Do you ride in or through El Cerrito? Yup, me too!
Want a San Pablo Avenue that is safer for your and your family to ride? I thought so!
Want protected bike lanes on San Pablo Avenue? Go to one of the El Cerrito meetings and speak up!
Opponents are up in arms over El Cerrito’s plans for designing bikeways on San Pablo Avenue, including protected bikeways in the Midtown area between its two BART stations. We need supporters at Monday’s City Council meeting. Because of opposition, it appears that the proposed Plan has removed bike lanes in sections, due mainly to concerns about parking, many of these concerns without basis. Please help us convince local businesses that you are their best customers and that you support continuous bikeways on San Pablo Avenue.
We still want to see bike lanes included at the north and south ends of San Pablo Avenue, where sharrows are currently proposed in the Downtown and Uptown areas of El Cerrito. The goal is a continuous bikeway on San Pablo Avenue between public transit, businesses, and residences, connecting you to the places you ride. Sharrows are no substitute for your safety.
Please attend the meeting and tell El Cerrito City Council that you bike to get to businesses on San Pablo Ave, that bike lanes will be good for their economy.
If you can’t attend Monday’s meeting, email Melanie Mintz, interim Community Development Director, Mayor Greg Lyman, or any of the City Council Members – Janet Abelson, Rebecca Benassini, Jan Bridges or Mark Friedman.
For more info go to El Cerrito’s website on the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan.
Contribute to the greening and bike & ped friendliness of our neighbor to the north, El Cerrito!
Please join City Staff THIS Wednesday, October 22nd at 7 pm in the El Cerrito City Hall Council Chambers for a Joint Study Session of the Parks & Recreation Commission and the Environmental Quality Committee and hear an update from the Community Development Department on the City’s Urban Greening Plan, currently underway. The two bodies called for the City’s successful application for a Proposition 84 Urban Greening Planning Grant in 2011. The Plan evaluates existing parks and open spaces in the city and proposes policies, programs and projects to create and enhance vibrant, ecological green spaces in El Cerrito. The public will have an opportunity to provide comments at the end of the presentation.
Additional comments and questions may be submitted to Emily Alter via email at EAlter@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us or at (510) 215-4385. The City anticipates that the draft Urban Greening Plan will be released early 2015. For more information on the Plan, please visit www.ElCerritoUrbanGreening.org
Ride with us and our neighbors at the Tour de Trails!
Come join with our friends from Rich-City Rides and Bike East Bay on a 16-mile ride showcasing little-known local trails on Dec. 6!
The ride, which takes off from Richmond BART station at 10 a.m., is fun, easy-paced and mostly off-street and paved, according to Rich City Rides, the local nonprofit co-hosting the event with Bike East Bay.
Riders will learn how to navigate some of the more complicated sections of trail and discuss what needs to be done to make Richmond’s, El Cerrito’s and Albany’s trails easier to use.
The ride heads south from the Richmond BART station to the Richmond Greenway trail, then continues east on the trail to the start of the Ohlone Greenway trail in El Cerrito. The trip then goes south on the Ohlone to Albany, where it connects with the Marin/Buchanan Bikeway. Cyclists will then head north on the Bay Trail, looping back to the start of our route at Richmond BART.
Children under 16 must be accompanied with an adult and should be able to ride with their parents safely in the street. Anyone under age 18 must where a helmet.
Any parents who want to learn more about biking with children can attend one of the free family workshops offered online at www.BikeEastBay.org/FCW, or check out our website at www.BikeEastBay.org/FamilyCycling for more information.
Preview the route online at: www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/538365706. Those who can’t join the full route can get on BART at El Cerrito Del Norte at mile 3.3, El Cerrito Plaza at mile 5.2, or just head north on the Greenway until you meet up with the ride.
Please rsvp to the Facebook Event: Tour De Trails
Here are some of the 96 BikeLink lockers at nearby El Cerrito Plaza BART
Come help our neighbor to the North, El Cerrito, shape its bicycle and pedestrian future!
The Open House for El Cerrito’s Active Transportation Plan will begin with a short presentation about the planning process and proposed bicycle and pedestrian networks. Focus area project posters will be available for review and comment throughout the workshop.
The City released the draft Plan for public comment on Sunday, June 14th. The Plan, which is an update to the 2007 Circulation Plan for Bicyclists and Pedestrians, evaluated the existing bicycle and pedestrian networks and identified new focus projects and programs to close gaps in these networks and provide amenities to make it easier to bike and walk in El Cerrito.
