Events | 511 Contra Costa - Part 4

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Category: Events

Visit BART's future seat lab

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With some of the oldest subway trains in the country, BART is looking for your opinion on how to make the next generation of train cars better suit riders in the 21st Century. The traveling future seat lab will make nine stops, one in each BART district, and everyone is welcome to give their thoughts on the possible future cars.

  • What kinds of seats would you like to see on new BART train cars?
  • How can BART best accommodate customers using wheelchairs?
  • How can BART best accommodate customers using bicycles or strollers or carrying luggage?
  • What types of passenger information should the new cars provide in their on-board displays?
  • What features do you most like or dislike about trains you’ve used in other cities?

The remaining mobile seat lab stops are:
Prewett Family Park and Community Center
Saturday, June 18, 11 am – 3 pm
4701 Lone Tree Way, Antioch
Parking lot (adjacent to pool)
South San Francisco BART Station
Tuesday, June 21, 2011, 2:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Justin Herman Plaza, San Francisco
Wednesday, June 22, 10 am – 4 pm
Have you seen BART’s new seat lab? What do you want to see in BART’s new cars?

Past mobile seat lab stops:
Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station
Monday, June 13, 2011, 3pm – 6:30pm
Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre BART Station, at the plaza next to fountain.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 2:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Fruitvale BART Station, Village Plaza
Monday, May 23, 2011, 3 pm – 6:30pm
Los Medanos Community College, 2700 East Leland Road, Pittsburg, CA
Tuesday, May 24, 2011, 11 am – 3 pm
Richmond BART Station, McDonald Avenue side
Tuesday, May 31, 2011, 2:30 pm – 6:30pm
Union City BART Station, Center Access Road.
Thursday, June 2, 2011, 2 pm – 6 pm
(Originally scheduled for June 1 but rescheduled due to inclement weather)

San Pablo Avenue Spring Fling Celebration Saturday, May 14th 2011

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Celebrate the completion of the San Pablo Avenue Streetscape Project on Sat. May 14th by attending El Cerrito’s Spring Fling!

Welcome Ceremony — 10:00am to 11:00am

In front of Rialto Cinemas Cerrito, 10070 San Pablo Avenue

  • Welcome by the Mayor
  • Brief overview of the project
  • Dedication of the theater “stars” by the Friends of the Cerrito Theater
  • Light refreshments will be served.
  • Giveaway of 100 Clipper cards for free AC Transit bus rides on-the-day. (Limited supply)

Tour the Avenue — 11:00am to 2:00pm

Walk, bike or take transit along the Avenue to see the recent improvements.
Go at your own pace and visit local stores, galleries and restaurants along the way! Many businesses will be offering discounts or samples as part of the Spring Fling. Tour Stops will highlight:

  • The renovated historic Cerrito Theater
  • Rain Gardens – hosted by the San Francisco Estuary Partnership
  • Water-saving landscape renovations
  • New City Hall & public plaza
  • Pedestrian Safety Improvements & Street Amenities
  • Historic-cultural sidewalk pavers – hosted by the El Cerrito Historical Society
  • Baxter Creek Restoration

For more up-to-date information or to get involved, please contact Suzanne Iarla at (510) 215-4318.

LAVTA public workshop for proposed bus changes

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The Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA), operator of the Wheels bus system, is holding a public workshop to receive public input on a number of proposed service changes:

  • service changes to Route 12
  • adding a new route or service extension to the main Livermore Public Library and Civic Center on South Livermore Avenue
  • rerouting Route 8 to provide direct service from the Pleasanton BART station to the Alameda County Fairgrounds during the Alameda County Fair

At this informal workshop, attendees can look at the proposed service change exhibits at their own pace. Staff will be available to answer questions and provide one-on-one assistance. The public is encouraged to attend to learn more about the proposed changes and provide feedback. The public meeting schedule appears below followed by the proposed service changes. For a pdf copy, click here.
Para la información en español, chasque aquí.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
LAVTA Administrative Office
5:00 – 7:00 PM 1362 Rutan Drive, Livermore
Served by Route 12
Monday, June 6, 2011
LAVTA Public Hearing
4:00 PM 1362 Rutan Drive, Livermore
Served by Route 12

