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
These racks that AS&R provided for the City are perfectly situated for folks who want to enjoy the beach, a hike or just enjoy the beautiful view. Let’s make sure we still have recreational access to the Albany Bulb and the Neck!
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
Want bike trails like this along our beautiful Bay? Speak up!
Marsalis Johnson in one of the dedicated mechanics of Street Level Cycles
You may be familiar with Street Level Cycles from the free tuneups they offer every year at the Arts & Green Festival. They are a non-profit that teaches at-risk youth job skills that will help them transition into the workforce, as well as serving as a public bike shop (go on and use the tools yourself sometime!)
Thanks to the efforts of a committed group of staff and interns and generous support from the community, renovations are complete and our new public repair shop and newly renovated rental shop are ready to go! So join them on May 30th to check out our new spaces and our fancy new Public Bike Rental Fleet!
Bring a bike to donate and get a gift card from one of their sponsors!
D.O.G Food Truck will be there for the celebration, serving up some of the best hot dogs the Bay has to offer. Homemade sides, fresh-baked buns, and vegetarian options will keep the whole family happy and full. Fido is welcome to join in the festivities and check out our dog-friendly cafe. They even have a dog menu!
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.
Want to ride along our beautiful Bay? Come help clean up at the Bulb!
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 !
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.
Help clean up the Bulb to make it more enjoyable!
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.
What’s important to you to communicate to the Albany Police Department?
Here’s an opportunity to give them your input! Make plans to attend their Community Work Session and tell them what’s important to you as an Albany resident or visitor. They want to clearly identify resident’s priorities for the next 3-5 years and plan to incorporate those priorities into their strategic planning process. Your opinion matters… so let them know what matters to you at this meeting!
RSVPs are requested but not required: policeplan@albanyca.org
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
THIS RIDE HAS BEEN CANCELLED BY RICH CITY RIDES
Come on out and join your Richmond brothers and sisters for a beautiful night ride!
Bring your lights and good cheer for the 5th Annual Winter Night Lights Solstice RIDE. It looks like the weather just might be warming up already… hmm. Still dress warm and did we mention to bring some lights? Dance away Autumn and celebrate the longest night of the year as we usher in Winter season. Seasons Greetings!
Be seen while you pedal at night and keep your pants legs out of the chain with our new leg bands!
If you need to be more visible for the ride contact Amy Smolens to pick up some awesome reflective leg and arm bands!
If anyone wants to coordinate a bike or BART ride to the starting point, write something in “comments” here or post on AS&R’s Facebook page.
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.
Help give input to make the Waterfront even more enjoyable!
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.
Won’t it be nice when we have a Bay Trail Connection through Albany?
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.
Hundreds of people from all over the Bay Area take advantage of our Bicycle Valet Parking service at two lots on Solano Avenue. Please volunteer a few hours before enjoying the event!
Photo courtesy Amy Smolens
Albany Strollers & Rollers will again be providing Free Bicycle Valet Parking at two locations: 1800 Solano Ave (Wells Fargo) and 1245 Solano (the vacant lot near Masonic.)
We’ll also have an information table by our western lot near Masonic.
WE NEED YOU TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESS!
If you’d like to help park bikes at either lot or volunteer at AS&R’s info table, please contact Amy Smolens.
AS&R Super-Volunteer Lynn Eve Komaromi takes a well-earned Pad Thai break – thanks, Bua Luang!
Please join Lynn Eve and your AS&R neighbors in volunteering!
All volunteers who work at least a 4-hr shift or pick up & return rental racks will get free lunch provided by a supporting Solano Avenue restaurant, Mountain Mike’s Pizza , Tay Tah or Bua Luang Thai Cuisine!!
Since 1974 Solano Avenue and the cities of Albany and Berkeley have hosted the Solano Avenue Stroll, the East Bay’s largest street festival! The Solano Avenue Association , AS&R and Check for Bikes invite you to see what makes Solano Avenue a wonderful place. The Stroll features over five hundred vendors including 50 entertainers (there’s always great music!,) 50 food booths, 150 government and non-profit agencies, 150 juried hand-crafters, a 75 entry parade, state of the art mechanical rides and much more!
We would like to thank Janka White, the owner of AS&R’s new supporting sponsor, Floor Dimensions. Janka is donating a long Red Carpet to lead passers-by to our information table and straight up the ramp to our western Bicycle Valet Parking lot!
Thanks also to Lucas Euser of Clif Bar who donated boxes of Clif Bars and Z Organic Kids Bars & Fruits so ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS will have plenty to snack on all day!!
Come visit AS&R at our information table then enjoy a great stroll up Solano!
Or better yet, volunteer a few hours with Amy, Michael and your neighbors before strolling!
Photo courtesy Tenisha Neal
This family event promotes the unique traits of Solano Avenue, helping independently-owned businesses, artists, and community organizations to thrive by exposure and fundraising. Join 250,000 participants and event guests visit from all over the west coast at this annual street festival!
Please see the press room to stay tuned into what’s hot at this years event!
Brought to you by the Cities of Albany and Berkeley; and with the help of our generous sponsors, SAA members, and volunteer board of directors.
Lucas Euser of Clif Bar donated boxes of Clif Bars and Z Organic Kids Bars & Fruit for ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS!!
Photo courtesy Francesco Papalia
Bike, trikes, scooters, strollers, trailers, tandems, striders, long-tails, unicycles and more bikes!! Photo courtesy Mark Altenberg
Thank you Janka White of Floor Dimensions for donating a “Red Carpet” to lead festival-goers to our lower lot and table!!
