Want a fun bike park like Dirt World in Richmond? Support this project at an Albany Parks & Rec meeting and/or write a letter!
On September 13th, a course/park designer will pitch several plans for a proposed mountain bike/BMX bike park in Albany. Commissioners will benefit from input and feedback from the public, especially supporters like you, to help decide which plan, if any, to advance to the City Council. Proposed location is adjacent to Pierce St Park – just below it, to the west on Cleveland St. Early discussions described a MTB component around the perimeter space and a BMX component at the interior. The designer said he likes to design with different riding abilities in mind on the same course (very easy, medium, challenging) and to provide different price points for features, their materials, etc. He has designed and built Richmond’s new Dirt World and many other bike parks.
Here is the Design and Estimate Proposal.
Any input – in person or even in writing – you can provide (even just “looks great!” or “our family would use this!” will be helpful).
Separately, input is sought for what may be the final design review for the new and improved trails at Albany Hill Park. Here are the 90% Plans.
*New ADA trail at the top parallel to the ridge line
*Improvements to existing trails at the north
*Improved, re-landscaped access points to the park where Jackson and Madison dead-end
*Stairs plus a bulbout in the SE corner where Taft hits Hillside
The city has received the monarch roosting report it commissioned and is taking its results and recent community input to limit impacts to trees near monarch habitat. Some commissioners including myself (Bryan Marten) want to also use that information to move forward with choosing a select few trees to remove to improve views of the bay, bird habitat at the mud flats, etc. This involves the city approaching the large land owner at the SW corner of the hill which the city has said it will do.
This is the full agenda for the meeting.
BMX/MTB parks are great fun and recreation for kids, teens and adults!
PLEASE WRITE LETTERS OF SUPPORT to Albany Staff Liaison Chelle Putzer at cputzer@albanyca.org and request that she send your letter to all members of Albany’s Parks & Rec Commission. Thanks!
LOOKING FOR THE JANUARY 16TH, 2019 MEETING?
DUE TO A TECHNICAL WEBSITE ISSUE THE LISTING HAS BEEN MOVED TO http://www.albanystrollroll.org/event/asr-meeting-youre-invited/?instance_id=8764 .
Sorry for the bother and hope to see you at that meeting.
ciao – Amy
Have a gripe, an idea or some input about anything that would further cycling and pedestrian conditions here in Albany?
Then join us at our next meeting (every other month – odd-numbered months) where we discuss policy and projects, and talk about what’s going on in Active Transportation in Albany.
Plenty of bike parking at our meeting location, St. Alban’s Church!
Have something you want to talk about? Request an Agenda Item in “comments” (scroll down to the bottom for the next meeting).
Look forward to seeing you!
Join the fun!
Photo courtesy Amy Smolens
Grab your bikes and invite your friends & family – it’s time for the annual Bike About Town rides!
The Albany Peloton rolls down Peralta Avenue for another fun Bike About Town
Photo courtesy Amy Smolens
Join the City of Albany’s Department of Recreation and a bunch of your fellow Rollers as we explore Albany by bike on Spring, Summer and Autumn evenings. Each of the events will trace different routes that pass through parts of Albany you may not have biked before. All levels of cyclists are encouraged to join.
The ride begins at 6:30 at Bikes on Solano at Solano and Peralta in Albany.
We ALWAYS need Ride Guides to help guide folks around town from the front, middle and back so if you’re a confident rider please come 10 minutes early and help your neighbors out!
Come a few minutes early to pump up your tires. Ride maps are distributed, and we take off in a big group. There are experienced cyclists to lead and bring up the rear. After wheeling about for a half hour or forty-five minutes we return to Peralta Park, just across the street from our start, for light refreshments, a raffle, and general carousing. Thanks so much to the Chelle, Eva, Liam and Brennen with City’s Department of Recreation & Community Services for organizing, printing maps and getting the FABULOUS RAFFLE PRIZES for riders!
Dates this year are Fridays May 18, June 15, July 20, August 17 and September 21st.
Bring yourself, your friends and your family to Bikes on Solano for the Bike About Town rides!
Have a gripe, an idea or some input about anything that would further cycling and pedestrian conditions here in Albany?
Then join us at our next meeting (every other month – odd-numbered months) where we discuss policy and projects, and talk about what’s going on in Active Transportation in Albany.
Plenty of bike parking at our meeting location, St. Alban’s Church!
Have something you want to talk about? Request an Agenda Item in “comments” (scroll down to the bottom for the next meeting).
Look forward to seeing you!
Ride on down to Everest Kitchen to enjoy a special Happy Hour menu and chat about biking and walking!
If you’ve volunteered at any event over the past few years, we’d like to thank you for your service to the active transportation community! Please join us at our Holiday Happy Hour Meeting & Volunteer Thank You Party!
There will be delicious appetizers, one drink per person, and swag, courtesy of AS&R. You’re welcome to order dinner, too, and Sanjiv of Everest Kitchen generously will give us 15% off their menu, including drinks.
Please RSVP to Amy at calamari@alumni.duke.edu so we have an approximate head count, can reserve a table, and can pre-order some appetizers. Also please let me know if you are vegetarian or vegan.
Of course, please bring your ideas, questions and input about cycling or walking around Albany!! As usual, this will immediately precede the Traffic & Safety Commission Meeting and will also be a good chance to talk about anything coming up on their agenda. Come and talk about walking and cycling in Albany, while eating delicious Nepali & Indian food! All are invited.
Yes, they have plenty of bike parking – feel free to stack your bikes, since many of us will be leaving simultaneously! This is our every other month (even-numbered months) informal get-together to talk about all things bike and ped in Albany. It’s a good chance to ask about what the city is up to and what our stance on issues is, and to meet others who are interested in issues related to human-scale transit/active transit.
