As if West Oakland does not already have a good share of Oakland’s bikeways, the area needs more and is going to get them.
The Bicycle Coalition is stoked to report that both Peralta and MLK Jr Way are proposed to get bike lanes. Both streetscape projects are in their early design stages, and your input and ideas are still needed. The Peralta project extends from 3rd Street to I-580 and MLK extends from West Grand to 40th. Design proposals are out for public review and comment at:
Peralta and MLK Jr Way Streetscape Project [scroll down a ways to find this specific planning project].
Live or ride in West Oakland? We need your input
Peralta Street is proposed for striping with Class II bicycle lanes the entire length of the project, from 7th Street to 32nd Street, in accordance with the City of Oakland Bicycle Master Plan (2007). The restriping does not require any change of curb location or reduction in parking or travel lanes, and can happen as part of the repaving of Peralta St in the current 5-year paving plan.
The news for MLK Jr. Way is just as good. In order to create a more pedestrian and bicycle friendly street, Martin Luther King, Jr. Way is reduced from two lanes of traffic in each direction to one lane in each direction, from West Grand Ave to 40th Street. Although this “road diet” does not reduce the curb to curb width of the street, it discourages vehicular speeding and allows for striped Class II bicycle lanes and center medians. In some locations, the medians create pedestrian refuge islands, shortening the distance that a pedestrian crossing Martin Luther King, Jr. Way must travel at one time.
Thank planning staff and share your additional ideas with:
Jeff Chew (510) 238-3629 jbchew@oaklandnet.com
Sunny Nguyen (510) 238- 6705 snguyen@oaklandnet.com
Hui-Chang Li (510) 238-6239 hli@oaklandnet.com
Oakland’s Community and Economic Development Department is working with Gates & Associates to produce a Master Plan and a set of “Phase I” construction documents.