Cyclists, disabled community rallies behind Michael Garcia's resolution to improve city infrastructure

Feb. 25—Pedro Murga often bikes to his job. Maybe that's not too surprising: he's a salesman at Mellow Velo bicycle store in downtown Santa Fe.

But it's the commute, not just the profession, that gets him on his bike. He enjoys traveling along the River Trail, which he was impressed to find had already been cleared of snow on a recent winter morning. But to reach that path, it takes him about two miles of cycling city streets — some which have no shoulder — from his home on the south side.

"Sometimes it can be a little finicky," he said.

Murga and others spoke highly of Santa Fe's bicycle infrastructure, which recently was given a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community designation from the League of American Bicyclists. However, users of the system also say more maintenance and especially more connections to different trails throughout the city would help improve access and encourage more people to try a two-wheel alternative.

"It's not about having a bike path, it's about having connectivity and usefulness," said David Bell, Mellow Velo's owner. "When a small subdivision creates a bike path that's nice, but it doesn't really serve the city. It's just another piece that needs to connect."

Toward that end, a resolution introduced last month by City Councilor Michael Garcia calls for increasing funding in the city budget for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure beginning in the upcoming fiscal year.

The measure, scheduled for a vote before the City CouncilMarch 13, is based on recommendations from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, which Garcia currently chairs. It is supported by groups including Bike Santa Fe and the Mayor's Committee on Disability, which said in a letter to the council it would provide resources to ensure the city is in compliance with regulations in the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"Good, maintained streets are going to be accessible streets," said Eli Fresquez, co-chairman of the Mayor's Committee on Disability.

The resolution would adopt recommendations made by the bicycle and pedestrian committee to the city, which include having Santa Fe develop and maintain a Geographic Information Systems inventory of the city's bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and using that data to prioritize maintenance and repairs. That could include items such as proper signage, crosswalks and clearly marked bike lanes — plus trails and paths that are smooth and free of cracks.

Garcia said maintaining infrastructure is most important for Santa Fe residents who don't own a car and rely on a bicycle as their main mode of transportation.

Making cycling safer and more convenient also will encourage people to bike to work or their activities instead of driving a car, he said, which will help the city make progress on its sustainability goals, which include becoming carbon neutral by 2040.

He noted the city requires residents and property owners to maintain their own sidewalks.

"We need to ensure the city is holding up its end of the bargain," he said.

With its 300 days of sunshine and proximity to nature, it's no surprise Santa Fe is a popular place for cyclists.

"The proof is in the pudding," Bell said. "If you go on any bicycle trail in Santa Fe, every one of them is being used."

The Santa Fe Metropolitan Planning Organization installed eight counters along the city's major trails about a decade ago. In 2023, MPO Officer Erick Aune said the counters measured 483,000 individual trips.

Aune noted that when cities expand, "consideration of the additional added maintenance cost is not necessarily budgeted for." Streets, bike lanes, and trails all have to compete for funding, over time straining maintenance needs. Garcia's resolution seeks to address the issue, and a fiscal impact report prepared by the city estimates the resolution would include a one-time cost of $860,000 for the purchase of software and add $2.2 million to the city budget on a yearly basis.

"It's a lot of funding but it's important infrastructure," said Tim Rogers, trails program manager for the Santa Fe Conversation Trust.

Failing to maintain infrastructure has its own costs. In 2023 the city paid a total of $130,000 to three people who sued the city after falling and injuring themselves on icy or uneven city sidewalks and trails. A number of other similar tort claims are currently ongoing.

Fresquez, with the Mayor's Committee on Disability, said ensuring sidewalks and trails are not obstructed by snow or ice is particularly important for people who use wheelchairs or have other mobility limitations.

Much of the work the resolution would provide funding that dovetails with Americans With Disabilities Act compliance and would be a boon to the city by reducing its liability risks and making it more visitor-friendly for senior citizens and people with disabilities, Fresquez said.

"It's a good return on investment when you invest in accessibility in our city," he said.

Bike Santa Fe President Jennifer Webber said the organization frequently hears from members about issues with the condition of trails and sidewalks, including overgrown vegetation blocking bike paths and ice that doesn't melt in the winter.

Making sure the city has proper signage, signals and clearly marked crosswalks is important for everyone using the road, she said, including motorists. The organization is in favor of Garcia's resolution and believes it would increase cycling.

"If those trails and lanes are better maintained, more people will ride and that ultimately is our goal — to make sure people feel comfortable and safe riding their bikes in all neighborhoods," Webber said.

The resolution would require Mayor Alan Webber, who is responsible for presenting the annual budget to City Council for approval, to include funding for the resolution in the upcoming budget.

Webber did not respond to requests for comment late last week about whether he plans to support the measure, though Garcia said he hopes the mayor will be in favor.

"This is not a special pet project; these are basic services that residents expect to be covered through their taxpayer dollars," he said.

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