PROPOSED SERVICE CHANGES
New Service to the Livermore Library and Civic Center: A new route/route extension is proposed that will provide service directly to the Main Livermore Public Library on South Livermore Avenue in Livermore. The proposed change would begin in August 2011.
Route 8 Temporary Rerouting to the Alameda County Fairgrounds: A temporary Route 8 detour is proposed on Pleasanton Avenue and Rose Avenue to provide direct service to the Alameda County Fairgrounds during the Alameda County Fair each year. During the Fair, direct service would be temporarily discontinued to the Pleasanton Civic Center and Library. Sunday service is also proposed during the Fair. This year, the proposed detour would be in effect from June 22 to July 10.
Rerouting of Route 12 to I-580 from Dublin Boulevard: Proposal recommends that Route 12 service be rerouted to operate on Interstate 580 instead of Dublin Boulevard on weekdays only when the Rapid and Route 1A/1B are operating. The Route 12 would operate on Interstate 580 between Livermore/Las Positas College and the Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station. This would provide faster service to Las Positas College. The proposed change would take effect in August 2011.
Service Changes to Route 12 due to Isabel/580/84 Interchange Project: Route 12 has been subject to extensive delays due to freeway construction. With the project nearing completion, the street network will change and the Route 12 will need to be permanently rerouted. Two service options are proposed which will be available at the public meeting, at Wheels offices, and online. The proposed change would take effect once construction activity is completed or when required due to roadway reconfiguration. The specific date is unknown but will likely occur in early 2012.
Service maps and options are not yet available but will be by mid-April for review.
To submit your comments online, click here. You may also submit your comments in person at the two meetings noted above or by calling 925-455-7555.
More
Transportation authority proposes bus changes (Contra Costa Times)

Las Trampas Perimeter Hike

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It’s wildflower season in the Las Trampas wilderness. The Greenbelt Alliance is hosting a guided, 14-mile hike along the perimeter of Las Trampas Regional Wilderness this Saturday.
This hike is not for the faint of heart. Departing from the Sycamore Valley Road Park and Ride at 10 AM, the group will climb and descend a 2500 foot elevation game. The Greenbelt Alliance site describes the trek as very strenuous, but the brave and the bold will be rewarded with a spectacular tour of one of Contra Costa County’s greatest natural assets.
The park earned its name, Las Trampas, from the Spanish word for The Traps or The Snares because of the traps hunters set to catch the abundant elk. Today, visitors can count the deer in the hill areas adjacent to the parking lot. The park was home to antelope and mountain lions in the last century, and some big cat are still sighted each year. Birdwatchers regard this park for its hawks and golden eagles.
Be on the lookout for black sage, chamise, buck brush, toyon, hybrid manzanitas, elderberry, gooseberry, chaparral currant, sticky monkeyflower, coffeeberry, coyote bush, hollyleaf red berry, deer weed, and creek dogwood.
Photo from pandatub

You Choose Contra Costa

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How do you want Contra Costa County to look in the future? How do you want your neighborhood in Contra Costa County to look in the future? Are your ideas for the region compatible with your local vision?
That’s what the Silicon Valley Community Foundation hopes to answer with the new You Choose Bay Area tool.
Have you seen or played with any of those budget calculators that have been popping up through the recession? They let you pick from pre-determined options and show you what the overall result would be. This is pretty straightforward for a budget (it’s just adding and subtracting, right?). You Choose does the same thing, but with homes, roads, water, and air.
You start by picking your person priorities. Do you want the Bay Area to have lots of large home with big yards? Do you want to ensure we all conserve open space? Maybe you want to see safer access to schools? You can click and drag your priorities, and even rank them by their importance to you.
Next, it asks you to make two choices:

  • Do we focus new homes outside the current Bay Area, or
  • make our current neighborhoods more dense?

And:

  • How much more densely should we grow?

After you make your choices, you can see what impacts your growth strategy would have across the Bay Area. You can conserve up to 490 square miles of open space, 31 thousand tons of air pollution per year, and 26.1 billion miles of auto travel – all through how you design and locate homes. They almost make it look easy.
Plus, you can compare your priorities to your growth strategies. Do your plans for the region match up with your goals for your neighborhood?
Like what you see here?
Join the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Greenbelt Alliance, TransForm and the Bay Area’s regional planning agencies at YouChoose Contra Costa County.
Saturday, May 7, 2011, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Concord Senior Center, 2727 Parkside Circle, Concord
At this public event, you can:

    Connect with fellow residents and together explore Bay Area housing and transportation options to see how they will impact your community and the things you care about most.

  • Give immediate input to local and regional leaders who will decide where to direct new development and how transportation dollars should be spent.

RSVP online. A meal will be provided, and childcare and translation services are available upon request.
“The choices being made will determine the future for generations to come. Will you make those choices or leave them to someone else?”

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Pacheco Creekside Park

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PACHECO – Contra Costa County Supervisor Karen Mitchoff will be hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Pacheco Creekside Park.
During a community meeting for the Pacheco Boulevard median landscaping project community members expressed an interest in building a park. The County Public Works Department in partnership with the Pacheco Municipal Advisory Council has completed Phase 2 of the Pacheco Creekside Park. This phase included the installation of a water meter, irrigation system, plantings, and 2 park entry signs.
The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at the Pacheco Community Center and will be followed by a walking tour of the park. The event is free and open to the public.
When: Saturday, April 16, 2011, 10:00am
Where: Pacheco Community Center
5800 Pacheco Boulevard
Pacheco, CA 94553
For more information please contact Supervisor Mitchoff’s office at (925) 521-7100.

