Hi all, I just wanted to reach out to let you know we’ve just passed 1,991 signatures on our petition!

Thanks to you, the Environmental Review Committee is recommending Alternate 4, which involves building the bike path along the highway, preserving free flight and creating a safer, more direct route for cyclists.

However, the City is working to override this decision. If you have time between now and Monday 4/26, please email nickb@ci.carpinteria.ca.us with any of the talking points below to convince the City to change their minds. Thank you for your help, we're making a difference together!

Talking Points:

• I appreciate the work that has gone into planning this bike trail, but want to see it improved.
• I am devastated that the Draft EIR considers the impact to my flying recreation to be ‘insignificant’
• I signed a petition to preserve Bates Ridge that has 2,000 signatures and over 60 comments.
• I fully agree with the Environmental Review Committee’s decision to recommend Alternate 4, building on the North side of Bates ridge, preserving the soaring recreation.
• I believe building a bike path on the North side of Bates bluff is best for all recreational users, it is a safer, more direct path for cyclists, giving them a path that avoids the crowded, steep, and dangerous Rincon parking lot.
• I am a cyclist and want a direct route on the North side, rather than an Ocean view. Seeing the Ocean shouldn't be a requirement for this project because I get plenty of views along the way like the whole bike path to Ventura.
• You are concerned the current plan will require maintenance against rising seas as it is being built near a eroding seawall. Relocating to the other side of the ridge is financially responsible.
• I appreciate the wind study done by the engineers, however, this study specifically states that it is based on theory and not intended for this purpose. Even if accurate, 20-30% loss of lift is very significant to me, especially on average wind days where lighter wind flow will be exponentially impacted by this project.
• I feel it’s inappropriate for the EIR to discuss free flight rules or launches, this is outside the scope of the document and project, the focus of the EIR and CEQA is preserving recreation at the project site.
• I don’t understand why the City continues to brush me aside and has failed to reach out to the soaring community. There are inaccurate statements in the Draft EIR because the authors refuse to listen to the pilots who have been recreating at Bates for over 40 years. Let’s build a better path together. 
• Coastal soaring at Bates makes Carpinteria truly special and unique, I can bike almost anywhere, but I travel to Carp for the flying at Bates and spend my money there.

Please continue to share the petition using this link: https://www.change.org/p/carpinteria-city-council-save-bates-carpinteria-s-historic-flying-site-f1131508-0d82-4ded-802c-a1226c01e049