It’s All About Synergy
“Up for a ride?” OCTA’s Bike Czar, Wes Parsel, wanted to know; it was his day off, and what better way to spend it than an early ride to Sunset Beach.
We met in the Five Crowns parking lot in CdM — many rides begin here — then we took off for the Newport Beach pier, via the Balboa Island ferry, of course. At 8:30am there was a thick marine layer and a breeze that foretold of more winds to come, but for now the wind was at our back and we had friends to meet.
Ride with anyone new and you’ll likely discover a new route, a shortcut through town. A couple of times I heard Wes say, “I’ve never come this way.”
Dan Murphy and Matt O’Toole met us at the pier and in a minute we’re on our way up the beach boardwalk. There were few pedestrians at this time of day and pretty soon you won’t be able to say that no matter the time of day or the day of the week, so these are precious times, these last rides of Spring along the coast.
Huntington Beach bike advocate Dan Hazard met us on the trail in Bolsa Chica. As we rode together Dan told us of their plans for new initiatives for Safe Routes to School in the fall.
“You’re way ahead of us,” I lament.
“But it’s all about synergy,” Dan shoots right back.
He’s right. I’ve attended the Bike meetings at HB City Hall and come away with more than one or two good ideas. And I know advocates north and south of Newport Beach are keenly aware of what Sharrows on Coast Hwy through Corona del Mar might mean.
One thing we all agreed on: momentum is building — it’s almost palpable — bike safety improvements seem to be happening all around us and with increasing frequency.
Wes Parsel, Dan Hazard, Matt O’Toole and Dan Murphy
