Bicycle Trails and Monorails

Walt Disney had the answer to gridlock back in 1955 when he built the Magic Kingdom’s monorail system. We just didn’t listen to artists, thinkers and dreamers back then. Maybe it’s time to start.

So it’s in the spirit of Walt Disney that I offer a possible solution to the county’s traffic, growth and housing problems. The plan is based on bicycle trails and monorails and is right out of Fantasyland. First we build bike trails, lots of them, because they are cheaper than roads and freeways. And every bicycle on the trail is one fewer car on the road.

Follow the route of the Santa Ana River from Corona to Newport Beach. There is an existing bicycle trail, and it should be extended immediately. In conjunction with this trail, I’d like to see a monorail built along the river. The river crosses the 57, 5 and the 22 freeways.

In addition, the length of the river should be made into a park and wildlife preserve. Perhaps we should also consider deepening it to allow for boat traffic. People would leave their affordable housing in Norco by bicycle, catch the monorail on the river and ride it through beautiful open space.

WILLIAM E. GANN

Orange