International Blvd as it is today and an artist's conception of the road in the future, with a bike lane and light rail
Oakland can either join the ranks of progressive communities that appeal to new residents and businesses, or it can remain mired in a secondary tier of cities whose blemishes outweigh their allure.
Over the next few months, Oakland officials will decide whether to accommodate bicyclists on major arterial streets as called for in the recently adopted Oakland Bicycle Master Plan. At issue are priority proposals for bike lanes on Grand Ave and the extension of bike lanes along the remainder of Telegraph Ave.
A visit to Portland or Tucson, cities of comparable size to Oakland, reveal livable communities where bicycle travel is incorporated into their transportation fabric. Neither has the climatic comfort found in the East Bay. Yet both are enjoying a downtown renaissance that Oakland can only envy.
At the September 23 community meeting to discuss the proposed bikeways for Telegraph Ave, a small but vocal group of merchants acted as though the reduction of traffic lanes would cause the world to stop turning. Their cry for the status quo to preserve business is ironic in a city that cannot attract a department store. To add to the nonsense, one shop owner even claimed that "throngs of bicyclists occupying bike lanes would be vulnerable to speeding emergency vehicles." Such insincere concerns for our safety, while carefully avoiding mention of how pedestrian shoppers will safely cross Telegraph Ave mask the real issues and play into the hands of traffic engineers who always couch such arguments in quantitative Level of Service (LOS) measures.
The proposed plan for bike lanes is all about improving safety. Our pin map of Oakland bicycle crashes between 1985-1994, published on the March 1999 cover of RideOn (also published in the Oakland Plan), clearly depicts a linear cluster of crashes along Telegraph Ave. Bicyclists vote with their pedals as they elect to follow the direct and level Telegraph Ave in lieu of the roughly parallel Class III signed bike route that traverses Webster, Shafter, Forest and Colby Streets to Woolsey in Berkeley.
Similar clusters of crashes also demarcate Grand Ave and International Blvd. In July we lost the battle to stripe bike lanes on the newly repaved International Blvd as Council Member John Russo used the Council Rules Committee to squash the popular proposal. In contrast, San Leandro chose to reconfigure the street with bike lanes.
How many bloody bicycle or pedestrian crashes can we as a society condone as a sacrifice to the mere seconds of delay that lane conversion projects may present to the almighty LOS?
Now is the time to encourage elected officials to create uninterrupted bicycle routes along Telegraph and Grand Avenues. A community meeting on the Grand Ave project (Council Member Nancy Nadel) will take place at 7pm on Wednesday, October 20 at the Grand Lake Neighborhood Center, 530 Lake Park Ave. Your next opportunity to discuss Telegraph Ave with Council Member Jane Brunner will take place sometime before Thanksgiving. Letters to the Council and Mayor are needed now.
-Robert Raburn
CALTRANS DISTRICT 4 Bicycle Coordinator Resolution continues to gain momentum. John Ruzek reports, In the Matter of Requesting the Director of Caltrans District 4 to Create an Office of the Bicycle-Pedestrian Coordinator for the District. Resolution No. 99-490 was adopted by a unanimous vote of the entire Contra Costa Board of Supervisors on September 28. Alameda Supervisor Keith Carson will place the resolution on the Alameda County Supervisors agenda in October after the Transportation/Planning Committee heard a presentation by the EBBC and supported the resolution on September 27.
CONCORD Meadow Homes neighborhood had a wonderful street fair on Saturday, October 2. EBBC Board Member Kathy Tate handed out and adjusted 51 bicycle helmets that were provided by the Contra Costa County Community Wellness and Prevention Program. State Farm Insurance did the bike rodeo for the kids. County Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier, Concord councilmember Laura Hoffmeister, and candidate for Tom Torlakson's Assembly seat Lou Rosas were there. Mark had placed our Resolution urging Caltrans District 4 to establish an office of the Bicycle Coordinator before the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors which passed it.
CONCORD The bike/ped underpass off Meadow Lane under SR-242 is typically filthy and littered with broken glass. Thanks go to EBBC member Mel Wiener for contacting Dante Grasso, Concord Maintenance (925/671-3025) regarding this issue.
CONCORD NAVAL WEAPONS STATION will be mothballed and Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, said he does not want to preclude any good ideas that would be compatible with the military's reduced presence at the 13,000-acre compound and its desire to be able to reopen quickly if needed. The EBBC seeks to reopen the level Port Chicago Highway to bicyclists hoping to avert the steep climb over Willow Pass.
