HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05221990 - 1.79 .079
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i
TO- BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: Harvey E Bragdon_ " tra
Director, Community Development Dept. Costa
DATE* Count
May 22 , 1 y.990 J
SUBJECT;
Report on County Bicycle Symposium
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION•
Accept this report on the County Bicycle Symposium, held on April 19,
1990.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS/BACKGROUND:
A symposium on bicycling in Contra Costa County was held at the Gordon
Center on April 19 in order to promote the use of bicycles in the
County as a mode of transportation that is clean, healthful,
noncongesting and fuel conserving; coordinate the development of a
system of bikeways in the County; and identify issues of concern such
as safety, maintenance and promotion. This symposium was a step in
the preparation of a Countywide Bikeway Plan which the Board authorized
on . Match 13. A summary of the symposium has been prepared and is
. attached for the information of the Board.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT; YES SIGNATOR
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMEN TION O SOARD .COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER -
SIGNATURE(S)'
y
ACTION OF BOARD -MAY Z W ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
VOTE F SUPERVISORS
HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
UNANIMOUS (ABSENT /`— AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
. ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: County Administrator ATTESTED MAY 2 2 ]9__9_0
Community Development --""---
PHIL BATCHELOR. CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
M382/7-83 BY DEPUTY
SUMMARY OF SYMPOSIUM
BICYCLING IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
April 19, 1996
Supervisor Tom Torlakson welcomed the group and set forth the
purpose of the symposium to develop proposals for promoting
bicycling, a nonpolluting, noncongesting mode of transportation in
the County.
PANEL #1: REGIONAL BIKEWAY PLANNING
Jill Keimach, a planner with the Association of Bay Area Govern-
ments, described the Bay Trail project. ABAG is working with local
governments and other agencies for implementation of the plan. The
Bay Trail Committee, a nonprofit corporation, has been formed to
facilitate implementation of the plan. Recent acquisitions by East
Bay Regional Parks for the trail in Contra Costa include Lone Tree
Point in Rodeo and a one-mile strip in Pinole.
Alex Zuckerman, chairman of the Regional Bicycle Advisory Committee
(REBAC) and member of the East Bay Bicycle Coalition (EBBC) ,
discussed the issue of barriers to bicycle travel. A major
accomplishment of the EBBC was the establishment of the Bay Bridge
Bicycle Shuttle by Caltrans in 1978. REBAC is currently seeking
funding to publish a map of bike routes in Contra Costa County.
In addition, REBAC is promoting the commitment to local funding to
match state funds for the construction of" a bikeway as part of the
Benicia Bridge widening project.
Steve Fiala, Trails Coordinator with the East Bay Regional Parks
District, reviewed EBRPD' s projects in the County, including the
Contra Costa Canal Trail ( 13 miles) ; the Lafayette-Moraga Trail,
a major multi-use trail; :the San Ramon Valley Iron Horse Trail,
planned to connect Pleasanton with the Martinez shoreline; and the
Delta-De Anza Trail, connecting Pittsburg with Concord. The Iron
Horse Trail which is being funded from a number of sources, is
under construction; six to eight miles should be completed by the
end of the year. This trail is an excellent example of multi-
jurisdictional . cooperation and potentially an alternative
transportation facility. Steve expressed support for the Benicia
Bridge crossing as a _necessary component of the regional system.
PANEL ##2: SAFETY, MAINTENANCE AND PROMOTION
Mitch Avalon; a civil engineer ,in the County' s Public Works Depart-
ment, reviewed the three types of bikeways: paths, lanes, and
routes; while paths are the safest type of facility, lanes are
preferred types for commuting. Lanes should be 15 to 16 feet wide
to accomodate both cars. and bicycles,. Many roads in the County
have shoulder striping, but not bicycle lanes. Drainage inlets are
a hazard to bicyclists. Curb opening, inlets are preferable for
bicycling. Conflicts with driveways and pedestrians are safety
issues. Bicycles should not use sidewalks due to the prevailing
speed of bicycles. Other issues concern parking of automobiles and
the design of facilities to protect privacy and avoid conflicts.
