Gaining Speed in Palo Alto: Demanding a Safer El Camino Real
Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC) is spearheading a campaign to secure protected bike lanes on El Camino Real by 2030 - and Palo Alto has the spotlight. As the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) repaves El Camino Real, SVBC is advocating for protected bike lanes to be installed along the road. Various community meetings are underway across Palo Alto, providing platforms for input and feedback on the project from residents and different commissions. The pivotal moment arrives on April 1st when the Palo Alto City Council convenes to vote on a resolution to remove parking and install protected bike lanes.
View this meeting’s agenda and packet now. There are three ways you can take action:
1. Join us in person with signs, high visibility gear, and bike helmets to give public comment at Palo Alto City Council Monday April 1, 2024 at 7:45 PM at Palo Alto City Hall 250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301
2. Give public comment on zoom at the council meeting Monday April 1, 2024 raise your hand before agenda item #11 scheduled for 7:45 pm
3. Write to Palo Alto City Council asking them to take the first step toward a safer El Camino Real passing a resolution to remove parking on El Camino Real and install bike lanes
Email katie@bikesiliconvalley.org if you wish to give public comment or write to Palo Alto City Council.
In the last weeks, community members have spoken clearly -
For the safety of those who walk and bike, for a long-term investment in healthy, climate-friendly infrastructure, vibrant and just communities, promoting sustainable transportation options - it’s time for protected bike lanes on El Camino Real.
In the last decade, over 700 children have been involved in collisions on El Camino Real. In Santa Clara County, 30% of all collisions that occur on El Camino Real happen in Palo Alto. Once a month for the last decade, a person who walks or bikes is injured on El Camino Real in Palo Alto, usually a child or teen. The road is in deep need of safer infrastructure. Whether you live, walk, bike, or own a business on El Camino Real, you know how dangerous it is.
On Thursday, February 29th, community members filled Palo Alto High School Media Arts Center to speak in front of Caltrans and the City of Palo Alto decision makers voicing support for protected bike lanes on El Camino Real and asking questions about the project. This project is the first step in laying the foundation for a safer El Camino Real in Palo Alto, and this meeting was the first opportunity for the community to ask questions. While not one person in the room was opposed to the project, there were several questions and comments on how it could be made safer, emphasis on improved intersections, need for narrower lanes and slower speeds and how the state agency needs to be more transparent and collaborative during these planning and implementation stages.
The following week, community members were ready for the joint meeting of the Palo Alto Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee (PABAC) and City/School Transportation Safety Committee to express their enthusiastic support for protected bike lanes on El Camino Real.
Following questions from local educators and Parent Teacher Association leaders about how El Camino Real can be as safe as possible for students biking to school, PABAC offered their support for the project. The committee noted that El Camino Real is too car-centric, and beyond this project, more should be done to protect people walking and biking on El Camino Real.
Many neighbors who walk and bike also emphasized at the meeting how, in the face of climate change, Caltrans should prioritize and invest in bicycle and pedestrian projects like this rather than investing in widening highways.
On Wednesday March 13 the Palo Alto Planning and Transportation Commission and Human Relations Commission met for a joint study session meeting to review this proposal. Public commenters highlighted personal experiences with injury and how improving bike infrastructure in Palo Alto was necessary. SVBC volunteers recapped their data from surveying local businesses on El Camino Real of how this project would create a safer, slower retail environment. Other public commenters expressed concern over the project - with a resident who lives in the RVs on El Camino Real raising the issue of potential displacement.
Multiple Commissioners expressed that this project was coming to them for approval too quickly, that the project raised too many questions with not enough data. While it is true that this came to the commission very late, the City of Palo Alto was presented this opportunity in 2021 along with Mountain View and Los Altos. The cities of Mountain View and Los Altos actively engaged with Caltrans immediately and provided feedback at various stages of the project. Unfortunately, Palo Alto did not engage at that time putting the City in a crunch position.
This proposal is a rare second chance and we encourage the City to make the best of this opportunity.
While this project is not ideal and does not give 100% of everything we would like this project to be, it is the first step in the right direction. The corridor can further be improved with continued collaboration between the City and the Agency.
SVBC would like to applaud Palo Alto City Staff in trying to make a smooth transition for those living in RVs or vehicles on El Camino Real into nearby safe parking. We do not want bike lanes on the street that cost displacement of community members.
SVBC extends profound gratitude to the dedicated volunteers working to transform this vision into a tangible reality - Amie Ashton, Ken Kershner, Katherine Dumont, Frank Viggiano, Eric Nordman, Nick Brosnahan and many more! Huge shoutout to all of these amazing team members for their time and energy to help make this project a reality.
With each advocacy effort and community engagement, the momentum for a safer El Camino Real grows stronger. Through collective action and unwavering determination, we pave the way towards a safer, more sustainable future for all who walk and bike.
So, get involved today!
Email katie@bikesiliconvalley.org to give public comment supporting Bike Lanes on El Camino Real at the Palo Alto City Council on Monday April 1st at 7:45 PM