The next two weeks are CRITICAL to winning our 12-year campaign for a Pathway all the way to San Francisco from the East Bay. Don’t leave the dream of shore-to-shore access dangling over the waters halfway!
On Wednesday, January 27, at 10:00 AM, elected officials will vote to increase bridge tolls, but they are not supporting our Bay Bridge West Span Pathway and they need to hear from us–bigtime! A proposed toll increase could fund the remaining half of the pathway on the West Span, and complete the Alex Zuckerman Pathway currently under construction on the East Span of the Bay Bridge.
This is our time, and likely the only chance we have for seeing both spans of the Bay Bridge Pathwayopen at the same time. Yes, a completed Pathway by 2013–sweet! This decision is purely political, which means your presence and voice will make a difference.
A strong turn-out will also bolster all our regional efforts on this as well as help assure a victory for the long-term dream of a pathway for bicycling all the way to San Francisco across the Bay Bridge. Such a lovely ride it would be: Shorter and more pleasant than a trip across the Golden Gate, this bridge would give a huge boost to bicycling and provide the cheapest, most reliable, and for some, the quickest (and only!) 24-hour access to crossing the bay. The path would also benefit motorists by providing breakdown lanes and bus riders in providing emergency access and reducing congestion, and help workers safely maintain the bridge. We already won the first half, it’s almost complete; won’t it be a waste to go halfway and be told to TURN BACK!!??
What You Can Do:
1) TURN OUT THE TROOPS JANUARY 27
Wednesday, January 27, at 10:00am, MetroCenter Auditorium, 101 Eighth St, Oakland (opposite Lake Merritt BART).
Please everyone come to this January 27 meeting–thanks!
The Big Hearing! Everyone please come! At the meeting, A major toll increase that SHOULD INCLUDE OUR PATH is scheduled at the Bay Area Toll Authority. This is a purely political decision, so public pressure is ESSENTIAL.
…and please, forward this email; pick up some info postcards at a Bikestation to pass out; and talk it up!
2) COME TO BERKELEY CITY COUNCIL JANUARY 19 TO SHOW SUPPORT
7:00 PM, Tuesday, January 19 City Council Chambers, 2134 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way
Thank Mayor Tom Bates for his leadership in support of the Pathway. The Council is expected to support our resolution. Let’s make a large showing by holding signs up when this comes up at the beginning of the meeting and send a strong message that we care about bicycling in Berkeley and beyond. We don’t ask you to speak unless the item is pulled from the consent calendar.
3) SEND A LETTER TO YOUR COMMISSIONER AT THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONSEND YOUR LETTER from our automated site:
www.ebbc.org/action
BFBC is working in partnership with EBBC as a member group. Your membership in the Bicycle-Friendly Berkeley Coalition supports ongoing, day in and day out advocacy. Joining BFBC also grants you automatic membership in EBBC and supports action for a better Berkeley! Please join, or renew, your membership today– www.bfbc.org