More than 260 people completed a 2014 Regional Transportation Plan survey made available online by the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission.
The results of the survey will be given to local jurisdictions, which will be charged with implementing project ideas mentioned therein.
Among the survey’s findings:
- The heavily traveled destinations include: Downtown Santa Cruz, the Capitola Mall and 41st Avenue area, East side of Santa Cruz, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Most people would consider walking or bicycling for trips less than two miles and taking the bus, carpooling or bicycling for trips greater than two miles, rather than driving solo.
- Two main reasons preventing respondents from carpooling are the need for flexibility or to make stops along the way.
- People refrain from riding the bus because it takes too long and that service does not go to where and/or when people want to go.
- For short trips two miles or less, many of people don’t want to ride a bicycle, claiming safety concerns of riding near traffic, the need to carry many things, errands and the fear their bike may be stolen. Meanwhile, respondents said walking takes too long, traffic is unpleasant, there are not enough sidewalks and they may have too many things to carry.
- Regarding trips that are farther than two miles, cycling would be a concern because of the distance, safety concerns, the amount of items to carry, the need to run errands and the amount of time it would take.
- As for defining the type of bicyclists they are, 38 percent of respondents said they were comfortable with riding on busy roads with bike lanes; 21 percent said they would like to ride but do not feel safe in bike lanes near traffic; 19 percent indicated they are comfortable riding on busy roads without bike lanes; 17 percent said they had no interest in or were not able to ride a bike; and 5 percent said they ride on the sidewalk.
The commission is now soliciting project lists from sponsoring agencies and tabulating the cost. Early next year, expect more public involvement in regard to drawing up a project list and prioritizing each idea.