HERCULES BioRad Technology is applying to the City of Hercules for a 25 year development agreement which would allow them to add 3 more building complexes and develop their property. This is the last opportunity to complete the SF Bay Trail at this site adjacent to San Pablo Bay. The limited space and difficult topography in an area already occupied by the Union Pacific Railroad leaves the location on the bluff, right behind the parking lot of BioRad as the most feasible trail alignment. However, BioRad is not in favor of having a public trail adjacent to their parking lot. Nevertheless, the Hercules Planning Commission strongly recommended the trail along the bluff, but the City Council did not show the same resolve in their discussion of the issue on September 28. The City Council will vote on the issue in October. You can call Matt Tomas, Interim Planning Manager (510/799-8253) to learn more, or contact the Council Members to urge their support.
RICHMOND FERRY The Red & White Fleet launched a new commuter ferry from the Richmond Ferry Terminal, at the foot of Harbour Way, to SF daily as well as weekends. Four runs am and pm. One-way fares cost $5. See redandwhite.com for complete details or call 510/464-1030. Bicyclists welcome! Now Richmond needs to sign this and other routes for bicyclists.
WALNUT CREEK responded in less than two weeks to EBBC complaint that "Bikes Must Use Sidewalk" signs along Treat Blvd violated California Vehicle Code. These signs will be removed and new bicycle directional signs will be installed on Ygnacio Valley Rd and Treat Blvd. Direct further inquiries to Rafat Raie, Traffic Engineer, at (925) 256-3529.
IRON HORSE TRAIL users who have been pushing for a bridge over Ygnacio Valley Rd in Walnut Creek will be pleased to hear that the County has done some preliminary engineering work on such a second structure. The EBBC will be following this one closely.
PLEASANT HILL BART station is supposed to be re-opened to the Iron Horse Trail (IHT). A few naysayers believe that parking lots are more important than transportation and recreational trails such as the Iron Horse. The issue is that before the reconstruction of the I-680/CA24 interchange was started, a small piece of land adjacent to the Pleasant Hill BART station (where the IHT runs) was temporarily leased to BART by the County for a parking lot expansion as a traffic congestion mitigation. That lease expires at the end of 1999 and some 581 parking spaces out of an existing inventory of 3,450 will be restored to landscaping and the continuation of the trail. We are now beginning to see grumblers write letters of protest to the press that available parking should not be decreased. What is ignored is the enhancement of the trail Cyclists are encouraged to write letters of support of the trail and to come forward to public meetings to defend the trail. For further information, please contact John Ruzek (925- 939-5181).
MANY THANKS to Jill Keimach who accomplished much in just three short years in the BART Access and Planning Department. She was instrumental in gaining unlimited bike access to the Richmond/Fremont line, relaxing hours on the SF/Colma line, allowing cyclists on other cars besides the rear, and various bike parking projects. We wish her well in her new job with the City of El Cerrito.
Officials at Caltrans District 4, in a meeting with leading Bay Area bicycle advocates, acknowledged that our Campaign to create an Office of Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator "has an influence" on allocation of resources to satisfy our demands.
The statement was made by Tom McDonnell, District 4 chief of transportation planning, during an extraordinary 90-minute meeting on August 26 at Caltrans District 4 headquarters in Oakland. At the meeting, District 4 Director Harry Yahata said he was "committed" to provide leadership, guidance and design details that will allow District 4 highway projects to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians.
Yahata listened intently to a 15-minute multimedia presentation by Mid-Peninsula Bicycle Coalition Director Scott Mace and East Bay Bicycle Coalition chair Robert Raburn, listing the goals of the Campaign, punctuated by examples of District 4's inattention to bicycles, such as in the narrow repaving of Highway 35 in San Mateo County, the Contra Costa Blvd. "dis"connector in Pleasant Hill, and the severed bike route on Highway 237 at Highway 880 in Milpitas.
The Campaign, kicked off by REBAC in January 1999, also attracted the support of legislative staff from State Sens. Byron Sher and Don Perata, who attended the August 26 meeting, as did Marin County Supervisor Steve Kinsey.
District 4 activists' efforts may be hastening a proposal by Caltrans director Jose Medina to add 14 new bicycle/professional positions statewide starting in fiscal year 2000-2001. The District 4 campaign continues to push for reallocation of existing resources today. Already, Office of Public Transportation planner Carol Streeter has been given the title Bicycle Coordinator and a high profile, Yahata said. But it's not enough; Yahata himself acknowledges that the sheer number of District 4 projects means that bike/ped considerations can "fall through the cracks." So the Campaign continues on to get as many resolutions from cities in the pipeline by October 31, 1999.
Partly in response to District 4's appointment of Streeter as Bicycle Coordinator, the city of Sunnyvale on August 10 altered the language in REBAC's resolution in several innovative ways, and the Campaign endorses the Sunnyvale language as an attractive alternative to the REBAC language. The Sunnyvale resolution calls for District 4 to "dedicate financial, administrative, and personnel resources...to further the goals and policies of the City of Sunnyvale with respect to improving conditions and facilities for bicycling."
