A study outlines ways rural and low-income communities can get around easier with zero emissions.

Erik Chalhoub here. I’ve read countless government documents and other public records over the course of my newspaper career. They are written in English, but in most cases, it’s hard to tell—the cumbersome bureaucratic-speak is sometimes nearly impossible to comprehend without having an advanced degree.

I combed through the draft Zero Emissions Shared Mobility Study being distributed by the County of Monterey, and was pleasantly surprised by its readability, especially in the section that outlines transportation corridors. The maps for North and South counties, for instance, show what it calls “high-stress bike conditions,” perfectly describing the situation without masking it with clunky wording.

In North County, the study identifies the roads through Moss Landing and Elkhorn as stressful for bicyclists, while noting major gaps around Castroville, and “high winds, limited shade and truck traffic make active transportation uncomfortable and risky.” It also shows a bike route along San Miguel Canyon Road in Prunedale, but I’d argue it might as well be labeled as a gap—the bike lane is too narrow in most places to be usable on the road where drivers hit highway speeds.

The study, conducted by Mobycon Inc. and Shared-Use Mobility Center, kicked off in earnest earlier this year with various public events to gather feedback. It aims to identify sustainable transportation options, especially in rural and low-income communities.

“Shared mobility” is defined in the study as public transit such as buses and trains, as well as car-sharing, vanpools, shuttles and “micromobility” options including scooter rentals.

The consultants heard from the public that South County in particular suffers from a lack of reliable connections between the cities without a personal vehicle. Monterey Peninsula residents, meanwhile, said there was a need for more connections between parking areas and employers, while some who participated in the study from Big Sur supported shuttle options through Highway 1.

The study outlines a list of recommendations, noting that while they are not funded, they provide a blueprint for County officials’ future consideration. These include hubs for electric vehicle fleets with charging, amenities and other infrastructure features to grow electrified bus and van services. Among other things, “e-bike libraries” are also recommended for North and South counties as a way for people to get around on short local trips, and expanded trolley service on the Monterey Peninsula.

“The study will be used as a jumping off point for the County to address transportation-related emissions in coordination with regional partners,” says Cora Panturad, sustainability program manager for the County of Monterey.

Panturad notes that the study is a key component of the County’s climate action plan, which outlines ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

“The study will help inform the County's planning efforts and position the County to apply for grant-funded projects identified in the study,” she says. 

The public review period runs through Jan. 5, and Panturad expects the final study to be released in early 2026 for further review.