The County' s favorite form of seal coating is the chip seal due to
the lower cost. This consists of spraying an oil coat, followed
by chips (small rocks) and rolling. Bicyclists object to this due
to loose rocks which remain. Asphalt overlays cost 10 times more
than chip seals. To avoid conflicts with bicyclists, the County
will endeavor to keep bicycle organizations informed of its
schedule for chip seal operations.
John Morgan, a Safety Consultant with the California State
Automobile Association, discussed his work with police departments,
schools, and state and local government 'to promote bicycle safety.
CSAA is available to organize bicycle rodeos and to make present-
ations on bicycle safety. Brochures, films and videos are
available .upon request.
Lea Brooks, Editor of California County, the journal of the County
Supervisors Association of California and long-time bicycle com-
muter who currently rides 40 miles each day to and from her office,
provided some insights based on her experiences. Her reasons for
bicycling include self-satisfaction, exercise, the visual
experience, training for racing, she hates driving, and she loves
to eat. A bicycle commuter needs safe routes, secure parking,
showers and a locker at work. Problems she found are the speed
limit on the American River Trail (too low at 15 m.p.h. ) , loose
dogs, glass, personal security and the attitude of some motorists.
Caltrans created an Office of Bicycle Facilities in 1972 to promote
bicycle transportation and reduce air pollution and congestion.
This office was eliminated in 1982 and should be reinstated.
Mark Covington, a 'Traffic Officer with the City of Walnut Creek,
discussed law enforcement aspects of bicycling. Bicycles on public
streets have the same rights and obligations as cars under the
California Vehicle Code. Bicycles should normally stay to the
right hand side of roadways (except when making a left turn) , stop
at signal lights and stop signs, and use hand signals. Riding on
the wrong side of the road is a major cause of bicycle accidents.
There have been no problems on paths in Walnut Creek with
accidents; speeding is a problem on paths but not on streets.
Ellen Fletcher, former Palo Alto City Council member and avid
bicyclist, was . the featured speaker. She described the actions
taken by the City of Palo Alto to develop an extensive bikeways
system and incorporate bicycle planning into the planning and
development process. Palo Alto has established a Bicycle Advisory
Committee which developed design guidelines for bicycle facilities
in the city; . all road projects are referred to the committee for
review. The city has installed signal actuators at many intersec-
tions and has designated a bicycle boulevard in which autos are
prohibited. Signing is used extensively and bicycle/pedestrian
bridges have been installed. Bicycle lanes are striped to the left
c
of right-turn lanes at intersections where adequate pavement width
exists, and concrete gutters are discouraged. Bicycle-safe
drainage gratings are installed (along with manholes) flush with
the pavement and are adjusted upon resurfacing. . Bicycle are
permitted on expressways with adequate width. When designating
bike lanes, the city compromises on parking, typically allowing
parking on one 'side of the street. City employees are reimbursed
7 cents per mile when using bicycles for city business, provided
the supervisor approves and helmets are worn. Showers are required
for each 10 ,000 square feet of development. A bicycle traffic
school was created, using TDA funding. Bicycle parking is provided
throughout the city.
PANEL #3: IMPLEMENTATION OF .BIKEWAY PLANS
Steve Weir, Vice-Chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Commis-
sion representing Contra Costa County cities, discussed funding
programs available. for bicycle facilities. These include Measure
C ( $3 million over 20 years), Measure AA, Regional Measure 1, the
Coastal Conservancy, and the FHWA. Other sources must .also be
identified. Steve predicted that MTC will take a higher profile
in promoting the bicycle as an alternative mode of transportation.
Meeting air quality standards is one impetus for this.
