This is a special meeting of the City Council to make the major approvals for the project, including the EIR. AS&R is awaits posting of the EIR for this meeting, as the last EIR presented by the city had language that seemed to indicate that environmental mitigations, such as bicycle connections to the community-wide bicycle network, might not be undertaken if deemed “infeasible”.
The city will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the Albany Bay Trail Connector Tuesday, Oct. 30.
The project was intended to improve the connection between regional pathways throughout the Bay Area and the Bay Trail.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Assemblymember Nancy Skinner are scheduled to attend and to give brief speeches during the ceremony.
The project includes multiple funding from federal, state and regional agencies, as well as partnerships with the University of California, Albany Unified School District, and the United States Department of Agriculture research facility in Albany.
Albany Strollers & Rollers was involved in the process, serving on the committee to select the engineering firm and helping work on the facility design.
Get GEARED UP! Helmets, Bikes, Bells!
Meet up in front of Rosa Parks Elementary School.
This month’s route will be in west Berkeley.
Bring along snacks to share at our mid-route stop, and, of course, we’ll have tunes to pedal to all throughout the ride!
Helmets required for kids.
Be sure to pack snacks, water, and clothing appropriate to weather conditions!
NOTE: Cold wet weather cancels — check Facebook event or website for cancellations.
North Berkeley BART is closest station.
If anyone wants to ride from Albany, put a note and ideas of time and place to meet in the “comments” here.
website: http://geared4kids.org/
Get GEARED UP! Helmets, Bikes, Bells!
This group has been riding for 2 years now and it’s time to celebrate!
There will be a BBQ/Picnic/Potluck after the ride starting around 12:30pm at San Pablo Park. Details for the BBQ can be found on Geared 4 Kids’ Facebook group page.
Meet up for the ride at 10:30am near the playground (Russell & Mabel).
This month’s route will be 4.5 miles long and take us through a bit of Berkeley, Oakland, and Emeryville (a modification of our inaugural route). Bring along snacks to share at our mid-route stop, and, of course, we’ll have tunes to pedal to all throughout the ride!
Helmets required for kids.
Be sure to pack snacks, water, and clothing appropriate to weather conditions!
If anyone wants to ride together from Berkeley, leave a comment on this post and let’s organize something!
http://geared4kids.org/
The family that rides together thrives together! Safe road bicycling takes a lot more than balance, a helmet and a good attitude. Join the East Bay Bicycle Coalition’s League Certified safety instructors for a day of fun games, safety drills, skills building, and a neighborhood ride.
This workshop is for kids who are able to ride a bike and ready to ride on the roadways with their parents. Parents and kids must attend together and should bring their own bikes and helmets. Each child receives a free red blinky light for participating!
This is perfect timing for Bike to School Day, Bike to School Day and all the activities we’ll have in Albany during May, “Bike Month!”
They can sign up in advance at http://bit.ly/EBBCAlbanyFCW or just show up.
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.
WanThe EBBC is proud to present the 3rd annual Pedalfest in collaboration with Jack London Square, Bay Area Bikes and New Belgium Brewing Co.
This fantastic outdoor festival brings out the best in cycling – with contests, classes, games, and shows throughout the day. Here is a sampling of some of the awesome things you can expect from Pedalfest 2013:
* Handmade and vintage bikes
* BMX competition
* Whiskeydrome: cycling daredevils
* Pedal-powered food and beverage
* Rock the Bike: a pedal-powered music stage
* New Belgium Beer Garden
* Bike trivia dunk tank
* Bicycle vendors, artisans and more!
* Oaklandish bicycle parade
* Kids bike rodeo | Bike tune-ups with the Bikemobile
* Cyclecide pedal-powered carnival rides!
* Bike Folding Race
* Free EBBC bike valet
* Free SF Bay Ferry rides when you bring your bike
Get more details and see last year’s photo gallery at pedalfestjacklondon.com
We can’t wait to see you there! Come out and volunteer to help with our valet bike parking, outreach, pouring beer, and helping out with our activities, or just come enjoy the festival and raise a (beer) glass to a great event celebrating our rich and diverse bike culture here in the East Bay. All proceeds from the New Belgium beer gardens go to benefit the bicycle advocacy work of the East Bay Bicycle Coalition.
Want to ride or BART and ride from Albany? Write something in the ‘comments’ below.
Join Golden Gate Audubon leaders to visit Berkeley Aquatic Park, then take the multiuser bridge to the Bay Trail toward Emeryville then Richmond. Meet at 9:15 a.m. on Bolivar Drive near the foot of Bancroft Way in Berkeley.
We’ll bird around Aquatic Park, then take the multiuser bridge to the Bay Trail riding first toward Emeryville, then Richmond. Bring binoculars and snacks; wear layers (it can be warm, or cool and windy along the shore). Call Pat if you want to borrow binoculars. This birding ride is co-listed with Golden Gate Audubon.
Jeffrey Black, (510) 526-7068, buffalo1003@aol.com and Pat Greene, (415) 321-9013 (cell),greene@cgl.ucsf.edu
Does anyone want to ride together from anywhere in Albany? Make a proposal for a meeting time and place in “comments” here!
Want to ride more but need more skills and confidence?
Take the East Bay Bicycle Coalition’s FREE bicycle skills class!
Learn basic rules of the road, how to share the road with cars on busy streets, how to equip your bicycle, lock your bike, fit your helmet, and avoid crashes by riding predictably, visibly, and communicating with other road users by your actions and signals. Every workshop has the same content so you only need to attend once.
For adults and teens, no bike needed.
Bring your kids and friends, but please pre-register here.
Extra added bonus: All of the EBBC’s UC Berkeley classes are also part of the BEST (Bicycle Education of Safety Training) program allowing ticketed cyclists to have their fines reduced. Yes, Traffic School for bicyclists!
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!
