Walking & Biking News & Ideas | |
We're starting 2024 with a lot of rain, but we hope that you are still able to get out for walks, hikes, and rides between the raindrops! This month we have a review of the top candidates for the State Assembly Seat for District 26, a great first-person viewpoint on how to maintain your independence at 79 years old, a beautiful hike for your and your dog (or fun ride with you and your mountain bike), and a new state bill that will improve pedestrian safety in crosswalks. Read on and enjoy! | |
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WBC Board Review of State Assembly District 26 candidates
by the Walk-Bike Cupertino Advisory Board
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The Walk-Bike Cupertino board recently met with two candidates for the State Assembly Member for District 26 position to learn their views and experience with walking and biking issues. The candidates are running to replace Evan Low, the current State Assembly Member who is now running for State Representative Anna Eshoo’s seat.
Walk-Bike Cupertino is not a political organization and does not endorse any candidates, but we do acknowledge that our elected leaders decide what infrastructure is built and which bills get passed. Therefore it’s important that the walking and biking community learns what support the candidates will give to these issues.
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Both Patrick Ahrens and Tara Sreekrishnan met with our board for an hour each of lively discussion. Omar Din was unable to speak with us. Our conversations touched on a lot of topics, but below are our impressions on issues related to walking, biking, and alternative transportation.
We hope this short summary is helpful to you. We encourage everyone to vote in the Primary in March (if this applies to you), and in the general election in November!
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Patrick Ahrens
Patrick impressed the Walk-Bike Cupertino board with his combination of deep local knowledge and proven track record. He is an active supporter of bike/ped policy and infrastructure in Cupertino, recently helping to bring $5 million to rebuild the McClellan Rd bridge over Stevens Creek.
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Patrick also created a Clipper transit pass program with VTA to encourage DeAnza/Foothill students to use transit and walk to college instead of driving. This program is now being adopted by other colleges in California. Patrick is also the only candidate who is supporting the Stevens Creek Boulevard Corridor Study.
Patrick is currently serving his second term as President of the Foothill-De Anza (FHDA) Community College District Board. He has also served for eight years as the District Director for current Assemblymember Evan Low. He grew up in Cupertino including attending DeAnza College, went to Santa Clara University, and currently resides in Sunnyvale. (Read more about our talk with Patrick Ahrens)
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Tara Sreekrishnan
Tara seems very knowledgeable about district issues. While she has a strong climate focus, we did not hear any past experience in pedestrian and cycling policy and infrastructure, or bike/ped issues that she would champion as an Assembly member.
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Tara served as the Deputy Chief of Staff to California State Senator Dave Cortese. She previously served as Chief of Staff and Policy and Outreach Director for Cortese on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. She is currently Vice-President of the Santa Clara County Board of Education to which she was initially appointed in 2021 to complete a partial term. Tara previously ran for a spot on the Cupertino City Council in 2018. (Read more about our talk with Tara Sreekrishnan)
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Maintaining my Independence
as a 79-year Old Senior
By Frank Geefay, Cupertino Resident
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Riding My e-Trike
This e-trike is built very sturdy. I do much of my triking alongside the Union Pacific Railroad tracks from McClellan Rd. to Saratoga Ave. I try to challenge myself to ride over the rough gravel next to the track, giving an extremely bumpy and challenging ride. I’ve repeatedly done this for 3 to 5 miles, and so far, nothing has shaken loose. I would challenge someone to do this with a bicycle.
The rear wheel differential works fantastically with great traction, even over a deep pile of gravel. There is no suspension, but the saddle has spring suspension with a couple of inches of travel. My ear balance is still working fine, so I can maintain my balance fairly well.
The e-trike rides very differently from a bicycle. Because it does not lean into turns, you must learn to lean your body into fast turns, or you may be in danger of tipping over. Riding the e-Trike XP by Lectric is a lot of fun. (read more)
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“I want to maintain my independence and continue to enjoy the outdoors. My solution was an
e-trike.”
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Bike Ped Commission proposes 3 items for city work program
BIKE/PED PLAN, SPEED LIMITS, AND HOMESTEAD TOP LIST
by Jennifer Shearin
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With the budget crisis that Cupertino is facing, most requests from city commissions for items to be included in Cupertino’s Work Programs are expected to be revenue neutral or revenue generating. The Bicycle-Pedestrian Commission is included in this. | |
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Luckily, bicycle and pedestrian related projects often are able to be significantly or fully funded by state and county grant money, unlike requests by other commissions, so it’s much easier to have them be revenue-neutral to the city. On January 24, 2024, the BPC made their yearly recommendations. (read more) | | |
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New Combined Bike/Ped Complete Streets Plan
Cupertino right now has two plans, a Bicycle Transportation Plan (‘Bike Plan’) and a Pedestrian Transportation Plan (‘Ped Plan’). The Bike Plan was approved in 2016, (read more)
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Speed Limit Studies
Studies have shown that the incidence of severe injury or death is significantly reduced with even a 5 mph reduction in speed on a road. Speed studies are needed to see if speeds limits could be lowered. With State bill AB43, it is now... (read more)
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Homestead Road Bike Lane Coordination
Sunnyvale recently approved new full-time bike lanes on Homestead road and investigating adding buffered lanes wherever possible. (read more..)