Theresa Larson, a civil engineer with Contra Costa County described
the process for allocating• the county' s Transportation Development
Act, Article 3 funds, which provide $350;000 to $360,000 of sales
tax monies per year to the County for bicycle and pedestrian
projects. She also discussed the Bike Lane Account, which Caltrans
administers and is available for bicycle projects which parallel
major traffic corridors. One problem is that these funding sources
cannot be used for maintenance of off-road facilities (paths) .
Alan Forkosh discussed the needs in Contra Costa County from the
perspective of the bicycle commuter. Al commutes from his home in
Oakland to his job at Bank .of America.in Concord using BART and his
bike. Al recommended that the environment for cyclists be imp-
roved; facilities be designed for the prevailing speed of bicycles;
shared lanes should be 13 to 14 feet in width; ' right turn lanes
(for cars) should be to the right of the bicycle lane; center auto
lanes could be narrower so that shared lanes to the right can be
wider. Maintenance and resurfacing of pavement should be from edge
to edge. Traffic signals should be retrofitted to be actuated by
bicycles. Secure and convenient parking is needed, as well as
showers and lockers at employment sites. Better communications are
needed between cyclists, planners and law enforcement.
Ernie Vovakis, a transportation planner with the County' s Community
Development Department, described the process and scope for
development of the County Bikeways Plan, which was authorized by
the Board of Supervisors in March. An advisory committee will be
established to review and comment on the plan; interested persons
were invited to participate.
Supervisor Torlakson wrapped up the session. with a . summary of the
next steps that should be taken:
form an advisory committee and proceed with the
development of the countywide bikeways plan;
- explore ways to coordinate existing funding sources
and identify new funding methods for bikeways;
establish a clearinghouse for dissemination of
information relating to bicycling;
identify local funding sources to match state funds .
for the construction of a bike and pedestrian path
on the Benicia-Martinez Bridge;.
- promote the reinstatement of the Office of Bicycle
Facilities within the California Department of
Transportation.
THE TRIBUNE Friday,April 20, 1990
County. sh
. p, 14n
bike c ,
Into higher -gear. ,
By Dan.Fost' on the road."
Special The Tribune The symposium attracted 35
MARTINEZ - Commuters bicycle advocates and local of-
have plenty of reasons not to ficials, who brainstormed ways
ride their bikes to work — fear to boost bicycle commuting.
of cars, too time-consuming,not Cyclists said they need a con-
enough.trails, too much sweat'. nected system of trails, wider
Lea Brooks of Sacramento,on lanes to share with cars, fewer
the.other hand, has no trouble bumps in the road, better bike
ticking off the joys of her bicycle racks, and showers and lockers j
commute — and she rides 20 at work. They also want access
miles each way. to Bay Area bridges.
"It's great exercise. It's! a The officials at the forum
great feeling of doing something were clearly sympathetic.— the
for the environment. It's great moderator, county supervisor
training for races.I hate driving, Tom Torklakson, is an avid
I love to eat, and it saves me a mountain biker — but stressed
lot of money," Brooks told a bi- the difficulty of finding funding
cycle symposium.yesterday. ! for all the needed projects.
Contra Costa County officials "All the money we have just
want more people to see things isn't enough," Torklakson'said.
Brook's.way. .He urged,advocates to,work
Switching from cars to bikes for state measures, like a gas-
means fewer traffic tie-ups,low- tax hike, that would channel
er gasoline use, and less air pol- funds to bike projects.
lution. + Vokakis is working on a bicy-
"Even if 5 percent of the peo- cle master plan for the county
ple going to work ride' their by the end of the year. Several
bikes, it's significant," said Er- Contra Costa cities have passed
nie Vovakis, senior transporta- transportation systems manage-
tion planner for the county.
"Each one of them is one less car See BIKES, Page B-8
Continued from Page B-1
':Ment laws, citing bikes as one
:traffic-busting component.