Everyone is welcome.
Have something you want to talk or ask about? Put it in the “comments” section below! Hope to see you there! Again, please RSVP to Amy at calamari@alumni.duke.edu so we can have an approximate head count.
Sanjiv says “come on down!”
The planned I-80 Gilman Interchange Project will improve travel for all users of that area, including people who bike to the Bates Fields, Berkeley Marina and south on the Bay Trail.
CalTrans has adopted a Negative Declaration for the project, which is excellent news.
This page has additional information on the entire project and plan.
This Open Open Forum Hearing will give you an opportunity to show your support for this project, or discuss improvements that might help Active Transportation access and safety.
If you can’t attend but would like to voice support, please send an email to Zachary.Gifford@dot.ca.gov
Have a gripe, an idea or some input about anything that would further cycling and pedestrian conditions here in Albany?
Then join us at our next meeting (every other month – odd-numbered months) where we discuss policy and projects, and talk about what’s going on in Active Transportation in Albany.
Plenty of bike parking at our meeting location, St. Alban’s Church!
Have something you want to talk about? Request an Agenda Item in “comments” (scroll down to the bottom for the next meeting).
Look forward to seeing you!
Have a gripe, an idea or some input about anything that would further cycling and pedestrian conditions here in Albany?
Then join us at our next meeting (every other month – odd-numbered months) where we discuss policy and projects, and talk about what’s going on in Active Transportation in Albany.
Plenty of bike parking at our meeting location, St. Alban’s Church!
Have something you want to talk about? Request an Agenda Item in “comments” (scroll down to the bottom for the next meeting).
Look forward to seeing you!
Stuffing bags for everyone who rolls by is FUN!! If you can help, please email Ken at kenmccroskey@gmail.com – thanks!
You’ve enjoyed picking up the famous Bike to Work Day musette bags, chock full of swag & snacks. Help stuff those musette bags for our Energizer Station so hundreds of your friends, neighbors and passers-by can enjoy the fruits of our labor!
Local businesses BLUE HERON, BUA LUANG, TAY TAH CAFE , FERN’S GARDEN and BIKE LINK ARE AGAIN DONATING SPECIAL GIFT CARDS OR COUPONS FOR OUR BIKE MONTH VOLUNTEERS, IN APPRECIATION FOR YOUR TIME AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY!!!
You’ve seen Lucy & Ethel in their famous assembly line – help us make ours more fun & successful by joining us!
This important pre-Bike to Work Day event is a ton of fun for all ages. Fast-paced assembly line is a great experience for kids. Snacks provided.
You’ve been getting the bags for free for years, now see how it’s done and boost your karma! Let Elizabeth Vahlsing know if you can help out.
The musette bags are always filled with swag but they don’t stuff themselves! Help get them that way!
If you want to connect with others to bike or BART to Sports Basement, leave a note in the Comments section of this post.
Come join our annual rolling party, Bike to Work Day!
courtesy Francesco Papalia
Join us for the 26th Annual Bike to Work Day in the Bay Area, a party on wheels!!
As usual, there will be coffee, food, swag, bike goodies in Bike East Bay’s famous Bike to Work Day musette bags, fun and lots of good conversation & information so come on down on your way to work!
Here’s a short VIDEO that AS&R member Francesco Papalia took so you can see how fun the morning is!
We had plenty of food & drink, thanks to our supporting businesses and great volunteers!
courtesy Melanie Mintz
The staff of Blue Heron Bikes and Berkeley Bikes & Skateboards will be volunteering their time, checking your bicycles for safety and road-worthiness as they have in previous years! Thanks to owners Rob Allen & Winston Jamison for spending time with us all!
Semifreddi’s of Alameda is again donating plenty of freshly baked rolls & buns for all of you! We’re also getting generous donations from Kim’s Cafe (thanks, Cathy!!,) Trader Joe’s El Cerrito, Safeway on Solano, Safeway Community Market and Sprouts at University Village so all the passing cyclists will have plenty to eat and drink!!
In addition to the great Bike East Bay musette swag bags, we’ll have our own safety items like clings, lights and reflective bands, and lots of great conversation about cycling and walking!
Don’t miss rolling down to see all your friends and neighbors!
photo courtesy Nick Pilch
SO YES, WE NEED YOUR HELP IN DISTRIBUTING ALL THESE GOODIES TO 600+ CYCLISTS!
Local businesses BLUE HERON, TAY TAH CAFE , FERN’S GARDEN and BIKELINK ARE DONATING SPECIAL GIFT CARDS OR COUPONS FOR OUR BIKE MONTH VOLUNTEERS, IN APPRECIATION FOR YOUR TIME AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY!
WE WILL NEED HELP AT OUR ENERGIZER STATION BEGINNING AT 6:30 a.m.
Lots of food and drink for everyone, but we could use people to pick it up and hand it out!
courtesy Francesco Papalia
through wrap-up at 9:30, as well as preparing for a big celebration.
We will need help STUFFING THE MUSETTE BAGS with goodies, soliciting donations, shopping beforehand, picking up food & coffee early morning on the 9th, and handing out swag, food and counting cyclists all morning at the Energizer Station.
If so, please contact Elizabeth Vahlsing at evahlsing@earthlink.net and Amy Smolens at calamari@alumni.duke.edu or leave a comment on this post.
Thanks!!
Stuffing bags for everyone who rolls by is FUN!! If you can help, please email Elizabeth at evahlsing@earthlink.net – thanks!
