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Mount Diablo, California – The California State Parks Foundation is celebrating the completion of 22 new bike stops at Mount Diablo State Park, bringing the total number of bike stops in the park to 67. Bike stops allow cyclists who are slowing down while going uphill to move from the main lane to their own lane so other vehicles can safely pass.
The new switches were inspired by the memory of Joe Shami who was passionate about improving safety for cyclists and cars in Mount Diablo State Park. Known locally as “The Legend of Mount Diablo,” Joe’s passion for Mount Diablo State Park and biking was evident in over a decade of weekly trips to the mountain until he was in his 80s.
“Tragically, Joe was struck and killed by a car while riding his bike in Lafayette,” said Randy Widera, Program Director, California State Parks Foundation“Although he is no longer with us today, Joe left a special gift to the California State Parks Foundation in his will. This gift helped make these additional bike parking spaces on Mount Diablo possible. We know Joe would be pleased to see his generous gift make Mount Diablo safer for cyclists.”
California State Parks, California State Parks Foundation and Mount Diablo Cyclists partnered to build the new bike parking spaces, raising a total of $927,000 for the project.
Bicycling has been a popular but dangerous activity in Mount Diablo State Park for many years. From 2010 to 2014, there were an average of 23 accidents between cars and bicycles per year. According to California State Park officials, aggressive confrontations between motorists and cyclists were also common. After the first pullouts were established, the number of accidents dropped to three within two years and road aggression decreased significantly.
In an incredible show of commitment to this work, California State Parks allocated the same amount of the agency’s annual road grant to this project as Joe’s donation. A passionate group of volunteers consisting of Alan Kalin, Mark Dedon and Ted Trambley took this initial funding as a challenge and spent four months working with locals, cyclists and visitors at the park and at Peet’s Coffee in Danville to raise additional funds.
“The new bike parking at Mount Diablo is a testament to Joe Shami’s inspiring life,” said “Mark Dedon.The municipality is aware of the importance of the new passing places for the safety of cyclists and motorists. The people we spoke to were happy to do their part to make these passing places a reality.”
Through their efforts and with support from the California State Parks Foundation, they inspired over 300 individuals, organizations and businesses to donate the additional funds needed to make the bike rides possible.
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California State Parks Foundation, an independent, member-supported nonprofit organization with over 50 years of history dedicated to protecting and preserving California’s state park system for the benefit of all. We work in parks and in Sacramento with partners, park staff and policymakers to address the challenges parks face. To create real and lasting change, we work to build a movement of people who enjoy and care for their parks now and for future generations. Learn more at www.calparks.org or find the California State Parks Foundation on Facebook or Instagram and Þjórsárdalur (@calparks).
About Mount Diablo State Park
Located in the San Francisco Bay Area east of Walnut Creek, Mount Diablo has attracted people for generations because of its spectacular views from its summit that extend for over 100 miles in all directions on a clear day. Visitors are drawn to the complex geology that has created amazing rock formations such as the “Wind Caves” at Rock City, and the mountain’s diversity of habitats, which are home to over 600 species of plants and an amazing variety of wildlife, including butterflies, bats and birds of prey, tarantulas, bobcats, lizards, snakes and deer.
In 2021, Mount Diablo celebrated its 100th anniversary as a state park. Although 100 years as a park is a long time, the importance of Mount Diablo was recognized long before that. For thousands of years, Native Americans were the custodians of this land. Many groups viewed and treated the mountain as a sacred place and continue to do so today.
Mount Diablo has been protected since it was designated a park in 1921. Over the past 100 years, the park has grown from a few hundred acres to over 20,000 acres. Today, it is a destination for anyone who enjoys wildlife and wildflower viewing, beautiful views, hiking, camping, picnicking, running, biking, climbing, horseback riding, or stargazing.
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