Discounts

Become an AS&R member and get discounts at local bike shops and businesses!

Blue Heron Bikes: 10% off parts and accessories.

Marie Bowser Acupuncture: 30% off your first visit.

Bikes on Solano: 10% off labor, parts and accessories.

Quad Republic Skate Co. 5% off SKATES, 10% off parts & accessories.

Offers are valid to members of Albany Strollers & Rollers and their households. Tell your friends!
Contact us with questions.

Events

May
21
Tue
City Council Meeting @ City Hall Council Chambers
May 21 @ 2:30 am – 5:00 am

There are lots of items on the agenda that affect cyclists and pedestrians here in Albany.
Those include the following:
*7-1, City Council Strategic Planning Follow Up
Part of what City Council Members recommended in its recent planning session was an emphasis on parks, including the long-awaited Pierce Street Park, and a more bikeable and walkable Albany.
Please speak in support of these plans and concepts!
*7-2, Update on “Complete Streets” planning for Buchanan Street and San Pablo Avenue to improve safety for walking, biking, and other modes of travel. The Staff recommendation is for Council to provide direction to staff and the Traffic and Safety Commission.
Show up and speak to let Council hear that a more bike and pedestrian friendly San Pablo Avenue should be a priority and a reality!
It may also be a good time to speak about your vision for Bike Boulevards on Kains and Adams, making up for the fact that many people will not feel safe riding on San Pablo in the sections without bike lanes.
*8-1, Albany Wayfinding Plan for Bicyclists and Pedestrians
Whenever I ride around Berkeley I marvel at the signage that directs me to the best and safest roads to cycle. I am also fully convinced that motorists on or crossing roads with signage for bicyclists are more courteous to their two-wheeled friends sharing the road.
Show up and tell Council that we all need wayfinding signage for our convenience and safety!
If you can’t attend, please consider writing a brief letter in support of any of these items to cityhall@albanyca.org requesting specifically that your letter be sent to all the City Council Members.
Thanks! Feel free to email the Discussion List or any of the Core Group with any questions or thoughts.

Aug
18
Sun
El Cerrito Advocacy Bicycle Tour @ El Cerrito City Hall
Aug 18 @ 8:00 pm – 10:30 pm

Want to have input into El Cerrito’s future bikeability? Here’s another chance!!
Join City Staff and officials on this bike tour, and bring your ideas for how to make El Cerrito a more bikeable, walkable, greener city!
Participants will provide input on the proposed priority projects for the City’s update to the 2007 Circulation Plan for Bicyclists and Pedestrians, as well as Urban Greening Strategies to make El Cerrito’s corridors more comfortable for cyclists. Please note that the route for this tour has not yet been set, but will be designed to accommodate a range of riders. If you are interested in participating, but have any restrictions, please contact green@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us.
Meet at El Cerrito City Hall, and don’t forget your bike!
I went to the first public meeting on the same topic and it was a great opportunity to give input about El Cerrito’s roads, paths and connections. Please go and make your thoughts known!

As usual, if you want to ride together from Albany, propose a time and a place to meet in “comments” below.

Hope to see you there!

Jul
16
Sat
Urban Cycling 101 Classroom Workshop – Albany Library/Community Center @ Albany Library/Community Center
Jul 16 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Come on down and learn how to ride a bike more safely - and have more fun!

Come on down and learn how to ride a bike more safely – and have more fun!

Do you, a friend or family member want to ride your bike more but don’t feel confident enough?

Here’s a FREE bicycle skills class RIGHT IN OUR BACKYARD, courtesy of Bike East Bay!
In addition to the regular first-Mondays classes at UC Berkeley, they have now set up a free Urban Cycling 101 Day 1 classroom workshop for adults and teens at the Albany Library/Community Center on Saturday, July 16th, from 1-3pm. Complete details and registrations are available here.