2011 Blue Sky Festival: Win a $6 BART ticket, folding bike, or $500!

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BART is celebrating Earth Day, as well as our beautiful everyday blue skies, with three chances for you to win.
BART Blue Sky Festival
Join BART for the first annual BART Blue Sky Festival, just in time for Earth Day, Thursday, April 21, 2011.
Absolutely free from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco. Get great environmental info and giveaways from dozens of eco-exhibitors, healthy and organic food samples, live music by the Venusians and more!
Get a BART Blue Sky Passport at the festival, fill it with stamps from six festival exhibitors and redeem it for a free $6 BART ticket. The first 5,000 people who turn in a completed passport will get a free $6 BART ticket right at the festival!
All stamped passports will then be entered in a drawing to win one of two Giant Expressway 2 folding bikes. Official rules will be available at the festival.
Folding bikes are a fantastic way to get to and from BART because folded bikes are allowed on all trains at all times. Visit bart.gov/bikes for more BART bike rules.
This is an outdoor festival…rain cancels!
Submit your story for a chance to win $500
BART knows you care about the environment, and they want to hear how you conserve resources, find new and better ways to recycle and protect the environment.
Starting April 11, 2011 you can tell BART your Blue Sky Story for the chance to win BART tickets worth up to $500. Visit bart.gov/bluesky to submit and share your story, read and vote for other stories and get official rules. Submission deadline is Monday, May 9, 2011.
 

Contra Costa Transportation Meetings

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Do you ever wonder how transportation projects move up through cities, counties, regions, and states to get federal funding?
It has a lot to do with a Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). Our next RTP is being planned right now. If you want a say in how we use our regional, state, and federal funds for transportation, this is your opportunity.
Do you want to see more bike lanes? More trails? Better sidewalks for walking? More frequent, reliable, or available buses? More BART extensions? More carpool lanes? More services for our senior citizens? More Complete Streets? Fewer potholes? Wider freeways?
Make your voice heard! Come to one of these meetings to learn about the RTP process and let Contra Costa County know what types of transportation projects are most important to you.
East County (TRANSPLAN)
Thursday, April 14, 2011
6:30 PM
Tri-Delta Transit Board Room
801 Wilbur Avenue
Antioch, CA 94509
CCTA: Public Hearing
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
6:00 PM
CCTA Offices
2999 Oak Street
Suite 100
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Transportation Partnership and Cooperation (TRANSPAC) Central County
Thursday, April 21, 2011
9:00 am
City of Pleasant Hill Community Room
100 Gregory Lane
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee (WCCTAC)
Friday, April 22, 2011
8:00 am
City of San Pablo Council Chambers
13831 San Pablo Avenue
San Pablo, CA 94806

Apply for the 2011 APTA Youth Summit in Washington, DC

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Are you a high school junior or senior? The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is accepting applications for its 2011 Youth Summit in Washington, DC through April 22nd.

The summit is titled Generation Green on Board: A Youth Summit to Advance Public Transportation and will take place in Washington, DC from June 26-30. Participants will spend five days in the nation’s capital meeting with lawmakers, leaders, and industry professionals—while learning first-hand the impact public transportation can have on their future and the future of America.
Public transportation plays a vital role in helping our nation meet its national goals of reducing our carbon footprint and achieving energy independence. Every year, public transportation use in the United States saves 37 million metric tons of carbon emissions and 4.2 billion gallons gasoline.

“This event will empower the participating teens to become environmental leaders and public transportation advocates,” said APTA President William Millar. “Additionally, the youth summit will highlight how public transportation is a green industry with many employment opportunities.”

To qualify for this all-expenses-paid summit, you must be a high school junior or senior in the 2011-2012 school year. Interested students and parents can find out more information or download an application at www.apta.com/youthsummit. Please note the application deadline has been extended to April 22.
Photo credit: lizzk

Register to win an iPad and pick up freebies at Pittsburg/Bay Point BART Mar. 31 and Apr. 7

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Update: The April 7th event has been cancelled. However, you can still sign up for the Tri Delta Challenge online.
511 Contra Costa and Tri Delta Transit will be at Pittsburg/Bay Point BART tomorrow, March 31st and Thursday, April 7th from 4-6:30 PM to promote the Tri Delta Transit Challenge.
Stop by our table to register to win an Apple iPad and pick up some freebies!

