On June 16, Richard Heard Jr. was killed bicycling on Tennyson Road near Tampa Avenue and Dickens Avenue, while riding to his job at FedEx in Hayward. Mr. Heard Jr. was a father of six children and grandfather to seven. His loss is heartbreaking and unimaginable. The family’s GoFundMe page to get justice for Mr. Heard Jr. can be found here. While we do not know what specifically caused Mr. Heard’s crash, we know this street has a history of fatal crashes, that we have been calling on the city to improve the street for years, and that the painted bikeway is not enough. Hayward needs separated and protected bikeways, most urgently on busy roadways such as Tennyson Road. Take action today.
In 2016 we wrote to the City of Hayward asking for a safer bikeway on this very stretch of Tennyson Road. Staff resisted because “future parking demands” wouldn’t allow a wider, safer bikeway today. Staff continue to resist installing fully funded safety upgrades to the painted parking protected bike lanes on nearby Patrick Avenue. Staff continue to resist reducing the number of car lanes and adding protection to the bike lane on nearby Huntwood Avenue where Valerie Martinez was struck and killed by a speeding car earlier this year.
The stretch of Tennyson Road between 880 and Mission Boulevard could be accessible and welcoming for people walking, biking, and taking transit—with safety upgrades on Patrick Ave., Huntwood Ave., and Mission Blvd. rounding out a connected network. Instead, the city continues to prioritize “future parking demands” instead of the lives of people navigating the street today. Bike East Bay has been calling on Hayward staff to act with urgency on Tennyson Road for years. It is beyond time for meaningful action.
Please join our demands that Hayward stop prioritizing the convenience of drivers over the lives of people walking and bicycling. Email Hayward city council today in support of protected bike lanes on Tennyson Road, Patrick Avenue, and Huntwood Avenue.
Two opportunities are coming up to speak with city staff in person:
- July 10: Hayward’s downtown “re-opening” event with City Council 12pm-6pm
- July 19: Community Meeting with Hayward Transportation Division regarding Patrick Avenue. 6:00pm, at Weekes Community Center, 27182 Patrick Avenue
For updates on walking, biking, and transit in Hayward, join our Eden Area mailing list.