Orange County Branch Newsletter

May 2019

ASCE OC Sustainability Committee

Bike Ride Event

By Charlotte Wu, P.E., ENV SP, STP | Sustainability Committee Co-Chair

ASCE Orange County Sustainability Committee held its first 2019 bike ride event on March 30. The group began the ride at Crossroads Plaza at the corner of Culver Drive and Barranca Parkway in Irvine, and rode along the San Diego Creek Trail, which follows the San Diego Creek, all the way into the Newport Beach Back Bay. We stopped at Back Bay Vista Point at the northeast corner and enjoyed the view and the breeze before we headed back on the same route to the starting point.  Along the way, we saw active Orange County Public Works construction for the San Diego Creek Channel Sediment Removal project with the project limits from I-405 near Jamboree Road to I-405 near SR-133. Thanks to all of the rainfall in the region over the winter season, the natural portion of the channel was covered with plants and flowers. The beautiful scenic ride made all the bike pedalling down and up the road crossings worth it. This bike trail is classified as a Class I bikeway; it is completely separated from the roadway and motor vehicles. The trail width north of I-405 is at least 14’, whereas the portion south of I-405 is only 10’. The wider portion of the trail provides enough space for at least three riders going in the opposite direction at the same time, whereas the narrower section only allows for one biker going in the opposite direction. The total distance we rode was roughly 11 miles out and back. We had over 15 participants and the youngest rider was only four years old!

Some of the participants enjoyed having lunch after the ride at Urban Plate Restaurant and discussed the latest in bikeway planning, design, and construction.

Bike Ride Event Route

 

ASCE OC Sustainability Committee Bike Ride Event Participants

 

Our Youngest Rider!

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About the Author

Charlotte Wu is a civil engineer with the highway group in AECOM. She currently serves as co-chair for ASCE Orange County Sustainability Committee. Charlotte can be contacted at charlotte.wu@aecom.com.

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