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.
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!
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
Due to an overstock of bikes, we are having an As-Is Bike Blowout Sale! We have hundreds of as-is bikes, frames, parts, and accessories that all must go! Complete bikes as low as $10! Unique and rare bikes deeply discounted! Don’t miss it!
More info at their Facebook event link!
Blue Heron Bikes is hosting a screening of MOTHERLOAD, the movie, Thursday, July 18th.
Doors open at 6:15, shows at 7:00.
Liz Canning spent 8 years producing this, inspiring, crowdsourced documentary telling the story of the cargo bike movement.
Fundraiser for Bike East Bay, $10 adults, $5 children.
For the first time ever, the Ciclismo Classico Bike Travel Film Festival will visit the East Bay! The festival is a celebration of travel and human-powered adventure on wheels, and it is the only event of its type in the world. Proceeds from the event benefit the Adventure Cycling Association and Street Level Cycles.
From the frozen streams of the Himalayas to the sultry heat of Thailand, from a father and daughter sharing their first overnight outing to two Boomers finding love on an organized bike tour, there’s over a dozen films with something for everyone at this year’s festival. You don’t need to be a cyclist to enjoy these tales of adventure! Ciclismo Classico, the longtime pioneer in creative bicycle vacations, is proud to present this one-of-a-kind event.
Agenda for the Evening:
- 6:00pm: Doors Open
- 6:30pm: Introduction & Film Rolls
- 8:30pm: Film Ends
Raffle Information: Ciclismo is generously raffling a $2500 voucher which can be applied to a specific Italian bike trip that Ciclismo will designate. Each admission ticket includes one raffle ticket. However, additional raffle tickets can be bought at check-in. One winner will be chosen at the film screening intermission and must be present to win.
Grab a drink, sit back, relax & enjoy the films! Sports Basement to provide light drinks and snacks.
FESTIVAL MISSION STATEMENT
The Festival’s mission is to inspire attendees to explore by bicycle. Whether across the globe or a few towns away, nothing recharges and expands horizons like bicycle travel. The Ciclismo Classico Bike Travel Film Festival is the ONLY film festival in the USA that focuses specifically on bicycle travel. The Festival commits itself to sharing a diverse array of journeys: adventure is for everyone
Join Walk Bike Berkeley members, District 2 Berkeley City Council Candidate Terry Taplin, Transportation Commissioners, and others to discuss road safety challenges and opportunities on San Pablo Avenue.
Remember, what is done in Berkeley will have an impact on Albany’s stretch of San Pablo!
Meet at Dwight & San Pablo, walk to University Ave (7 blocks)
RSVP: info@walkbikeberkeley.org
WHY SAN PABLO?
-
San Pablo from Dwight to University is the highest priority street segment to fix in Berkeley’s draft Pedestrian Plan, based on safety and equity needs
-
Just 14% of Berkeley’s street miles account for 93% of pedestrian fatalities & severe injuries
-
Berkeley’s busy, arterial streets are the most dangerous for people walking and biking
-
Alameda County, including Albany, is planning the future of the San Pablo Avenue Corridor
IF YOU WANT TO WALK OR BIKE TO THE START FROM ALBANY, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT AND PROPOSED STARTING TIME & PLACE IN “COMMENTS”
After decades of waiting and advocating, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge will FINALLY be accessible to rollers and strollers!
The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony is scheduled to be at 10am.
Bike East Bay is leading this ride from Richmond BART to the RSR bridge.
Here are directions to the bridge entrance.
If you want to propose a ride from Albany to the RSR Bridge, comment below.
Want to test your cycling, running and swimming skills in a low-key & fun setting, while helping AHS & AMS sports teams in the process?
Come on down to Memorial Park on Sunday October 16th for the first post-pandemic, real, in-person Albany Community Triathlon!
The Albany Community Triathlon emphasizes fitness and fun with a 400m (425y) swim, 10k (12 laps around Memorial Park/AHS) cycle and 2.5k (1.6m/3 laps) run.
There is also a “Super Youth” division for kids from 7-10 – 70m (75 yd/3 lengths) pool swim, 2.5 mile bike (1.6m/3 laps) and 1k (0.6m/1 lap) run.
Registration is available at https://albanytri.com/register/.
Registrants will get fun swag while supplies last!
All proceeds will go to the Albany Athletic Boosters to benefit all High School & Middle School teams. In addition to the fund raising, this event focuses on fitness and fun.
If you have always wanted to participate in a triathlon, but felt intimidated at the prospect, this is the one for you. I’ve taken part in the RELAY – I did the cycling portion, and found friends for the swim and the run! It was fun rooting for my teammate during the swim, riding my bike, then rooting for my other teammate while she ran!
YOUTH DISCOUNTS for anyone under 18!
There is still a FAMILY & FRIENDS HEAT!
Parents, kids, spouses: When you register, you can indicate your desire to be in the same wave as one or more family members or friends. Then you can compete together & keep an eye on each other during the race (but not assist each other, per triathlon rules).
POST-RACE FESTIVITIES – Stick around after the race to recover with some healthy food, finisher awards, raffle prizes, massages, and schmoozing with fellow participants, volunteers, sponsors, and race organizers.
AS&R and Check for Bikes are excited to again be sponsoring the Albany Tri – supplying bike racks for the transition area and swag for the goodie bags. Other sponsors include Albany Community Foundation, Albany Ford-Subaru, Trader Joe’s, Blue Heron Bikes, TranSports and Bikes on Solano.
So come on down and get in on the fun!
For more information about the Albany Triathlon, please see the web site, www.albanytri.com. This is a great community event and really fun to watch even if you don’t want to participate!
Come on down, have fun and support Albany Middle & High School sports!!
Bike or no bike, everyone is welcome to attend to learn about maintenance, safety, and more! This is first come, first serve and space is limited.They will be set up on the patio on Marin Ave – come on over!!