Member Adina Levin shares this report on the Palo Alto Bike and Pedestrian Plan
As you may have seen in the Palo Alto Patch or other local media, the Palo Alto City Council didn't rubber-stamp the Bike and Pedestrian Plan on Monday night. Instead, they sent the plan back with constructive direction to make it stronger. Council Member Greg Schmid recommended more attention to east-west paths, especially for Highway 101 and El Camino crossings. Council Member Greg Scharff recommended greater focus on increasing bike parking.
http://paloalto.patch.com/articles/speed-bump-for-bike-plan
Palo Alto is fortunate to have Council members who can provide constructive critique to a bike and pedestrian plan based on personal experience. Unfortunately, Palo Alto's strong culture and planning have not yet been matched by equal implementation. Some of the great features in the new Bike and Pedestrian Plan were carry-overs from the previous 2003 Plan and have not yet been implemented. The 2003 Plan called for improvements including a network of Bicycle Boulevards, urban creek trails along Matadero and Adobe Creek, and a highway 101 overcrossing at Adobe Creek.
The Plan is going back to the Parks and Recreation and Planning Commissions for further review, and is expected back to Council by February. There will more opportunities for community input about these plan improvements.
Now is a good time to thank Council for their active contribution to a better bike plan and encourage them to focus on implementing the plans that exist.
Here is a sample email you can customize and send to Palo Alto City Council:
city.council@cityofpaloalto.org
Dear Council Members,
Thank you very much for your close attention and recommendations to strengthen the Palo Alto Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. This active focus on biking and walking will make Palo Alto an even better place to bike for transportation and recreation.
However, some of the great features in the new Plan are carried over from the earlier 2003 Bike Plan. I encourage you not only to approve the current plan but to emphasize implementation so that the city can actually achieve the goals of more people biking and walking, and we can all enjoy cleaner air, better health, and greater safety on the streets.
Sincerely,
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