Every attendee at the July 22nd class in Albany will receive a free reflective vest. Anyone who participates in this or any of the other classroom workshops is also invited to Bike East Bay’s free Day 2 road class to be scheduled soon (schedule will be here.) Attendees at this road class will each receive a free set of bike lights.
Thanks, and please invite your friends and coworkers!
The class is FREE but it’s mandatory to register here.
Oct
26
Thu
IMPORTANT MEETING – Kains/Adams Bicycle Boulevards on Agenda of Traffic & Safety Commission Meeting @ Albany City Hall
Oct 26 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

The crucial Kains/Adams Bicycle Blvd project will be on the agenda of October’s Traffic & Safety Commission Meeting.

WOULD YOU RATHER BIKE ON THIS…..

OR THIS?? SPEAK UP TO MAKE THIS A REALITY IN ALBANY!

Considerable local opposition has arisen, and we are in danger of missing out on these facilities. If you and your family would use either of these Bicycle Boulevards because you want to AVOID bicycling on San Pablo Avenue, live on Kains or Adams, go to the YMCA, please act!
How? 1) Send a letter of support to Aleida Andrino-Chavez , requesting that she forwards it to the Traffic & Safety Commission, and cc or bcc me, Amy Smolens , so I can track support, which is important.
2) Attend this meeting and tell the Traffic & Safety Commission that you and your family need these Bicycle Boulevards as they decide from among the various traffic calming and Bicycle Boulevard options for our neighborhoods.
Engage with City staff, consultants, and your neighbors in community planning for improving pedestrian and bicyclist.
I’m sure many of you have ridden the Bicycle Boulevards in Berkeley and seen how more comfortable it is to ride Milvia instead of MLK or Shattuck, Russell instead of Ashby, and 9th instead of San Pablo.
If not, here is info on Berkeley’s Bicycle Boulevard system.
Now imagine if people could avoid San Pablo until a half-block from their destination by riding Kains and Adams!
This is the FINAL COMMUNITY MEETING before Traffic & Safety Commission makes its recommendations to City Council so your attendance is important!!

This was the consultants’ presentation at the meeting on October 4th.

The monthly Traffic & Safety Commission Meeting, the Fourth Thursday of every month, is a great place to make your ideas known, find out about the transportation issues and projects in Albany, and help improve things for cyclists and pedestrians in and around our town.

This is a map and chart of the regional bicycle route from Oakland to Richmond – Albany is the only gap in a 12+ mile North-South bike route.

Here is the meeting agenda. Kains/Adams is the second item on the agenda, and the first item is related – North Albany traffic calming, which included Kains Ave near El Cerrito Plaza.
Come on down – thanks!

Dec
4
Mon
Kains/Adams Bicycle Boulevards on Agenda of City Council – Important Meeting! @ Albany City Hall
Dec 4 @ 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm

The crucial Kains/Adams Bicycle Blvd project is on the agenda of December 4th’s City Council Meeting so we need your support!

OR THIS?? SPEAK UP TO MAKE THIS A REALITY IN ALBANY!

WOULD YOU RATHER BIKE ON THIS…..

In October, Albany’s Traffic & Safety Commission passed a plan that included two-way bicycle boulevards with semi-closures, so there will be no additional motor vehicle traffic at all – just safe two-way passage by bicyclists wanting to avoid San Pablo Avenue.

This is Option 3, which the Traffic & Safety Commission chose, without moving any stop signs nor utilizing traffic circles.

There was some local opposition by residents who didn’t see any need for bicycle facilities in Albany but YOU and your neighbors showed up and wrote letters. Let’s make sure that happens at this meeting, too, so bicyclists can ride safely in our town! If you and your family would use either of these Bicycle Boulevards because you want to AVOID bicycling on San Pablo Avenue, live on Kains or Adams, go to the YMCA, please act!

