Two Fatal Collisions in Palo Alto and Los Altos Hills within a Week
An earlier version of this report erroneously stated both fatal collisions occurred in Palo Alto. Below is the corrected version, with one of the fatal collisions in Palo Alto and the other in Los Altos Hills.
Our team here at SVBC is heartbroken by the news of two fatal collisions in the Palo Alto and Los Altos Hills communities within a week of one another, and our deepest condolences go out to the families of those who were killed.
Maria Elise Jabon, 38, was killed by a car while riding her bike on Foothill Expressway, south of Arastradero Road, on the morning of February 13 in a popular route for bicyclists in the South Bay. Foothill Expressway has been a long-standing issue for advocates in the area who have pushed city and county leaders to prioritize people over vehicles.
Just one week later, on February 19, Sarah Ida Raphaelle Muller, 28, was struck and killed at the intersection of Embarcadero Road and Newell Road on Monday night on her bike after she was hit by three different drivers, two of whom left the scene after the collision, Palo Alto police said.
Per the City of Palo Alto’s 2012 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, the city plans to improve several intersections on Embarcadero near El Camino Real, including pedestrian improvements at the intersections of High Street, Kingsley Avenue, and Emerson Street.
Unfortunately, this does not include improvements for the intersection of Embarcadero Road and Newell Road, but with the city in the middle of renewing its bicycle and pedestrian plan, this can be an opportunity to push for more protected intersections and traffic calming measures to slow vehicle speeds.
In addition, the city’s 2012 plan also identified the intersection of Foothill Expressway and Arastradero Road as a location with high bicycle collisions. Despite this designation, it only recommended restriping as part of a repaving strategy and did not prioritize any infrastructure or bikeway improvements.
Everyone should feel safe to bike in their community, which is why SVBC continues fighting for safe bike infrastructure. Now, we have an opportunity to make our voices heard and demand better safety measures, particularly on one of Palo Alto's most perilous routes: El Camino Real.
Over the past decade, one-third of bicycle and pedestrian accidents in Santa Clara County have occurred on El Camino Real in Palo Alto. Shockingly, this statistic translates to an average of one person, often a child or teenager, being injured each month in Palo Alto.
We can change this. We can demand protected bike lanes along El Camino Real. Here's how you can get involved:
1. Submit Your Feedback: Let your voice be heard by submitting feedback here demanding protected bike lanes on El Camino Real here.
2. Attend Public Meetings: Mark your calendars for these upcoming public meetings where you can speak up for safer bike infrastructure: You can submit feedback demanding protected bike lanes on El Camino Real here. If you can give public comment on any of the dates below, please email katie@bikesiliconvalley.org
Caltrans Hosted Community Meeting: Thursday, February 29 at 6 p.m., Palo Alto High School Media Arts Center Atrium, 50 Embarcadero Road.
Joint Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee (PABAC)/City/School Transportation Safety Committee (CSTSC) Special Meeting: March 7, 6:30 p.m. at Mitchell Park Community Center Adobe Room, 3700 Middlefield Road.
Joint Planning and Transportation Commission/Human Relations Commission Meeting: Wednesday, March 13, 6 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers, 250 Hamilton Avenue.
City Council Meeting: Tentative-Monday, April 1, 6 p.m., City Hall, Council Chambers, 250 Hamilton Avenue.
3. Make Your Presence Count: When attending these meetings, don't forget to wear your bike helmet and high-visibility gear. Remember, every individual can make a difference!
4. Join us for a memorial ride to honor and pay respect to the victims of these needless instances of traffic violence. Details to come soon. If you are interested in helping organize or attend the ride(s), please email anthony@bikesiliconvalley.org.
Your participation is crucial in creating safer streets for cyclists in Palo Alto. Let’s show a united front and demand our leaders take action to eliminate traffic deaths. Together, we can make our roads safer for everyone.