P
The difficult
i
n bicycle
c
le com-
muting
can be traced to the sub-
urban growth of Contra Costa
` I
County. Freeways replaced lo-
,cal roads, and subdivisions .
_sprouted with no cohesive back-
road,network to allow cyclists to ; F
;avoid cars. w
3
You need to plan for bikes '° t
when you plan for cars,"Vovak t
-is.said. k
interviews this week with bi-
cycle commuters past and "
present revealed some of the 1 i
pros and cons of trading four fat
wheels for two skinny ones.
Laurie Slama of Oakland, for . _;'_; �
instance likes the ride but hates
the traffic.Slama takes BART to ��... � � f'
'Walnut Creek, and pedals two
miles.:on,hectic Ygnacio Valleys
Boulevard to her job as a physi-
cal therapist at John.Muir.Medi-
calIMU
Center.Sometimes she has to
.chane her shirt once she's at :\,
i.M \
work.
[. �fU .
I .feel like I�m riding <'r < .'
freeway, but there's no real al-
ternate
e route Slama said. A
W�h
`
`4.
•:�a:�<>;
i
ka Z<�: z♦ ,
couple of times, some trucks 4M
have come pretty close.
She would like to see the cen-
ter lines on that road narrowed, ,
and'the extra width given to the g�.
right lane to accommodate cy-
clists and cars. Alan Forkosh, t ,: , x nr. 8y De?Fse/speclBL W The n'b"ne
vice president.of the California Laurie Slama rides her bike to-wok to John, Mulr Oospltal,
Association of Bicycle Organza-
tions, said that system has
proved effective in Seattle. Some practical"problems are ' of-right turfi 4ni
Valerie Cotber used to ride her close to the surface ®.Making cer..tain all street
bike 13 miles from Moraga to At Thursday's symposium,cy patch ups are even,j and stay.
Walnut Creek, but when she clists grew passionate when even; z
started working in Oakland the Mitch Avalon of the countypub- ®Ingtailmg sensitive wires:`11 c
hills became.too oppressive for lic works department mentioned the` ground at traffic 11 bts''so
her. the need for moderation m the °Y bicyclists can Jirigger green
"I liked the ride in the morn- "chip seal" controversy: lights m'`the same manner as
ing," said Colber, a senior sys- In fixing roads,,chip seal 'a cars do'elsewhere,
terns analyst with the Kaiser coat of oil and a"coat of.small e:Requiring bike racks:on all
Foundation Health Plan. "I got rocks — is cheaper than-,repav-s- .:buses;and,'-
in
nd,'in more mileage. It was great ing.But the substance-becomesa f'Subsidizing city employees
stress reduction; it got my mind problem for cyclists when the whocommute.by bike..:
and body going. On my way rocks scatter over tthe_shoulder
home, I'd think about the fresh and into the bike lane... ;
air; unwind, and solve problems Public works-officials andbi=;;.1
at home. When you're in a car,if cyclists vowed to.drnprove[linesa
you're in heavy traffic, you have of communication.to.minimize
to,concentrate on that." the problem.
Steven Mehiman used to ride Featured speaker. °Ellen:;;
his bike from his Walnut Creek Fletcher, former Palo Alto city:':
home to BART on his way to his councilwoman and now director
San Francisco law office. He of the League,.:-of- American .J
found the hilly, two-mile ride Wheelmen had some suggestions`
didn't work for someone in a suit for encouraging cyclists:
and tie. a Establishment,,of a. bicycle
"No matter how slowly I went, committee to ensure cyclists'-lin-
I broke a sweat," Mehlman said. put in all transportation deci-,
If employers provided showers, sions;
he said — no sweat. ®Requiring developers,to pro- :'
Toni Frazier, manager of the vide bike lanes and bike lockers,**:!,
Bishop Ranch Transportation as well as one shower for every
Centre,says showers are provid- . 10,000 square feet of develop-
ed at the San Ramon office park, ment;
where 15,000 people work. ®Placing bike lanes to'the left