Please help us save paragliding and hang gliding at Bates. This treasured, 40-year flying destination is at risk of being lost forever. If the 0.2 mile Rincon Trial Bike Path is constructed as planned, it will remove 312,000,000 pounds of soil from Bates Ridge, ruining the airflow and destroying the only coastal soaring in Carpinteria. It would be tragic to lose Bates when alternative project sites are available.

We are urging the City of Carpinteria to build a better bike path that meets the needs of both cyclists and pilots. While there are miles of roads and paths available to local cyclists, including two existing ways to cross this section, venues for free flight are extremely rare in the US. Flying at Bates is part of what makes Carpinteria special. By signing your name, you are asking the City of Carpinteria to preserve Bates by redesigning the Rincon Trail Bike Path. Please join us in demanding a bike path that is inclusive of all recreational users and protective of the unique topography that makes Bates a cherished recreational airpark.  

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Additional Information:

Coastal soaring, a form of free flying, becomes possible when wind rides up a ridge to create a wave of rising air that can be “surfed” by paragliders and hang gliders. Over the last four decades, pilots and tourists have flocked to Bates to experience free flight. The steepness, smoothness, location, and orientation to the prevailing wind direction make this ridge unique. Its consistency and quality are unmatched for hundreds of miles along the California Coastline. This special recreational airpark attracts countless visitors each year. It deserves preservation.

Flying at Bates is at risk of being lost forever. The proposed 0.2 mile Rincon Trail Bike Path will excavate 312,000,000 pounds of soil from Bates ridge, permanently degrading the flying potential of this historic site. These impacts are clearly explained by scientific evidence and expert testimony, which were presented during public hearings, yet remain largely ignored by the City. It’s clear the proposed bike path comes at the cost of destroying a 40-year flying site.

We are asking the City to build a better bike path. The current design provides a “blue ocean view” rather than a safe, inclusive, long-lasting recreational solution. It will be constructed on a 100-year-old eroding seawall, with no long-term maintenance plan, and will terminate in a highly congested, incredibly steep parking lot with no traffic management plan. The project expands access for cyclists at the expense of other groups, yet fails to deliver safe transportation for all. Carpinteria must consider better alternatives to protect the safety and shared access of its recreational users - preserving the legacy of recreation at Bates enjoyed by beachgoers, surfers, cyclists, free flying pilots, hikers, joggers, and walkers.

There are multiple alternatives for the City to consider. One viable option is to relocate the Rincon Trail Bike Path to the North side of Bates Ridge. Adding barriers along the highway shoulder on the North or South side of highway 101 is consistent with the existing bike path from Rincon to Ventura. Riding along the 101 via a protected bike line is an accepted safe standard currently utilized between Buellton and Goleta. Another option is to add a safe bike path along the 150 to Bates Road – a route used daily by cyclists. These measures  avoid the massive destruction of the cliffside proposed by the current Rincon Trail Bike Path design, and deliver a  sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally sensitive project.

We are asking the City of Carpinteria to implement design changes that preserve airflow along Bates Ridge and retain continued use of our celebrated flying site. Bates is the only place in Carpinteria where we pursue our recreational  passion, practice our craft, and share the joy of free flight with residents and tourists alike. Our recreational activity relies solely on the wind flow over Bates Ridge. For many, flying Bates Ridge is a deeply meaningful pursuit and essential aspect of our daily lives. Without a doubt, Bates is a site worth saving, and this is a fight worth fighting. By signing this petition, you are challenging the City to explore alternatives for the benefit of all recreational users and for the future of free flying in Carpinteria. Please help us protect and preserve our sacred, historic flying site. Thank you for your support. 

Watch the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVIdEfWHMpE