Joy in Motion: Why Biking Could Be the Best Decision You Make This Year
Sylvie Belmond 
Want safer bike routes in Simi Valley? Take the city’s survey and help design a better ride
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — May is Bike Safety Month and across Ventura County, cyclists are rolling into the spotlight. Some ride for fitness, others for fun. Many use their bikes as a way to commute, to slow down, to feel the wind and think. Whatever the reason, the bike lanes are filling up—and Simi Valley is taking notice.
The city is updating its Bicycle Master Plan, a comprehensive effort to improve road cycling safety, close network gaps and make biking a more practical and pleasant way to get around. The plan is being shaped by public input. Residents can take a short online survey to say what works, what doesn’t and what they’d love to see next. The feedback will help guide decisions about infrastructure, education and encouragement programs aimed at getting more people on bikes—whether they’re 10 years old or 70.
You can take the survey here:
https://arcg.is/LXr94
City planners are visiting neighborhood councils, schools and community events to hear directly from residents. They’ve reviewed crash data, mapped existing lanes and developed draft proposals for protected bike paths, safer crossings and new signage. This isn’t just about drawing lines on a map. It’s about paying attention to how people move and what would help them move more freely.
Some residents who saw the city’s social media post about the plan spoke up quickly. One said they drive all the way to Santa Clarita just to ride on uninterrupted bike paths, where you can pedal for miles without stopping for a single light. Others called for better east-west routes in Simi Valley, protection from fast-moving traffic and safer ways to bike to school or the grocery store. There were suggestions to regulate e-bike speeds, especially on shared-use paths, and calls for improved lane markings and visibility at busy intersections.
One area the city is emphasizing is safety for children biking to school. As part of the plan, Simi Valley is looking to strengthen its Safe Routes to School program, which includes improved crossings, reduced traffic conflicts near campuses and education campaigns for students and parents. The goal is to help families feel confident that kids can bike to school safely and independently.
Across Ventura County, there are models to follow. Thousand Oaks has more than 115 miles of bike lanes and a Bicycle Advisory Team that meets throughout the year to review needs and proposals. Ventura offers the beloved Ventura to Ojai Trail, a 16-mile ride that winds along the river through neighborhoods and shaded canyons. Riders can begin that route on the Ventura Beach Promenade, a flat oceanside path great for families and beginners. Camarillo has added buffered lanes along Pleasant Valley Road and Central Avenue in the Mission Oaks area. Moorpark’s cycling community continues to grow, with informal routes and organized rides through farmland and neighborhoods. Oak Park’s Medea Creek path provides a tree-lined, paved trail connecting parks, schools and residential areas—a quiet, safe option for weekend riders and daily commuters alike.
In Simi Valley, the Arroyo Simi Greenway runs for more than eight miles along the flood control channel, offering a car-free alternative that connects homes to parks and commercial areas. It’s part of the Rails-to-Trails network and one of the few places where cyclists can ride a decent distance without dealing with traffic. Still, riders say it needs better links to the surrounding road system and safer crossings at major intersections.
For those who want a summer escape, the ride from Ventura to Rincon Point remains a favorite. Following the old coast highway, it offers ocean views, gentle grades and cool breezes—perfect for beating the inland heat. It’s a reminder of what bike routes can be when they’re designed for comfort and beauty, not just convenience.
Of course, even the best rides come with risks. As e-bike use increases, so do concerns about safety. According to a February 2025 report in the Santa Barbara Independent, e-bike collisions in that city rose from 10 in 2022 to 73 in 2023 and then 107 in 2024. The Santa Barbara Police Department reported that e-bike riders were found at fault in most of those incidents. In response, the city passed new regulations targeting unsafe riding behavior, including speeding near pedestrians and failing to yield at crosswalks.
A separate report from Télévision Suisse Romande in Switzerland found that head injuries from e-bike crashes are often similar to those in motorcycle accidents. Brain hemorrhages and subdural hematomas were common, and most injured riders were over 50. It’s a sobering reminder that helmets, education and thoughtful design all matter.
Still, biking remains one of the simplest, most joyful ways to move through a city. It wakes up your body and clears your mind. It’s fast enough to be efficient but slow enough to notice flowers blooming in a neighbor’s yard. It doesn’t require gas, a gym or a screen. It gives you space to think, to breathe and to move.
Simi Valley’s Bicycle Master Plan isn’t just about building infrastructure. It’s about inviting people to give biking a try—and making sure it’s safe, comfortable and connected when they do. Whether you bike daily or dream about riding more, your voice matters.
Take the survey:
https://arcg.is/LXr94
Because the future of biking in Ventura County isn’t just about transportation. It’s about how we move, how we connect and how we build communities—together, in motion.
