Li: San Jose Airport’s Closure of Vital Bike Route Exposes Hollow Traffic Safety Pledge

In April, San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) announced a permanent closure of Ewert Road to bicyclists and pedestrians, citing safety and security concerns. After public pushback, the airport delayed the closure due to El Niño, related weather, but still plans to proceed.

Haojun Li, a San Jose resident, bicycle commuter and Bike San Jose representative, argues the move contradicts San Jose’s Vision Zero commitment. Ewert Road serves as the only safe crossing over U.S. Highway 101 when the Guadalupe River Trail’s underpass floods frequently in fall and winter, handling 433,000 trips last year.

SJC’s stated rationale rests on two incidents: a single collision involving a police vehicle and a fence-climbing intruder. Li contends these are insufficient to justify banning cyclists, especially since alternatives, like upgrading the existing perimeter fence, could address security without cutting off access.

He adds that SJC has used administrative tools, including a 2021 land swap with the city, to move forward with limited transparency. With leadership still able to reverse course, Li urges airport and city officials to preserve the road as a low-stress commuter corridor rather than diverting cyclists into high-speed traffic lanes.