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Local & Beyond News this month | |
Bikes share parking lot lanes in new Cupertino Westport development
Construction of the Westport development on Stevens Creek Boulevard and Mary Avenue is well underway. Though the original design for the development included a bike/ped path leading to SCB, this was scrapped by the previous council in favor of a plan where alternate transportation shares the standard car roads and driveways.
As part of this, there are 'sharrows" running through the parking lots' access roads and a sign saying "bikes may use full lane". WBC disourages use of sharrows, as they are less safe than streets without them (see here), but the sign is at least a small reminder to the cars that the bikes will be mixing with them in these lanes.
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Staff proposals for cancelling Earth Day Festival and eliminating crossing guards do not seem to be moving forward
As part of the cost-cutting measures needed for the City of Cupertino budget crisis, staff were asked to propose savings in all deparments. Two of the items brought to council were cancelling the annual Earth Day Festival (~$19K) and eliminating crossing guards at all high schools (~$50K). (See full list of items here.)
At the January 17 City Council study session, councilmembers were not in favor of eliminating them as part of proposed budget reductions. WBC is also against eliminating these items, as they would reduce safety significantly for students, and go against the city's climate action goals. Several speakers spoke at the meeting to encourage the council not to go forward with pursuing these cuts.
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City of Cupertino receives $500K grant for Bollinger Road designs
In 2020, the City of Cupertino, in conjunction with the City of San Jose, identified a list of safety issues on Bolllinger Road between De Anza Boulevard and Lawrence Expressway. This stretch was identified as a high injury corridor in Cupertino's Local Road Safety Plan due to two fatalities and numerous accidents.
They recently received a $500K grant fom US DOT to continue working on proposed design plans. Public Works Director Chad Mosley indicated in the last Cupertino Bicycle Pedestrian Commission meeting that further public outreach will happen before any plans are implemented, and the city council would need to approve any infrastructure changes.
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Federal guidelines now explicitly allow painted designs on city streets
For the first time, “federal guidelines now explicitly include asphalt art projects as part of the roadway design tool kit that can be used on city streets.”
They provide street designs that cue drivers to slow down, provide people on foot more interesting places to walk and create new local landmarks. (See WBC article here.) More info is here: https://wapo.st/3S9wOXu
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California’s Daylighting Bill (AB 413) Enhances Crosswalk Safety | |
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According to the Federal Highway Administration, approximately half of all traffic-related injuries occur near intersections.
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As an attempt to combat this statistic, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 413 (AB 413) into law. Authored by Assemblymember Alex Lee, D-San Jose, this legislation aims to increase visibility at crosswalks across California. The bill, commonly known as the Daylighting Bill, prevents parking or stopping of vehicles within 20ft from marked crosswalks, improving visibility and safety for both pedestrians and drivers.
What is daylighting? How can it help?
The term “daylighting” refers to the practice of keeping a clear zone of a specified distance on the approach side of an intersection or crosswalk.
AB 413 mandates that vehicles must not stop, stand, or park within 20 feet of any marked or unmarked crosswalk. For crosswalks with curb extensions, a 15-foot buffer is required. This safety measure increases visibility for approaching drivers and those already stopped in traffic, offering them a better view of pedestrians entering the crosswalk. (Read more... )
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Before daylighting: cars cannot see pedestrians in the crosswalk due to parked cars blocking the sightlines.
image courtesy of SFMTA
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After daylighting:
cars have a clear view to pedestrians before they step off into the crosswalk.
image courtesy of SFMTA
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St. Joseph’s Hill Preserve
ALL TRAILS DOG FRIENDLY WITH MAGNIFICENT VIEWS
By Jian He
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Are you looking for a beautiful mountain trail to challenge yourself and your adventurous doggie friend? In fact, many regional open space preserves including Rancho San Antonio do not allow dogs even on leash, but St. Joseph’s Hill Preserve allows leashed dogs on all trails, and presents breathtaking views at the top of Lexington Reservoir after a steep uphill climb that would definitely satisfy active dogs and provide a rigorous workout for all. | |
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I recently hiked there with two friends and a dog. We enjoyed a beautiful hike, then a delicious brunch at Los Gatos downtown.
Parking & Access
The preserve’s website recommends visitors to park at Lexington Reservoir Parking Area (33 spaces + 1 ADA lot) with a daily fee of $6. The Jones Trailhead is located across Alma Bridge Rd.. If you prefer free parking, you may access the trailhead from Los Gatos downtown. The map shows that you can either park along Jones Rd. then take the entrance to Jones Creek Trail, or park around Main Street, and enter the Lexington Dam Loop trailhead to take Flume Trail, then connect to Jones Trail after about 1 mile.
(Read more...)
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We'd love to hear YOUR voice!
Do you know a great walk, ride, run or hike? Want to share an issue about walking, biking, city planning, or interesting idea?
Walk-Bike Cupertino would love to spotlight it in our newsletter and on our website! Articles should be 400 words or less, and should include a picture. All submissions are subject to approval and editing, and can be used by Walk-Bike Cupertino in future publications. Contact us here.
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Happy Walking and Biking,
Your friends at Walk-Bike Cupertino
Find much more, including maps, safety data, and information on all the city projects at: walkbikecupertino.org
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