Do you consider yourself a tree hugger?

The Santa Barbara planning commission’s proposed project to build a safer bike path on Modoc Road threatens the removal of 21 trees. The current bike path has 24 serious collision points, making it unsafe compared to the other bike paths that border this stretch of Modoc Road, which, as well as the pertinent environmental benefits of biking, is the reason for the necessity of a new and safer bike path along this region of the road. 

“Every street should be safe for every user,” said Heather Deutsch, executive director of MOVE SB, an organization that advocates for more sustainable transportation opportunities.

The bike path is used heavily by students, including freshman Dakota Risley. “I think it is so important to have safe bike paths,” Dakota said. 

Although the current plan does not remove the iconic Canary Island palms as originally planned, Alignment B would endorse the removal of 21 trees, including the native Coast Live Oak and non-native lemon and blue gum eucalyptus, according to the Trees and Trails website. 

“We don’t want to cut trees down just because they aren’t native. We feel that these trees are not dangerous and serve a purpose,” said Deb Thomas, leader of CAMP (Community Association for the Modoc Preserve), a grassroots organization that opposes the removal of these trees. 

Alignment B, approved by the Country Board of Supervisors on Nov. 1, 2022, is a far more environmentally sound solution than the initially proposed path, Alignment A, which threatened over 48 trees. 

However, the path will affect the Modoc Nature Preserve after Via Zorro. 

There is no reason to degrade a green space used by pedestrians and equestrians in the name of sustainability just because the bikers feel left out. 

“My group CAMP, the Land Trust of Santa Barbara, La Cumbre Water Company, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife all wrote concerning letters that the Board of Supervisors chose not to address at their meeting,” said Thomas. 

The Modoc Nature Preserve is on private and protected land managed by the Santa Barbara Land Trust and owned by La Cumbre Water Company. The organization must approve the plan for parts of Alignment B on the preserve before construction begins. 

“The county doesn’t think they can extend the multi-use path all the way down to Via Senda because they say there is not enough room,” said Thomas. 

If the proposed path was moved entirely on the road, removing the Class II bike lane on the north side, no trees would have to be removed, and the community would still have a safe and improved bike lane. 

“Our argument is that they could get rid of the north side Class II bike lane to allow for a 10-foot bike lane on Modoc Road without having to take any trees,” said Thomas. 

Another controversial part of Alignment B is how it would affect the entrance to Hope Ranch, which borders the preserve. 

“It would totally change the look of the entrance of Las Palmas for one; this is one sticking point for us,” said Thomas. 

The city can afford new bike lanes due to state funding allotted to finance renewable transportation services. “This started back in 2018 when the county got an alternative transportation plan grant from Caltrans,” said Thomas.

The Active Transportation Program grant awarded $5.4 million; the estimated project cost is $8 million, with the County matching funds for its completion.

“The bike paths there now, the Class II lanes, haven’t been properly maintained or swept,” said Thomas. 

This project highlights the differences between community concerns. While one group seeks to make positive environmental changes by implementing more bike paths to increase sustainable transportation options, others in our community see preserving our limited green space as the key to environmental sustainability.

“Separated facilities for bicycles are needed to make it safe,” said Deutsch. Adding a small stretch of a safer bike path on Modoc Road will not transform Santa Barbara into a mecca for alternative transportation. Still, it will provide safer transportation for those like Dakota who use it. 

“The Land Trust has given the County a list of non-starters that they have to comply to in order to put the path in because it’s private property under a conservation easement,” said Thomas, “Until they have the easement with the Land Trust of Santa Barbara they aren’t going to be able to do anything in the preserve.”