Submitted by John Sullivan
School Zones
In a previous edition of this report, I reported on the bad behavior of some drivers dropping off or picking up students at Buchser Middle School in September of last year. Cars were waiting in No Parking Zones, blocking the bike lane and staying in the waiting zone much longer than the posted three minute maximum. I did not witness any collisions, but there were several close calls.
Last January, I was again counting bikes at Buchser School, and the improvement in driver behavior was striking. Cars were waiting only in the designated zones, the bike lane was clear, but most of the students on bikes were still riding on the sidewalks. I spoke to one of the teachers acting as crossing guards at dismissal time, who told me that a SCPD Traffic officer had recently been issuing citations there. He wasn't there on that particular day, but the student pick-up traffic was still calmed. The teachers would like him to be there every day. They said some of the drivers can be quite rude to them.
Homestead Road Project
The Homestead Road Bicycle Corridor now has Bicycle detector loops at the intersections with Lincoln and Monroe Streets. There are plans to also install them at the intersection with Lawrence Expressway. Public works is also upgrading all left turn lane detectors to ensure that they are sensitive to bicycles.
San Tomas Aquino Trail
Work has been progressing on the underpasses for reach 3 of the trail, from Scott Blvd. to Monroe St., since last spring. The contractors are attempting to finish all the below grade construction before the rainy season begins, nominally around mid-October. With paving and other surface construction continuing through the winter, Reach 3 should be completed by Spring, 2009.
CSC-BAC
The Santa Clara Bicycle Advisory meets five times a year. The last meeting scheduled for this year will be held on October 22 at 4:00 PM in the Planning Department Conference Room in City Hall. The Chair of the committee is a member of, and appointed by, the City Council. The eight citizen members, who are also appointed by the City Council, serve three year terms and may be reappointed at the end of their terms. Terms are staggered so that two or three member terms expire at the end of each year. Any interested persons who either reside or work in the City of Santa Clara are eligible to apply for a committee position. More information and application forms are available from Lorenzo Lopez, (408) 615-3024, in Traffic Engineering.
Add new comment