Several steps to improve safety progress in Woodside were taken in April. The changes are documented here, and you can see the before and after photos of the work done.
1) Caltrans reduced the speed limit from 40 to 35 mph on westbound Woodside Road (Hwy 84) approaching the I-280 intersection. This is the area where Michelle Mazzei was run down and killed by a motorist in October 2005. This is also where cyclists must cross the path of motorists who are merging right to access the northbound I-280 entrance ramp. The Woodside Bicycle Committee recommended this action to the Town Council in March 2006. In July 2007 Woodside formally petitioned Caltrans for the reduction. Finally persistence pays off!
Recent development.
2) With TDA funding, Woodside reconfigured the westbound bike lane on Woodside Road approaching the Canada Road intersection. The bike lane has been terminated a few tens of yards east of the intersection and a new pocket bike lane has been marked between the right-turn and straight-ahead motorized traffic lanes. No longer are cyclists who want to continue on Woodside Road "channeled" to the right of the right-turn-only lane. Right-turning cyclists now merge with motorized traffic.
Before.
After.
) With the same TDA funding, Woodside extended the NO PARKING zone along the eastbound Woodside Rd bike lane (east of the Canada Rd intersection). The bike lane is now 12 feet wide east of the landscaped triangle where parking is permitted.
Before.
After.
4) In another TDA-funded project, Woodside replaced a depressed drain grate in the westbound Woodside Rd bike lane west of Buck's Restaurant with a flush, at-grade solid plate. The depressed grate often caused cyclists to swerve into the motorized traffic lane. Cyclists will now have one less obstacle to navigate and can focus on past the cars that park in the bike lane (legally). Even cyclists, frequently and unthinkingly, park in the bike lane when they go for a ride.
Before.
After.
5) Woodside has marked the northbound shoulder of Portola Road between Sand Hill and Mountain Home Roads with diagonal stripes to inform cyclists and motorists alike that the shoulder is not a bike lane. There is a steep-walled drainage ditch adjacent to the shoulder. This stretch of Portola Road is a shared roadway.
Before.
After.
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