Take Action for Protected Bike Lanes on El Camino Real in Redwood City
Image: conceptual design for El Camino Real at Roosevelt in the planNow’s your chance to speak up in support of protected bike lanes on El Camino Real in Redwood City! The city has its draft Redwood City El Camino Real Corridor Plan on their website now after months of study and outreach (see specific details below). Two upcoming public meetings provide an opportunity to express your approval of the plan and ensure that protected bike lanes move forward on this important corridor.Redwood City Planning Commission: Tuesday, November 7, 7 pm Redwood City Council: Monday, December 4, 7 pm Let me know if you plan to attend so we can track the number of speakers: emma@bikesiliconvalley.orgIf you live or work in Redwood City and would like to have the chance to bike safely on El Camino Real to access businesses, other cities, school, work, or any of the other destinations, please come out in support of this plan. It is crucial that the Planning Commission and City Council hear strong support for protected bike lanes. Since the plan includes protected bike lanes with removal/relocation of on-street parking, there will be opposition from some residents and business owners. We need to show why this is important for quality of life, transportation, health, safety, and community.Suggested Talking Points:
- Introduce yourself, where you live (or work) in RWC
- How you use El Camino Real today.
- How protected bike lanes on El Camino Real would benefit you, your family, your friends, your colleagues, and your community.
- Thank City Council and staff.
If you can’t show up to the meeting, please email your representatives:council@redwoodcity.orgpc@redwoodcity.orgAnd copy emma@bikesiliconvalley.orgSummary of plan components:The Corridor Plan lays out a vision for El Camino Real that would transform it from a vehicle-heavy thoroughfare to a more robust neighborhood with more homes, activity/retail centers, public art and plazas, increased trees and plants, and improved transportation for people walking, biking, and taking transit. The plan organizes these improvements into four topics: mobility, economic vitality, housing, and place-making.For bicycling (page 14), the goal is to promote, provide, and maintain a safe and convenient system of bike transportation on El Camino Real to promote active transportation, reduce dependency on automobiles, enable recreation, connect the community, and facilitate bicycling as a viable mode of travel for all ages and abilities. The plan lays out the following strategies:
- Provide Class IV protected bike lanes, which have a physical separation from vehicle traffic
- Remove on-street parking while ensuring that alternative parking is available on side streets or in shared lots
- Ensure safety between people biking and buses
- Design intersections on a case by case basis to optimize safety
- Maintain driveway/business access
- Determine access for emergency vehicles, commercial loading, and garbage removal
The plan proposes that design alternatives for the protected bikeways can be achieved in the medium term (precise timeline unknown) with coordination with Caltrans. There is the possibility of conducting a pilot protected bikeway on segments of El Camino Real. The city also has a Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant for El Camino Real conceptual designs, which could apply to the bikeway project.
