A new group of cyclists is forming just in time to enjoy the spring weather in Folsom CA. For those of you haven’t been on a bike in years or are just learning about the trails in Folsom this will prove to be invaluable in many ways.

First of all, it will teach you about the trail system along the river and get you acquainted with  the area from a hands-on point of view.  Second, you will meet other cycling enthusiasts who share your excitement and who are about the same skill level. And third you will get the benefit of an experienced guide who can show you the ropes and make suggestions to enhance your ride.

Even though this ride is not technically a part of the Cycle Folsom group it is overseen by one of it’s experienced members. They schedule daily rides for the weekend warriors to day long distance rides for the seasoned cyclist. Another feature of this new riding group is that the pace is set by the slowest rider so there is no fear of not keeping up.

It meets at Bicycles Plus in Folsom, next to Karen’s Bakery at 10:30AM and will start at 11:00AM. It is scheduled to meet every Sunday and is open to all kinds of bicycles (except recumbent) and you must have a helmet and be 18yrs of age. Enjoy the spring weather and meet a new cycling friend!

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All three counties:Sacramento, Placer and El Dorado rejoiced at the opening of Folsom Lake Crossing today. There will be 20,000  less cars driving through downtown Folsom trying to get from Sacramento county to each of the other two. Kids young and old walked, bicycled, motorcycled and jogged across the new bridge. There was great BBQ and other vendors who managed to set up shop for the opening and of course the Human Chain of Gratitude was there filming those who participated.

The decrease in traffic will be especially appreciated by those living in the historic district. The various side streets that were closed off to cross traffic made travel through town difficult and when school lets out at Sutter Jr. High there should be a noticeable reduction of congestion. The timing couldn’t be better for the downtown merchants since Easter week starts the beginning of the various festivals and street fairs. The first this year is on April 19th and is the Antique Fair hosted by Sutter St. merchants.

Commuters can count on a reduction in travel time by about 10-15 minutes and longer for those traveling from Placer county to El dorado county. One thing to keep in mind will be watching your speed limit. Folsom police is cracking down on speeders and will be keeping a close eye on the new bridge for violators so keep that in mind.

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The band will play, the dignitaries will give their speeches and then the people will for one time only be able to walk along the new bridge in Folsom CA this Saturday, March 28th, and see the American River under their feet. There hasn’t been this much excitement in Folsom since the Natomas Crossing was finished in 1999.

There is a group of people forming the Human Chain of Gratitude on Saturday to encourage others to have an attitude of gratitude despite what this economy is doing.  I plan on riding my bike across the bridge and joining those grateful souls for a toast and enjoy this one time event.

Another event coming up is the community garage sale in Lembi Park this May 2nd. My office will pick up donated items to be sold with the proceeds going to the Folsom City Zoo. If you would like to donate any gently used items please email me or call my office at 916-984-8778

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Since the Dam road closed in 2003 the people of Folsom have had to endure over 18000 cars traveling through the downtown streets not to mention the impact  on the residents and small businesses in the historic district.  The sad truth is that although more people were detoured through that part of town there has not been an increase in business revenue simply because people are passing through.  

The declining economy notwithstanding it seems that some businesses have managed to survive and a few have thrived. Chicago Fire, my favorite pizza place, has expanded despite the lack of parking in the historic district and Scarlet’s next door seems especially busy on weekends. Does this mean that once the new bridge opens that we’ll see a reverse in downtown traffic or will it bring more people to that part of town knowing they won’t have to deal with the additional traffic? Inquiring minds want to know….

Riding my bike along the American River in Folsom CA, just past the entrance to Dam Rd., there is a makeshift lookout to gaze upon the new bridge under construction. This amazing feat of engineering reminds me of pictures of the dam being built but a whole lot more fun.

Speaking of pictures, the photographer who chronicled this and other building projects has a great website www.DigitalSky.us that shows a history of the bridge under construction. Todd does an awesome job and it shows in his work. He also has photos of the tower bridge, the capitol, Crocker Museum & others.  

The bridge is ready to open this spring 2009 and the cost overall is estimated at $132 million with Folsom paying about $32 million. There will be four lanes & a bike trail which makes for a perfect round trip bike ride from the historic district where you can rent bikes. The bike path is paved and also great for walking or jogging.

The other event coming up in Folsom is the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving day. For more information you can see my blog post of Nov. 9, 2008 which has all the links to register and explains the details.