Special to ZennieReport.com – Runners, hikers, and bicyclists are gearing up for the fifth Niles Canyon Stroll and Roll on Saturday, September 23. The scenic stretch of Niles Canyon Road between Fremont and Sunol will be closed to automobiles, allowing outdoor enthusiasts exclusive access to the Canyon.
The Niles Canyon Stroll and Roll is being held for the fifth time in eight years. The event raises awareness about a proposed new trail through the Canyon that would expand public access to its forested flanks, historic landmarks, and sweeping vistas of rumbling Alameda Creek.
Autos Blocked At Key Parts Of Niles Canyon Stroll and Roll
To make way for the Niles Canyon Stroll and Roll, automobiles will be barred from a stretch of Niles Canyon Road between Mission Boulevard in Fremont and Main Street in Sunol from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 23. During the first hour – from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. – the road will be open to bicyclists only to give cyclists a chance to traverse the winding thoroughfare unimpeded by others.
Participants in the unique Niles Canyon Stroll and Roll event will have the chance to discuss proposals for a Niles Canyon trail with staff from Alameda County and the East Bay Regional Park District. The proposed 10-foot-wide paved pathway would run mostly along the north side of Niles Canyon Road to enhance access to the Canyon for pedestrians, bicyclists, and possibly equestrians. A draft environmental impact report is nearing completion.
Alameda County District 2 Supervisor Elisa Márquez is joined by her District 1 colleague, Supervisor David Haubert, as leaders advocating for the Niles Canyon recreation trail to connect trail systems on either side of the Canyon. In October 2015, the late Supervisor Richard Valle and retired Supervisor Scott Haggerty co-sponsored the first “Niles Canyon Stroll and Roll,” an event that proved so successful it was repeated in 2017, 2019, and 2022 (delayed in 2021 due to the global pandemic). Organizers of this year’s Stroll and Roll say they are preparing for as many as 10,000 people to participate.
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Proposals for a public trail through Niles Canyon are driven by the canyon’s breathtaking scenery, which is accessible only via Niles Canyon Road, a winding two-lane portion of State Highway 84. Bicyclists have repeatedly called for a trail due to safety concerns related to sharing the narrow roadway – which includes no shoulder space in some sections – with automobiles. Recreation enthusiasts point out that pedestrian access to the Canyon is prohibited on the state highway and that a trail would provide a vital link between trail networks in the Tri-Valley and Alameda County’s bay-front corridor.
There will be free parking for participants on both sides of Niles Canyon. On the Sunol side, parking will be provided in the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission lot at 11600 Pleasanton Sunol Road. On the Fremont side, parking will be provided at the Fremont BART Station, 2000 Bart Way, and at the Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area, 2100 Isherwood Way. Participants are encouraged to use public transportation to get to the event. Free shuttle service will be available at Quarry Lakes and the Fremont BART station to transport participants to and from the event.
Go to www.84strollroll.com to learn more about the Niles Canyon Multi-Use Trail proposal and the September 23 roadway closure.
CONTACT: Supervisor David Haubert (510) 272-6691 or Supervisor Elisa Márquez (510) 272-6692