Letter to San José City Council on sidewalk bicycling ban
On Wednesday, November 26, I sent the following email to San José City Council members regarding the proposed sidewalk bicycling ban on their agenda for December 2. If you're passionate about this issue, please join us at the meeting!Dear Council Members,Next Tuesday, December 2, you will be taking action on a proposed ban of sidewalk bicycling in the downtown area. Events in recent years have left some people, particularly seniors, wary of walking downtown in the presence of bicyclists. Crashes and close calls, usually the result of disrespect and recklessness, are scary for the pedestrians involved and unacceptable as we work to make downtown more vibrant and attractive.As SVBC has previously stated in multiple community workshops, T&E subcommittee meetings, and letters, a full or partial ban on sidewalk bicycling in general is not the appropriate solution for this problem. The threat comes from people behaving badly while riding bicycles, not from the act of riding a bicycle on the sidewalk itself. Most people who ride on the sidewalk do so safely, and forcing those people onto high-traffic, high-speed, downtown roadways puts them in harm's way.We once again urge you to consider defining and addressing reckless bicycle riding on our city's sidewalks. Factors that could objectively define reckless riding include use of a cell phone while riding, trick riding, speed in excess of what could be reasonably expected of a pedestrian, and not giving pedestrians the right of way. Additionally, we encourage a more targeted enforcement and policy effort by the city toward those behaviors that cause the most pedestrian and bicycle injuries and fatalities, including vehicle speeding, vehicle failure to yield, and vehicle red-light running.Under this Council's leadership, San José has significantly expanded and improved its bikeway network, particularly in the downtown area. Nevertheless, there remain significant gaps in this network along corridors that provide access to and from transit, shopping, schools, parks, hotels, and residences. Until these destinations are served by bicycle infrastructure that is safe and comfortable for people of all ages and skill levels, we cannot expect to increase trips taken by bike. Prohibiting access on the sidewalk will further dissuade some people from traveling by bike, while making trips more dangerous for those who decide to ride on high-traffic roads that lack bike lanes like Santa Clara, First, or Second Streets.At SVBC, we understand the significant challenge in trying to change behavior, and we appreciate the multifaceted approach the City has taken to encourage safe use of existing facilities. We look forward to continuing our work with elected leaders, the Department of Transportation, and law enforcement to educate bicyclists and encourage good behavior.Attached to this email are several pages of signed petitions that were distributed by volunteers with the organizations TRANSITion SJSU and I Walk. I Bike. I Vote. Like SVBC, these groups are deeply concerned by the proposed criminalization of healthy, sustainable transportation options and strongly urge you to vote "no" on the proposed ban options prepared by City staff.Thank you,Colin HeyneDeputy DirectorSilicon Valley Bicycle Coalitionhttps://bikesiliconvalley.org408-287-7259 x. 224