No matter which resolution you choose to promote, it is critical that you help us in the many communities where no resolution has yet been voted upon. At this writing, every city and county that has put the resolution on its agenda has passed it without it being watered down. Bay Area bicycling advocates can be extremely proud of the progress made so far. To get involved, visit the Campaign's Web site at www.smbike.org/bikeoffice [website now defunct; webmaster, 1-25-05]
-Scott Mace
On June 28, a proposed re-striping of Marin Ave. was debated by the Northern Alameda Chapter of the Sierra Club. Bruce Mast (former Albany Mayor) and Matthew Ridgway (transportation planner and chair of the Albany Traffic and Safety Commission) argued that the plan would improve pedestrian safety, slow traffic, and provide bike lanes.
The committee voted 4-3 (with one abstention) to oppose the restriping.
Those who opposed the bike lanes stated that: bike lanes cause air pollution, Marin Ave. needed to be preserved as a high speed arterial connection to the freeway, and that the City of Albany should not adopt measures that reduce the level of service for auto traffic on Marin.
The EBBC pointed out that the committee's opposition to bike lanes violated Sierra Club National Policy in numerous ways. National Policy (adopted May 8, 1994) states that "The Sierra Club encourages public transit, and pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly neighborhoods." The Club also supports "transportation policy and systems that:
Provide everyone, including pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users, with adequate access to jobs, shopping, services and recreation;
Strengthen local communities, towns and urban centers, and promote equal opportunity;"
"[The] Club favors the most energy and land conserving, and least polluting systems and vehicles. Walking and bicycling are best...accommodation of pedestrians, bicyclists and public transit should be given priority over private automobiles."
Under the Land Use section, the policy states: "Land use patterns should be designed to improve pedestrian access, encourage shorter trips, increase public transit use, enhance the economic viability of public transit and decrease private motor vehicle use (auto mobility)."
Fortunately, the issue was re-visited by the Club's Transportation and Compact Growth Committee, which resoundingly (their emphasis) rejected opposition to the bike lanes. The EBBC appreciates the work done by Aaron Priven (Committee chair) and Mike Daley (Sierra Club Conservation Representative).
Now the Club is working with the EBBC on policies regarding bicyclists. The EBBC has proposed the following three overall goals: 1) sufficient width on all streets and highways for bicyclists; 2) secure bicycle parking or interior access at all workplaces, commercial establishments, and public buildings; and 3) intermodal bicycle access on all transit.
With this in mind, the following decisions were made at a September 20th meeting:
1. Send a letter to the Northern Alameda County Group, recommending that they consider transferable development rights in their discussions of the Berkeley General Plan and other planning documents.
2. Discussed drafts of documents on bicycle and automobile use in the region, and decided to use the drafts as starting points for future discussion.
3. Approved a resolution for Conservation, supporting pedestrian and bicycle access on the Richmond-San Rafael bridge.
4. Approved in principle the idea of supporting retrofit of the SF-Oakland Bay Bridge, while choosing to do outreach to bicycle groups before asking Conservation to approve it.
For more information, contact Aaron Priven (510-601-6463, email: aaron@priven.sf.ca.us).
We have CityRacks! Perhaps you have recently seen new parking racks installed at your favorite restaurant, coffee shop or store throughout Oakland? Now you can ask your favorite merchant to request a free CityRack.
This is a great way for businesses to attract new clients and please their employees. Another reminder to share with merchants include is that bicyclists are a fast-growing market in Oakland. They shop locally and are loyal customers.
CityRacks are bicycle parking racks available from the City of Oakland. These attractive yet unobtrusive wave racks suit all types of locks. Made of unpainted, recycled steel, CityRacks come in two styles:
* Single-bend racks which can accommodate up to two bicycles
* Triple-bend racks which can accommodate up to five bicycles.
CityRacks are free. The City of Oakland offers this program to encourage bicycling for errands, short trips, and commuting. The City will install CityRacks throughout Oakland except in the following areas: on a sidewalk with a grade; on private property; on any surface other than concrete; on sidewalks under 8' wide; or in a fire or loading zone. The City of Oakland will remove damaged racks.
Fill out the request form and mail to the City of Oakland at the address below. The City will survey sites to determine if they meet our requirements. The CityRacks program will install racks at conforming sites on a first-come, first served basis.
The EBBC is a promotional partner in the CityRacks program operated by:
City of Oakland Public Works Agency,
250 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza
Suite 4314,
Oakland, CA 94612-2033.
For more information or to receive City Rack request forms call: 510/238-3983.
CityRacks are made possible by a grant from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
Three-bend rack in the Temescal district