All year AS&R members sell rear lights to the public, and for every one we sell, an Albany student gets one free! Over the past few years we’ve installed more than 800 lights on kids’ bikes.
This event, International Walk & Roll to School Day is the payoff – AS&R volunteers and school parents install lights on kids bikes, helping them ride to and from school and activities more safely.
As you can imagine, this is a tough task so we could use your help that morning!!
Send an email to any of the AS&R Core Group to volunteer – thanks!
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.
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.
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!
Know an adult who doesn’t know how to ride a bike or needs a refresher? Here’s a great free class for him or her!
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.
Know an adult who doesn’t know how to ride a bike or needs a refresher? Here’s a great free class for him or her!
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.
Come on down and learn how to ride a bike more safely – and have more fun!
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.
Come on down and learn how to ride a bike more safely – and have more fun!
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.
Come on down and learn how to ride a bike more safely – and have more fun!
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.
Help ensure that Albany’s segment of the Bay Trail will be completed, and safe & fun for all!
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.”)
These racks that AS&R bought are perfectly situated for folks who want to enjoy the beach, a hike or just enjoy the beautiful view, but they are lonely! We need more “there” at the Waterfront, and more bike racks near other destinations.
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.
