in construction work zone fatalities between 1997 and 2004, making work zone safety a growing roadway concern. Santa Cruz County has no shortage of work zones these days. The Community Traffic Safety Coalition wants to remind all road users to use caution and stay alert in work zones. More...(PDF file)

Tool Available to Help Pedestrians
A Pedestrian Access Report program is available to Santa Cruz County residents. The report, developed by the Community Traffic Safety Coalition and the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (SCCRTC), allows community members to report obstacles or hazards that may be encountered during pedestrian travel such as cracked sidewalks, sidewalks blocked by vehicles or overgrown vegetation. In addition the report can be used to indicate gaps in the sidewalk network and desired improvements. More...(PDF file)

In the News

Rail trail could hike home values, study says
SANTA CRUZ -- Property owners along the county's 32-mile rail line could see their home values jump if a hiking and biking trail is built along the tracks, according to a study released by a county cycling coalition earlier this week. More....http://67.15.208.115/story.php?sid=39512&storySection=Local

Accidents near Soquel High call student safety into question
Two Soquel High students are recovering after being struck by vehicles in two separate accidents Tuesday morning. More....http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2007/September/06/local/stories/09local.htm

As We See It: Seeking a safe ride
The tragic death of a bicyclist Tuesday in a collision with a big rig at the busy intersection of Mission and Bay streets in Santa Cruz is yet another reminder of our dangerous roads. Another cyclist was injured in the same intersection only last week after a truck collided with her mountain bike. In both cases, the drivers said they didn't see the cyclists. More..... http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2007/August/08/edit/stories/01edit.htm

Bicyclist dies in collision with truck on Mission Street in Santa Cruz
A bicyclist was killed shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday in a collision with a semi-truck at Mission and Bay streets. http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2007/August/08/local/stories/01local.htm

Mission Street long a problem for bicyclists
SANTA CRUZ — It's no secret that Mission Street is a scary place to ride a bike.

Bicyclists say they avoid it when possible, transportation officials recommend alternate bike routes and police know the thoroughfare is prone to vehicle-versus-bicycle collisions. More..... http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2007/August/08/local/stories/02local.htm


Summer school students brush up on bicycle skills
The subject was safety, the course full of obstacles for fourth-graders Wednesday at Landmark Elementary School. More.... http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2007/July/19/local/stories/08local.htm

Traffic school for bicyclists comes to Santa Cruz
The Community Traffic Safety Coalition of Santa Cruz County plans to launch a bike traffic school in the fall that will operate similar to the way traffic school.... .http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2007/July/03/local/stories/02local.htm


County launches rebate program for folding bikes
The county's latest effort to promote bus ridership and ease traffic on local roadways comes as a cash rebate for a folding bike.

The Santa Cruz Area Transportation Management Association, which launched its Folding Bicycle Program on Thursday, is hoping that incentives of up to $250 will prompt commuters to buy a bike that folds up and travels well in the aisle of a bus. More...
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2007/March/09/local/stories/03local.htm


Dispelling the myths around bicycle safety
Recently, there have been several articles and letters to the editor regarding bicyclists' safety and behavior on the roads of Santa Cruz County. A central question has been raised whether our roadways are safe for cyclists. This is a hard question to answer since we don't know how many cyclists there are in Santa Cruz County and how many miles they bike. But the following answers to common bike-safety myths may help clarify the issue. More...
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2006/October/08/edit/stories/06edit.htm

Events

Sunday, October 21st, Car Seat Inspections at Aptos Fire Station. Car seat inspection flyer (PDF file).

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