By consent, the Oakland City Council approved 4 new bike lane projects that each remove a lane of travel or parking, or both. Unprecedented! This happened because you, our members and supporters, let the City know you support these bikeways, and because City staff have worked so hard, with EBBC and with neighborhood groups, to keep the discussion transparent and ensure buy-in.
Specifically, your support for better bikeways from Downtown Oakland to Fruitvale, up Broadway, and out MacArthur Blvd worked. These 4 bike lane projects are all part of Oakland’s Bicycle Master Plan and to have these projects approved this week is a invigorating post Bike to Work Day treat. Here are the projects:
- E.12th St: new bike lanes on E.12th St from 14th Ave to Fruitvale Ave, connecting with the new bikeway thru Fruitvale Village E.12th St Bikeway Project. 83% public support for this 1.4 mile bikeway project.
- Mills College: new bike lanes on MacArthur Blvd from the entrance to Mills College to Seminary Ave, as part of the LAMMPS Project.
- Broadway: new bike lanes from 38th St up to Broadway Terrace. Bike Lanes on Broadway 87% public support for this 0.9 mile bikeway project.
- Ardley: new bike lanes from 30th Street to MacArthur Blvd. 64% public support for this 0.3 mile bikeway project that is part of a cross-town, 2.9 mile bikeway.
There was no opposition at the Public Works Committee. Please allow us to repeat that: “there was no opposition.”. Five speakers spoke in favor, including EBBC Program Director Dave Campbell, as well as representatives of the Maxwell Park Neighborhood Association and Mills College. Neighbors in the vicinity of these new bike lanes also approved of removing travel lanes and parking to make way for bike lanes, and they approved doing so by over 70% in favor!
“There’s a culture change taking place in Oakland,” stated Jason Patton, Oakland’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Program Manager, reflecting on the tremendous support for these projects. Needing only one more vote at Council for approval later in May, Oakland will be prepared to stripe four new bike lanes as part of these repaving projects in 2013. “Oakland is making a major push for better bikeways, which is going to nurture the young talent drawn to our city,” said Renee Rivera, Executive Director of the East Bay Bicycle Coalition. “Oakland is becoming a forwarding thinking, innovative city that will thrive with these new improvements.”
Mills College campus architect Karen Fiene spoke enthusiastically in support of the MacArthur Blvd Bikeway Project and thanked the City for its inclusive process and hard-working staff to improve a dangerous stretch of roadway. “We look forward to seeing all of the improvements completed on MacArthur Blvd. Mills College has been around for 140 years and I want to see this street improved during my time at Mills.”
These four bike lane projects are scheduled for completion in 2013, with all but the Ardley bikeway project part of repaving projects.
It’s OK to holler for this one!
One more thing-the Public Works Committee approved $75,000 for more bike racks throughout Oakland and $75,000 for new storm grates, the kind that your bike tires roll right over effortlessly.