HOW CAN YOU HELP?
1) Send a letter of support to citycouncil@albanyca.org , requesting that your email is forwarded to all City Council members, and cc or bcc me, Amy Smolens , so I can track support, which is important. Even a brief “I support the Kains and Adams Bicycle Boulevards and my family and I would ride on them…”
“My family and I don’t feel safe riding on San Pablo so please approve the Kains and Adams Bicycle Boulevards.” Any additional detail about your support is beneficial, but just do what you can do!
2) Attend this meeting and tell City Council that you and your family need these Bicycle Boulevards that the Traffic & Safety Commission has recommended.
If you are going to go to one meeting this year, this should be it, because Kains/Adams is a central project for our bike network and it’s at risk due to local opposition. I will tell you that I have lived on Kains for 25 years and I and other neighbors support it.
You know what the Warriors say – “Strength in Numbers” so we need you to made your voice heard – thanks!

I’m sure many of you have ridden the Bicycle Boulevards in Berkeley and seen how more comfortable it is to ride Milvia instead of MLK or Shattuck, Russell instead of Ashby, and 9th instead of San Pablo.
If not, here is info on Berkeley’s Bicycle Boulevard system.
Now imagine if people could avoid San Pablo until a half-block from their destination by riding safely & comfortably on Kains and Adams!

Yes, we mind the gap!

Here are a map and chart of the REGIONAL BICYCLE ROUTE from Oakland to Richmond – Albany is the only gap in a 12+ mile North-South bike route. Yes, we “mind the gap!!”

This is the FINAL COMMUNITY MEETING before it becomes a reality, so your attendance is crucial!

Mar
14
Wed
San Pablo Avenue Organizing Meeting: North Berkeley (and Albany) @ Farm Burger
Mar 14 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Bike East Bay is working for continuous bike lanes on San Pablo Avenue, as part of a safer street for everyone who bikes, walks, drives, or takes transit.

(photo credit – BikeEastBay)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Join Bike East Bay supporters in your neighborhood to learn about options for bikeways and transit on San Pablo Avenue.

Share your vision for the corridor and get organized for kicking off advocacy.

WHERE:

1313 Ninth Street
Farm Burger
Berkeley, 94710

WHEN:  March 14th, 2018 6:00 PM   through   7:00 PM

(This event is organized and hosted by BikeEastBay, who request you RSVP to participate)

Mar
21
Wed
San Pablo Avenue Improvement Organizing Meeting: El Cerrito, Albany and Richmond @ Elevation 66
Mar 21 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

(photo credit – BikeEastBay)

Join Bike East Bay supporters in your neighborhood to learn about options for bikeways and transit on San Pablo Avenue.

Share your vision for the corridor and get organized for kicking off advocacy.

Bike East Bay is kicking off a campaign for continuous bike lanes on San Pablo Avenue, the major transit and commercial boulevard from Oakland north to Hercules. A safer and more comfortable San Pablo Avenue will connect neighborhoods from east to west and all along the corridor for everyone who bikes, walks, drives, or takes transit.
March 21st, 2018 6:00 PM   through   7:00 PM
10082 San Pablo Avenue
Elevation 66
El Cerrito, CA 94530

(This event is organized and hosted by BikeEastBay who request you RSVP.)

This meeting is at a perfect time for you to attend and then head to AS&R’s Meeting at 7:30!

May
30
Wed
Solano Avenue Complete Streets Walk & Workshop @ Flowerland & Community Center
May 30 @ 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Do you want Solano Avenue to be more walkable, bikeable and safe for all?
The City of Albany is developing a Complete Streets and Corridor Revitalization Plan for Solano Avenue from Masonic Avenue to Tulare Avenue to create an active main street environment. An extensive community engagement process will be deployed to identify ideas and strategies to:
Improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists
Enhance access to transit
Promote a cohesive streetscape
Support local economic activity

The outcome will be a plan with Complete Streets designs for roadway, sidewalk and intersection changes that support all modes and users of all ages and abilities, builds foot traffic for local businesses, encourages interaction in public spaces, and adds vibrancy to the community.

Let’s make mid-Solano even more bike friendly!

