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City of Salinas: Thank You, City Leaders, for Supporting Ciclovía Salinas!

Keep up with Ciclovía Salinas!
Click here for Ciclovía Salinas contact info; resources, including—in English y en español—the Ciclovía Salinas etiquette; a summary about Ciclovía Salinas (who, what, when, where); how it happens (including volunteer opportunities); and history, including photo galleries and links to inaugural year acknowledgements and all other Ciclovía Salinas posts on the Bicycling Monterey website. See you at the next Ciclovía Salinas!

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Regarding the Nov 1, 2014 date, click here for Roberto Robledo’s 10/8/14 story in the Californian,  “More merchants on board with Ciclovía Salinas.” To learn more about the business community, scroll down to “What is the impact on neighborhood businesses?”

To keep in touch year after year, keep an eye on Ciclovía Salinas in Bicycling Monterey’s Resources/Los Recursos section.

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Salinas

The teamwork and support of City of Salinas officials and staff were vital to the success of the inaugural Ciclovía Salinas, October 6, 2013. Here’s a list of some of the primary leaders from the City of Salinas who recognized the benefits of Open Streets. Below the list of names, read examples of how these city leaders helped make the first Ciclovía Salinas possible.

All these Salinas city leaders caught the vision of this youth-led initiative, then provided tangible support to help youth turn their dream into reality.

Ciclovía Salinas was further boosted by the vote of a unanimous Salinas City Council, presided over by Mayor Joe Gunter.

  • José Castañeda, District 1
  • Tony Barrera, District 2
  • Steve McShane, District 3
  • Gloria De La Rosa, District 4
  • Kimbley Craig, District 5
  • Jyl Lutes, District 6

As Business in Salinas states, Salinas is home to “A fresh crop of innovative thinkers.” And when they recognized a good idea whose time had come, City of Salinas leaders took action!

1. In July, City Manager Ray Corpuz met with youth leadership from the Ciclovía Salinas committee, to gain a fuller understanding of their Open Streets concept, and to learn how the City could best support their dream. Cheri Miller, Executive Assistant to the  Mayor and City  Manager, assisted with communications and more that contributed to youth experiencing first-hand how effective local government works.

2. In August, Chief of Police Kelly McMillin reached out to community leaders, asking their help in filling the positions that were absolutely essential to make Ciclovía Salinas possible: barricade volunteers. Refer to that post to see photos of Salinas Police Officers conducting trainings for barricade volunteers in September and October.

Kelly, along with 21-year-old Fernanda Ocana of East Salinas, is among the White  House Champions of Change. (Even when the federal government is shutdown, these local champions don’t stop. Read about Fernanda and Kelly.) As Fernanda stated to Monterey County Herald reporter Julia Reynolds in a 9/27/13 story, “”We (youth) have great ideas, but we don’t understand the policies. At the same time, adults don’t understand the views that youth have.”  Ciclovía Salinas is another example of how youth and adults are matching their strengths in Salinas for the greatest good of all concerned.

3. In September, a report from City of Salinas Transportation Planner James Serrano, approved and submitted to the City Council by Public Works Director Gary E. Petersen and Deputy Director and City Engineer Robert Russell, had carefully evaluated Ciclovía Salinas and its potential impacts on the City. The report stated that Ciclovía Salinas supports the City’s infrastructure planning activities, and further, that available alternative transportation funds would be appropriate to allocate for this event. The report recommended the City authorize using those alternative transportation funds to reduce the event’s expenses by $5,000, including public works and police department time.

4. Salinas City Council members unanimously voted yes.

5. On October 6th, the dream of Salinas youth came to life–because these and others caught the vision.

Thank you, Salinas leaders,

for supporting

the 1st Open Streets in Monterey County!

Ciclovia Salinas logo

Ciclovía Salinas art was created by José Eduardo Huerta.

For photos of the inaugural Ciclovía Salinas…

To learn more about Ciclovía Salinas…

To learn more about Salinas…

the Monterey County seat and the county’s largest city, start here.

Would you like to see more Ciclovía Salinas dates?

Be sure to let Salinas city officials and business leaders know.

What is the impact on neighborhood businesses?

Ciclovía Salinas is a free event–so please spend some money supporting businesses along the route, as well as elsewhere in Salinas.

Besides the warm, friendly feeling of Open Streets, what else makes Ciclovía Salinas welcoming for visitors and locals? The graciousness of Salinas businesses, and the fun of being able to so easily walk or bike to shops, restaurants, and other businesses!

Please understand, though, that businesses are adjusting to something new that affects their neighborhoods. The Ciclovía Salinas committee recognizes that as Open Streets reoccur, they provide increasing benefits of many kinds, including economic benefits to neighborhood businesses. Nevertheless, during the hours of Ciclovía Salinas set-up, event activities, and clean-up, businesses along the route find it necessary to adapt. Their customers traveling by motor vehicles cannot reach them in the manner they’re used to.

There are resources such as the following, to help businesses make the most of Open Streets dates: http://openstreetsproject.org/working-with-businesses/

If you’re enthused about Ciclovía Salinas, please help ensure that on Ciclovía Salinas dates, businesses along the route get lots of new and repeat customers, reaching them by people-powered transportation. You might start by walking or biking to patronize the members and friends of these Salinas business associations:

Oldtown Salinas Association

 Among ways  OSA helped members and customers get ready for Ciclovía Salinas was by sharing the news on the OSA website and by passing out mini-fliers in walkabouts. 

Salinas United Business Association

While many were pleased they had first-time customers on 10/6/13, others reported up to a 40% decrease in business. 
Alisal business owners who spoke at the 10/8/13 City Council meeting had about an equal number of very positive comments and negative comments. [Update: Jeff Mitchell of the Salinas Californian offered his perspective, 7/5/14, in  “Hey, SUBA, let’s get behind Ciclovía.”]

Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce

Update: “Salinas youth and city officials: new partners in tourism” by Mari Lynch in the Salinas Californian, 10/18/13.

Send a note of thanks

You are encouraged to write to City of Salinas officials and business community leaders, expressing your appreciation for Ciclovía Salinas. A postcard or thank you note is sufficient, or you may wish to share your ideas in a letter such as the following:

Thank you, Salinas leaders – and ideas for businesses about Ciclovía Salinas

Contact info for everyone addressed or copied in the example letter are available on the City of Salinas website under the “City Services,” “City Government,” and “Business” sections. (One exception is Ciclovía Salinas committee; their contact info is below.) Or feel free to phone Mari and ask for help in locating  the addresses of leaders you’d like to thank.

With business leaders, an even better way to say thanks is to stop in and spend some money at their business on any day. While you’re there, let them know you look forward to returning to their business–including on Ciclovía Salinas dates. Then do it!

To keep in touch, refer to

Ciclovía Salinas in Bicycling Monterey’s Resources/Los Recursos section.

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Learn more about Ciclovía Salinas

At BicyclingMonterey.com
Related post at the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau / See Monterey blog, BlogMonterey.com:

Guest Blog: Ciclovía Salinas, Monterey County’s Open Streets – October 6, 2013 Short link: http://www.bit.ly/SeeSalinasOct6

Related posts at BicyclingMonterey.com
 For photos of the inaugural Ciclovía Salinas, October 6, 2013…

This post was published on 8 October 2013. One or more changes last made to this post on 9 September 2019.

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