The draft Plan proposes nine focus area projects, revised bicycle and pedestrian networks, a policy toolkit and program framework to making walking and biking easier in El Cerrito. The nine focus area projects are:
- BART to Bay Trail Access Improvements at Central Avenue, Carlson Boulevard, and Cerrito Creek Connections between Plaza BART and the Bay Trail
- Ohlone Greenway Crossing Improvements – Citywide
- Citywide Wayfinding at Key Walking and Biking Routes
- Arlington Boulevard Pedestrian Improvements
- East Side Bicycle Boulevard – Blake Street, Norvell Street, Schmidt Lane, Richmond Street,
- Moeser Lane, Norvell Street, Lincoln Avenue, Albemarle Street, Behrens Street
- Wayfinding associated with East Side Bicycle Boulevard
- Key Boulevard Improvements – between Humboldt Street and Hill Street
- Fairmount Avenue Improvements – between Carlson Boulevard and Colusa Avenue
- Potrero Avenue Improvements – between western City Limit and Ohlone Greenway
The draft Plan is available for review via the project website, www.el-cerrito.org/ATP. Public comments will be accepted from Sunday, June 14th until Friday, July 17th and may be submitted via email to the Public Works Department at streets@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us, via mail to City of El Cerrito, 10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530 or dropped off at the El Cerrito City Hall Front Counter, Attn: Public Works.
Spend the afternoon at a Pop-up Park on Solano Avenue!
Tables & umbrellas will be set in two parking stalls adjacent to Gordo’s and Domino’s for a day of community, music and relaxation. Grab a burrito, tacos, pizza, ice cream or anything from local businesses as we transform two boring parking spaces into an inviting parklet.
The intrepid installation team for Albany Strollers & Rollers’ new public bike pump at the corner of Solano & Santa Fe.
The City of Albany’s Mark Matherly, AS&R’s Amy Smolens & Dan Lieberman and Dan’s son Sander
Afterwards, roll up the hill to pump up your tires at Albany Strollers& Rollers’ brand new public bike pump before heading to the final Bike About Town ride!
Give your input to improve the Greenway by El Cerrito BART stations!
Come help our neighbor to the North, El Cerrito, shape its (and your) bicycle and pedestrian future!
The primary goals of this project are to:
*Improve bicycle and pedestrian routes to transit, commercial nodes and housing
*Bring new vibrancy to the areas around the BART stations
*Increase safety and accessibility for BART riders and Greenway users
*Improve the integration of the El Cerrito Plaza and El Cerrito del Norte BART Stations with the surrounding community.
Here are some of the 96 BikeLink lockers at nearby El Cerrito Plaza BART
On Tuesday November 10 the City of El Cerrito will host a community meeting to review the preferred plan for the Ohlone Greenway at the El Cerrito del Norte and El Cerrito Plaza BART station areas. This is the last of several outreach efforts to engage the public in the process of re-designing the Ohlone Greenway at two key areas in the City. At the meeting, community members will have a chance to voice their opinion on the preferred plan to create gateway elements and outdoor gathering spaces around the Greenway and BART stations, improve the mixed-use bicycle and pedestrian path and intersection crossings, and other enhancements.For more info, go here.
Here’s a great family event with our El Cerrito neighbors!
Need a kid’s bike at a great price? Just want to ride around with your family?
They also set up an obstacle course, offer free minor repairs to community members bringing their own bike to the event, have a food truck on site, and generally try to make it a fun celebration of bicycling even for those not coming to buy a used bike. Details are below and at the following link.
The Harding ReCycle is a bicycle festival where you can
- buy a “ReCycled” bicycle refurbished by the Harding Dad’s Club bike mechanics
- get basic repairs on your bike for free
- learn how to make repairs yourself
- bring or borrow a bike and ride our obstacle course
- compete in the “Slowest Bike Race”
- learn how to ride without training wheels
Buy a $2 raffle ticket to be entered in a raffle for a brand new kids bike valued at $350!!
Have a bike to donate? They’ll accept donations of used bicycles up to and including the day of the Harding Recycle. Arrange for your donation to be picked up from your home by emailing hardingrecycle@gmail.com, or bring it to the event on May 21st.
Want more info? Go to their website!
Race on down to see “Breaking Away” at Albany’s first Bike-In Movie!
If you haven’t seen this fantastic film, you have to come on down! If you’ve seen it already, of course you want to see it again!
May is Bike Month – Join the City’s Rec Department and your fellow Strollers & Rollers at the Albany Community Center for a “Bike-in Movie.” Easily the best film with a bike theme (Sorry, “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure,”) having won an Academy Award and been nominated for 3 others, “Breaking Away,” a fun, family-friendly movie about a teenage boy’s dream of becoming a professional cyclist, will be showing.