The first public input event includes a walk along a few blocks of Solano to observe what is in place, and then a workshop at the Albany Community Center to generate ideas and collect concerns for the project. Refreshments will be provided at the Workshop.
Participate in this site walk and/or workshop to share your ideas of how this avenue could be safer and more comfortable for you and your family.

5:00pm – 6:00pm – Walking Assessment of Solano Avenue – Meet in front of Flowerland (1330 Solano Avenue)
6:00pm – 8:30pm – Community Design Workshop – Albany Community Center (1247 Marin Ave.)
To follow this project further, go to www.solanocompletestreets.org
May
4
Sat
El Cerrito Trail Trekkers’ 6th Annual Hillside Festival @ various (check schedule and map)
May 4 @ 8:30 am – 8:30 pm
The sixth annual Hillside Festival will feature a wide variety of activities, with events throughout the 100-acre Hillside Natural Area: nature hikes for young people; a geological hike and shorter geological stroll; the Dog Scouts; a young persons’ hike led by Boy Scouts; walks to learn about native plants, birds, insects and wildflowers; a walk with a city firefighter focusing on preventing wild land fires; a hidden poetry-geocaching walk; a history hike; meditation in nature, and more.

Hikes range from strenuous to easy.
**CHECK SCHEDULE FOR SPECIFIC EVENT TIMES!! Download the full schedule and map to events at https://ectrailtrekkers.wordpress.com/hillside-festival-2019/

Locations vary, including
Motorcycle Hill
, where Navellier and Blake streets meet
Madera Elementary School, 8500 Madera Dr.
Madera Circle Entry, between 1540 and 1560 Madera Circle
Regency Gateway
, at northern end of Regency Court
King Court Gateway
, at end of King Court.
Schmidt Lane Trailhead, near the end of Schmidt Lane, west of the Recycling Center
SO CHECK SCHEDULE FOR LOCATIONS

Sponsored by El Cerrito Trail Trekkers and El Cerrito’s Environmental Quality Committee. Free.

The festival is free but maintaining and restoring the Hillside is not. Please make a tax deductible donation to this effort with a check to “ECCF,” with “Hillside Restoration” in the message line. ECCF is El Cerrito Community Foundation, our fiscal agent. Send to Pam Austin, 834 Kearney St., EC 94530.

May
5
Sun
El Cerrito Trail Trekkers’ 6th Annual Hillside Festival @ various (check schedule and map)
May 5 @ 8:30 am – 8:30 pm
The sixth annual Hillside Festival will feature a wide variety of activities, with events throughout the 100-acre Hillside Natural Area: nature hikes for young people; a geological hike and shorter geological stroll; the Dog Scouts; a young persons’ hike led by Boy Scouts; walks to learn about native plants, birds, insects and wildflowers; a walk with a city firefighter focusing on preventing wild land fires; a hidden poetry-geocaching walk; a history hike; meditation in nature, and more.

Hikes range from strenuous to easy.
**CHECK SCHEDULE FOR SPECIFIC EVENT TIMES!! Download the full schedule and map to events at https://ectrailtrekkers.wordpress.com/hillside-festival-2019/

Locations vary, including
Motorcycle Hill
, where Navellier and Blake streets meet
Madera Elementary School, 8500 Madera Dr.
Madera Circle Entry, between 1540 and 1560 Madera Circle
Regency Gateway
, at northern end of Regency Court
King Court Gateway
, at end of King Court.
Schmidt Lane Trailhead, near the end of Schmidt Lane, west of the Recycling Center
SO CHECK SCHEDULE FOR LOCATIONS

Sponsored by El Cerrito Trail Trekkers and El Cerrito’s Environmental Quality Committee. Free.

The festival is free but maintaining and restoring the Hillside is not. Please make a tax deductible donation to this effort with a check to “ECCF,” with “Hillside Restoration” in the message line. ECCF is El Cerrito Community Foundation, our fiscal agent. Send to Pam Austin, 834 Kearney St., EC 94530.