Pacific Electric Bike Trail, Part1

1/27/11

Pacific Electric Bike Trail, Part1

Monday, I took a bike ride from Milliken to Amethyst on the Pacific Electric Bike Trail. This is just a small part of the trail, not finished yet, that will eventually run from Rialto to Claremont. This stretch starts just north of the large open field that the city of Rancho Cucamonga wants to turn into Central Park. They've already built a community/senior center there on a small part of it. The field is home to several species of sage and other indigenous brush and flowers. I like the idea of a Central Park I just hope they preserve some of the original desert chaparral as a reminder of what the land used to look like before all these people moved here.

East from "Central Park"

South West Over The Chapparral

Just before Haven, where the field ends there's an off-shoot going north and south along the aqua-duct. Between Haven and Ramona there's not a whole lot to look at except empty walls and a trailer park. Maybe when they're completely done with the trail they could spend some money to make those parts of the trail look better by planting some trees, bushes and flowers, painting a few murals on the walls. I also noticed there wasn't any drinking fountains, picnic tables, public restrooms or recycle bins. I think I saw one bench.

Looking West Over Haven

Behind the trailer park. Nothing interesting to see or write about here. Except for the razor wire fence that two of my friends got jacked up on trying to take a short cut into the trailer park. There's not a lot of ways in and out of it. There are only two main entrances off Baseline. If everything in the trailer park ever caught fire, it would be like trying to escape from a prison. Barb wire I get, but razor wire? Is it really necessary?

They have these place markers on every street. I was trying to figure out if there's meant to be something in that round part, looks like some kind of metal seal will be put there or maybe there already was something and someone stole them all.

This is the intersection at Ramona. Now entering the true "old town" part of Cucamonga. One of the remnants from the days when there use to be many orange groves in Rancho Cucamonga is here. My friends and I used to hang out here and have orange wars. Now it's fenced off and I think that sucks.

Old River Rock Wash

North on Ramona. At this intersection there's a large hump in the road. Every local knows you can catch some mad air if you hit this fucker driving full speed.

After Archibald and behind Ace Hardware

More empty space. Another idea would be to have fruit trees and community garden projects along the trail. So people can grab a quick healthy snack and learn a little about growing food. In the DIY community we could use this to reach out with bike related or any other work-shop. The bike trail could become a virtual out door classroom, I think that would be a great field-trip for kids during school. You could probably even get away with having open-mic music and shows, bar-mitzvahs and weddings!

On Amethyst facing north you're in the old down town Cucamonga, just a stone's throw away from Dr. Strange Records and Viva La Vegan Grocery. This is also the most historic part of the city. It's worth it to walk up the street and check out some of the old historic buildings that are still there. Dr. Strange Records is in the old post office building and has preserved it well. This is the end of my short trip.

Amethyst St.