This is a short action alert for our “Lake Merritt Loop” campaign, envisioning a 2-way protected cycletrack all the way around Lake Merritt in Oakland, along with connecting routes serving neighbors from all parts of town.
More campaign updates are available on our landing page at BikeEastBay.org/LML. Please send link this to a friend and invite them to sign up for our notification list as well!
20TH STREET PROTECTED BIKEWAY RIBBON CUTTING
This Wednesday, Oakland DOT will host a ribbon cutting for a short but important segment of protected bikeway on 20th Street, connecting between the 19th Street BART station and our Lake Merritt Loop route at Harrison Street.
This project also includes sidewalk widening, median street trees, new traffic signals and street lights.Â
WHEN: Wednesday, October 21st, 2026 at 1:30 PM
WHERE: 400 Thomas L Berkley Way, Oakland, CA 94612
Optional: Bring your own brown bag lunch for a 12:30 PM meet-up with Bike East Bay staff before the event, at Lake Merritt east of Snow Park here (note that rainy conditions will cancel this meet up)
TRAGIC CRASH ON LAKESIDE DRIVE
We are very sad to share that a person on foot was killed by a hit-run driver earlier this month while in the crosswalk at Lakeside Drive and 17th Street. Media coverage of this incident was provided by Oaklandside and Streetsblog.
The crash occurred at one of the two spots where there is no plan yet for a protected bikeway around the lake, on Lakeside between 14th and 17th Streets.
While it is impossible to know what would have prevented this tragedy, shorter pedestrian crossings reduce exposure to drivers and also encourage slower speeds, reducing severity if a crash is still to occur.
We will continue to advocate for a continuous, two-way protected bikeway along this segment.
But in the near term we are asking Oakland DOT staff to at least upgrade the project on Lakeside Dr to add concrete islands or other physical elements at the 17th Street crosswalk (highlighted in purple via the construction plan shown here), which is currently designed with only painted lane lines.
You can help by emailing Oakland elected officials, urging them to collaborate with Oakland DOT in adding these design elements to the existing project, set to start construction by early 2027.
- Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee: officeofthemayor@oaklandca.gov
- Oakland District 2 Councilmember Charlene Wang: district2@oaklandca.gov
- Oakland Councilmember At Large Rowena Brown: atlarge@oaklandca.gov
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