Ride your bike on down to the Albany Community Center and join us for this fabulous Bike Month event! The City will have plenty of space to park your bike in a protected area, complete with a massive bike rack. The popcorn is free and will be flowing! This film is PG. Special thanks to 5 Little Monkeys for co-sponsoring this bike-tacular event!
These racks that AS&R funded at the Waterfront are perfectly situated for folks who want to enjoy the beach, a hike or just enjoy the beautiful view.
Help keep our access there!
Do you ride your bike, walk, hike, jog or otherwise enjoy the Albany Bulb & Neck areas? Do you want to continue to have access so you can enjoy the Albany Waterfront to its fullest? Both pieces are scheduled to be transferred to the East Bay Regional Park District and some groups and individuals want to curtail recreational use and bicycle access.
The City is completing its “Albany Neck & Bulb Transition Improvement Plan” public process so this meeting is your final opportunity to give your input in order to ensure that the Waterfront area is something that can be enjoyed by all.
Representatives from Albany Strollers & Rollers and Bicycle Trails Council of the East Bay were invited to a Stakeholder meeting with Albany City Staff and the Planning & Design Consultants, and we were able to voice our opinions.
BUT it is crucial that City Staff, Consultants and City Council hear from YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TO SET FORTH PRIORITIES and a plan to communicate to EBRPD.
Want to ride along our beautiful Bay? Speak up!
Bike & hiking paths? Bathrooms? Bike racks? Picnic tables? Improved bicycle access from all directions?
What would make this a great recreational area, like the areas that Berkeley has in its Marina?
This City Council meeting is the FINAL PUBLIC FORUM TO SAY THAT YES, RECREATIONAL ACCESS IS IMPORTANT TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!
Consultants from WRT will give a brief presentation on the process and the final study, and there will be an opportunity for public comment.
More details will be posted as we have more information but please save the date to make sure we keep access to OUR WATERFRONT!
We risk losing access to our Bay if we don’t speak up!
Written comments can be provided in advance of the meeting to cityhall@albanyca.org. We encourage written comments be sent before the day of the meeting to ensure they can be taken into consideration.
Documents related to this effort are included here:
1. Final Albany Neck & Bulb Transition Study (very large – 143 pages)
2. Conservancy Staff Report 05-29-2014
3. WRT_Albany Neck & Bulb Stakeholder Meeting_Access and Recreation
4. Scope of Consultant Services for Albany Neck and Bulb Transition Plan
5. WRT Transition Improvement Plan as of April 2015
Want to test your cycling, running and swimming skills in
a low-key setting, while helping AHS & AMS sports teams in the process?
Come on down to Memorial Park on October 1st for the Albany Community Triathlon!
Come join the fun!
courtesy: Peggy McQuaid
The Albany Community Triathlon emphasizes fitness and fun with a 400m swim, 10k cycle and 3k run.
Registration is available at www.albanytri.com.
Registrants will get a t-shirt and other swag while supplies last!
All proceeds will go to the Albany Athletic Boosters to benefit all High School & Middle School teams. In addition to the fund raising, this event focuses on fitness and fun. If you have always wanted to participate in a triathlon, but felt intimidated at the prospect, this is the one for you.
I’ve taken part in the RELAY – I did the cycling portion, and found friends for the swim and the run! It was fun rooting for my teammate during the swim, riding my bike, then rooting for my other teammate while she ran!
Feel great when you cross that Finish Line!
photo credit Amy Smolens
Again for 2017 – YOUTH DISCOUNTS for anyone under 18!
There is still a FAMILY & FRIENDS HEAT!
Parents, kids, spouses: When you register, you can indicate your desire to be in the same wave as one or more family members or friends. Then you can compete together & keep an eye on each other during the race (but not assist each other, per triathlon rules).
POST-RACE FESTIVITIES – Stick around after the race to recover with some healthy food, finisher awards, raffle prizes, massages, and schmoozing with fellow participants, volunteers, sponsors, and race organizers.
AS&R and Check for Bikes are excited to again be sponsoring the Albany Tri – supplying bike racks for the transition area and swag for the goodie bags. Other sponsors have included the Albany Community Foundation, Albany Lions Club, Blue Heron Bikes, REI, Albany Ford- Subaru and TranSports – we’ll update 2017 sponsors as we have information.
So come on down and get in on the fun!
For more information about the Albany Triathlon and please see the web site, www.albanytri.com. Registration will open at the end of March. This is a great community event and really fun to watch even if you don’t want to participate!
Come on down, have fun and support Albany Middle & High School sports!!
