HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07251995 - PC1 P.C. 1
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
DATE: July 25, 1995 MATTER OF RECORD
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Subject : Bicycle Trail
M.R. 1 The Board of Supervisors heard comments from KATHY TATE,
1571 Lexington Road, Concord, CA 94520, re: potential
problem with route from Concord to Bay Point. Supervisor
Torlakson advised future meetings will address this
concern.
THIS IS A MATTER FOR RECORD PURPOSES ONLY
NO BOARD ACTION TAKEN
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C.c. Supervisor Tom Torlakson
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To: Members of the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors
From: Kathy Tate
1571 Lexington Rd.
Concord, CA 94520 F
671-7579
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Subject: Bicycle Route from Concord to Bay Point and potential liability
Members of the Board:
1 am here today to inform you of a potential liability problem with the new trail that'parallels
Highway 4 and Evora Road. This trail is supposed to be the alternate bicycle route to the now
closed Port Chicago Highway.
The trail is incomplete at this time, but it is not blocked. Bicyclists can use this trail, but it has the
potential to be hazardous. There is currently no signage to indicate that there are hazards after
down grades and that the bicyclists should slow down. At the Bay Point end, the trail curves and
narrows and a light pole partially blocks the way to the curb cut. On the Concord side, there is
approximately 25 feet of fine sand that has glass in it between the end of the paving of the trail
and the curb at Willow Pass Road.
This trail is approximately 2 miles long. It has chain link fencing between it and Highway 4. It is
located in an area where there are no nearby accessible phones in case of an accident. It has
hills that allow speeds of up to 30 mph to be attained. This trail needs to have some safety
measures installed. There need to be warning signs at the top of the hills and emergency call
phones installed.
In addition to the hazards of the trail itself, there is a problem with access to get to thetrail from
the Concord side. Normally, bicyclists would ride on the shoulder of Highway 4 between Port
Chicago and Willow Pass, but there is construction taking place at this time that puts bicyclists in
harm's way. As a matter of fact, the East Bay Bicycle Coalition has written to CalTrans District 4
recommending that unless some other means is found to accommodate bicyclists, the:on ramp
should be closed to bicyclists,
This means that there will be no safe access for bicyclists to travel from Concord to Bay Point.
I could have shown you photos to illustrate the problems, but they would not do justice to the
actual circumstances. Therefore, I ask that you meet with bicycling representatives and ride the
route on a bicycle. If you do not have a bicycle, Chuck Tyler of the Cyclery Group will provide you
with one along with a helmet.
In dosing, bicycling is an alternative means of transportation that helps the environment. It is
important that the county do something now to show bicyclists that the county is interested in
promoting alternative transportation not in hindering it. fj
Kathy Tate
Member, Contra Costa County Bicycle Advisory Committee
Member, East Bay Bicycle Coalition
Newsletter Editor, Valley Spokesmen Touring Club
Newsletter Editor, California Association of Bicycling Organizations
Cont a Costa Representative, BART Bicycle Accessibility Task Force