An East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) "hazard reduction project" to remove ageing trees will close the East Ridge Trail from July through perhaps September. You can review the notice at EBRPD Closure Hot Link. You can also view a map of the Redwood Bike Route.

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors Transportation & Planning Committee (Haggerty & Miley) will hear the proposed ordinance at a hearing scheduled for 1:30pm on Thursday, July 24 (note the agenda is not yet available--EBBC was notified on July 10 by Supervisor Haggerty's office).

WHERE: 1221 Oak St, Supervisors Chamber

BACKGROUND:

News article in East Bay papers on June 23, see: EBBC-talk discussion

On November 13, 2007, EBBC and five other groups that comprise the Fourth Bore Coalition (FBC) filed a lawsuit against Caltrans and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) on the grounds that the proposed 4th Bore does not comply with the California Environmental Quality Act. You can view a copy of the petition that FBC filed in Superior Court.

We've seen lots of bicyclists lately. However, many of you have probably not seen EBBC's campaign promoting bicycling. Rather than preaching to the converted, we intentionally targeted motorists with ads like the huge TriVision billboard next to I-880 near the Coliseum. A total of six images depict bicyclists in "suggestive poses" with one of the following headlines: Commuting today, Working today, Fitness today, Shopping today, and Family today.

Somebody painted bike lanes on the freshly repaved street.

The City of Oakland was sued in 2000 for a project that would have extended
the bicycle lanes from Aileen St into downtown Oakland. The judge directed
the City to do additional studies and environmental review, particularly to
assess the potential impacts of removing left-turn pockets. (The bicycle
lanes were to be added with the space created by removing these pockets.) The

View to the east on Paloma Rd (Hwy 84) in eastern Alameda County operated by Caltrans. I-680 in background. Approaching bicyclist rides the fog-line like a circus performer walks a tightrope!

Consider some facts:

• Popular bikeway between Pleasanton-Sunol and Calaveras Roads (no alternative route)
• Traffic exiting I-680
• No shoulder.

Berkeley has released its long-awaited Draft Pedestrian Plan. It provides a very detailed, block-by-block analysis of current conditions and proposed solutions. Many of the problem intersections are of interest to bicyclists too.

(Submitted by Phil Morton on behalf of Emeryville Councilmenber John Fricke).

If you're interested in being on the soon-to-be-formed 65th Street Bridge Committee, please not that time is running out to apply!

Here is a link to the application form.

Best,

John

John Fricke
1057 43rd Street
Emeryville, CA 94608
510/601-8846