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. Further details about the process and possibilities are here on our website.
This meeting will be the first opportunity to give PUBLIC INPUT saying that yes, recreational access is important to you and your family!
More details will be posted as we have more information but please save the date to make sure we have access to OUR WATERFRONT! Speak up, or we are in danger of losing recreational access.
Some materials related to this effort are found here:
1. Conservancy Staff Report 5-29-2014
2. WRT_Albany Neck & Bulb Stakeholder Meeting_Access and Recreation
3. Scope of Consultant Services for Albany Neck and Bulb Transition Plan
Are you or do you know an adult or teen who doesn’t know how to ride a bike or needs a refresher? Well, this FREE class is for you, him or her!
These classes are for adults or teens who have either not yet learned how to ride a bike, or learned a long time ago but want a refresher on the basics of balancing, pedaling and steering. Our trained instructors are friendly, patient, and will help you get off to a great start in a secure, non-judgmental environment.
A working bicycle and helmet are required in order to participate in this class, but if you do not have your own and are unable to borrow them then we can provide a low cost rental for you at the class.
This class is FREE but registration is required.
Are you or do you know an adult or teen who doesn’t know how to ride a bike or needs a refresher? Well, this FREE class is for you, him or her!
These classes are for adults or teens who have either not yet learned how to ride a bike, or learned a long time ago but want a refresher on the basics of balancing, pedaling and steering. Our trained instructors are friendly, patient, and will help you get off to a great start in a secure, non-judgmental environment.
A working bicycle and helmet are required in order to participate in this class, but if you do not have your own and are unable to borrow them then we can provide a low cost rental for you at the class.
This class is FREE but registration is required.
Do you and your family go out to the Albany Bulb to enjoy nature? Sure you do!
Please help “Friends of Albany Parks” clean up the Bulb so you, your friends and family can enjoy the experience more!
Plus, get a FREE PIZZA LUNCH from the Albany Community Foundation !
The “Friends of Albany Parks”program is designed to encourage community members to get involved with the care, maintenance and beautification of their favorite neighborhood park. These events also help foster a better sense of community and build social capital as neighbors meet and work with one another.
Volunteers who attend the Clean-Up Day will receive an official Friends of Albany Parks t-shirt. Lunch is provided by the Albany Community Foundation.
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.
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
Do you or anyone you know want to ride more but don’t feel confident enough?
Here’s a FREE bicycle skills class, courtesy of Bike East Bay, and it’s right here in Albany!
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.
For adults and teens, no bike needed.
This is the classroom workshop – the on-the-road Part 2 (not mandatory) is on April 16th.
Class is FREE but please register here.
BECAUSE OF A WET FORECAST THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FROM APRIL 16TH SUNDAY APRIL 23RD!
Do you or anyone you know want to ride more but don’t feel confident enough?
Here’s a FREE bicycle skills class, courtesy of Bike East Bay, and it’s right here in Albany!
Join Bike East Bay for a half day of bike riding! This is the second part of Urban Cycling 101 (this is the first day event.) We’ll cover on-road, on-your-bike practice sessions, working in small groups with our certified instructors to improve your handling skills, learn crash-avoidance maneuvers, and ability to bike confidently on any street. Laws and best practices particular to Albany and nearby neighborhoods will be covered.
Every attendee will receive a free set of bike lights!!!
A functional bike and helmet are required, drinks and snacks provided. (The idea is to have attended an Urban Cycling 101 Day 1: Classroom course first. If you were not able but still want to attend this class, please email Robert Prinz and he can make other arrangements.)
Please register on the Bike East Bay Website.
The Bay Conservation & Development Commission will hold a Hearing on the Albany Beach Project.
Albany Beach Restoration & Public Access Project (first review) is the first actual agenda item of the meeting.
The Design Review Board will review the design by the East Bay Regional Parks District, Questa Engineering, and 2M Associates for the Albany Beach Restoration and Public Access Project in the Cities of Albany and Berkeley, adjacent to Golden Gate Fields. The project would enhance the existing beach and dunes and would create approximately 4,765 linear feet of new Bay Trail, overlooks, and a 20-space parking lot.
Link to Meeting Materials which includes exhibits for the above which is Item 4 (but the first actual agenda item) on the Tentative Agenda.
BECAUSE OF A WET FORECAST THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FROM APRIL 16TH SUNDAY APRIL 23RD!
Do you or anyone you know want to ride more but don’t feel confident enough?
Here’s a FREE bicycle skills class, courtesy of Bike East Bay, and it’s right here in Albany!
Join Bike East Bay for a half day of bike riding! This is the second part of Urban Cycling 101 (this is the first day event.) We’ll cover on-road, on-your-bike practice sessions, working in small groups with our certified instructors to improve your handling skills, learn crash-avoidance maneuvers, and ability to bike confidently on any street. Laws and best practices particular to Albany and nearby neighborhoods will be covered.
Every attendee will receive a free set of bike lights!!!
A functional bike and helmet are required, drinks and snacks provided. (The idea is to have attended an Urban Cycling 101 Day 1: Classroom course first. If you were not able but still want to attend this class, please email Robert Prinz and he can make other arrangements.)
Please register on the Bike East Bay Website.
After a group of Albany residents, including fellow Strollers & Rollers, pointed out improvements that should be made to our Waterfront, there will be a chance to see the plans and give input on the Albany Bay Trail and beach project, officially known as the Albany Beach Restoration and Public Access Project.
Let’s make sure that OUR Waterfront is optimized for people who want to bike, walk, stroll and roll. There is a lot of car parking, but not nearly as much attention paid to parking for bicycles.
Note: a quorum of the City Council and/or an advisory body to the City Council may be present at this public meeting.
Here is the site plan
And the existing conditions map
And the complete packet from the most recent public meeting (April 17), which was at the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission Design Review Board. This packet has cross-sections and more detailed plans and a staff report.
Albany resident and landscape architect Hugo Larman drafted this updated plan based on community input, which expands the beach area, adds bike racks and moves car parking near existing parking.
EIR and other info from EBRPD (scroll down to where is says “Albany Beach Habitat Restoration and Public Access Project.”)
AS&R member Dan Johnson prepared comments and alternative plans . After further discussion, Dan & others believe that the location for parking might not be feasible. However his diagram about the amount of paving is relevant.
While not a part of EBRPD’s plan, the Albany Waterfront Committee’s Cove Enhancement Plan should be completed by the City of Albany and taken into account by EBRPD for a comprehensive plan at the entire waterfront. The only reason it was not completed in 2012 was because EBRPD requested the City hold off because of upcoming construction. That reason is long past.
In response to recent community comments, the designers are making efforts to reduce the large amount of pavement for the vehicle driveway and turnaround to leave more open space for recreation at the south end of the site. However, a number of us believe that it would be more functional and would preserve more open space (as well as reduce bicycle-pedestrian conflicts) to locate the parking near the existing parking, on the north side of Buchanan St., which would eliminate the need for the long driveway. However, this area is City-owned and outside the EBRPD project area.