When: Mar. 31 and Apr. 7, 2011, 4-6:30 PM
Where: Pittsburg/Bay Point BART

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Pittsburg/Bay Point Area: Recreation and Park District Workshop

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The Bay Point area is one of the county’s most beautiful natural assets. Pittsburg, the New York of the Pacific, had almost 57,000 residents in 2000. How these residents will reach their neighboring wetlands and marina is up to you.
The East Bay Regional Parks District invites you to a special public workshop this Thursday evening to plan one of the first segments of the Great California Delta Trail. When complete, the entire network will include both land and water trails within Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, and Yolo counties.
The segment being planned on Thursday will reach Bay Point’s wetlands and Pittsburg’s Marina Park, and will be one of the first to be completed in the new network.
Join the workshop on Thursday, March 31 from 6-9 pm in the Ambrose Recreation and Park District board room at 3105 Willow Pass Road in Bay Point.
Learn more about the Delta Trail or join the Friend’s of the Delta Trail mailing list for updates.
The East Bay Regional Park District welcomes your input.
Photo from baker7598

Departing now: Freedom Bus

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“Considering that a passenger on a public bus was the catalyst for a civil rights movement that literally swept the world, it is only fitting that AC Transit—a public bus agency—be a part of this historic educational project.”
That’s AC Transit Interim General Manager Mary King introducing the Freedom Bus. Honoring the 55th anniversary of Rosa Park’s historic ride, AC Transit, the Alameda County Office of Education, West Contra Costa Unified School District, and Art IS Education created the Freedom Bus Project.
Students submitted social-justice themed artwork, and the four winning entries will be displayed in 200 buses throughout the AC Transit fleet. This “mobile art exhibit” will run through the month of April.
One special bus has been “wrapped” by Titan Worldwide with scenes depicting the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The bus will be unveiled at a special launch on March 25th at the Oakland School for the Arts before its three school tour.
After the festivities, the Freedom Bus will join the regular AC Transit service. Look for this unique display of civil rights history and arts education on a route near you.

Bike to Work Day 2011: Are you Ready?

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 Bike to Work Day may seem far off in May, but don’t wait until then to get ready. Daylight Savings Time is almost here, so dust off that old 10 speed. Here are some tips to get you going.
1) Know your bike. Has your bike been collecting dust over the winter? It happens.  Have a bike shop pump up your tires  or do it yourself. Learn the ABC check (air, brakes, chain/cassette/cranks).
2) Know your gear. Dust out that helmet. Dig through your closet and find some clothes that will be comfortable and visible. Many employers are loosening their dress code on Bike to Work Day, but you don’t need head-to-toe spandex to be have fun on your bike.
3) Take a practice ride. Biking in traffic is a lot easier and feels much safer when you knows the rules. Read up on bike traffic laws or find a bike safety class near you. Get comfortable riding before your big trek.
4) Know your route. Is there a bike lane on your way? 511CC’s Bike Mapper can help you find a route with just the right amount of climb. Also, dozens of energizer stations will be set up on Bike to Work Day, with hundreds of volunteers distributing donated refreshments, goodies, and commemorative canvas tote bags.  Stay tuned for energizer locations as May 9 draws near. Check out these bags from past years.

Most importantly: 5) Have fun! Find some friends to ride with you. If you’re a long time bike commuter, one of the 34% percent of people who rode their first Bike to Work Day in 2010, or just getting started this year – get out there and have fun!
More pictures of past Bike to Work Days are available on 511CC’s Flickr stream.

Supervisor Glover's Contra Costa County Youth Summit, April 16, 2011

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Receive a Tri Delta Transit Summer Youth Bus Pass by attending this year’s Contra Costa County Youth Summit hosted by Contra Costa County District V Supervisor Federal D. Glover. 511 Contra Costa has teamed up with Tri Delta Transit to provide attendees unlimited rides on Tri Delta Transit’s fixed route buses during the summer. Eligibillity requirements do apply and only a limited number of passes are available while supplies last.
The event is being held at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg on Saturday April 16th from 8am – 3pm.

For more information, visit http://www.cccounty.us/youthsummit2011 or call 925-427-8138.

6th Annual Transit Fair in Pleasanton, March 17, 2011

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The City of Pleasanton will host the 6th Annual Transit Fair at the Pleasanton Senior Center on Thursday, March 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This free event is open to all ages and will feature representatives from local transit agencies such as WHEELS, the AARP, the Alameda County Transportation Commission, Pleasanton Paratransit Service, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and the ACE Train to share information on transportation options.
Veronica Conley, an Ombudsman for the Department of Motor Vehicles, will be the keynote speaker at a special presentation at 10:30 a.m. The primary function of the Ombudsman program is to represent the interest of public safety for all Californians, with a special interest toward the concerns of senior drivers. The Ombudsman ensures that senior drivers are treated fairly, consistent with laws and regulations, and with the dignity and respect they deserve.
Free Car Fit assessments sponsored by AAA of Northern California and the Pleasanton Senior Center will also be offered. These free evaluations for seniors over 65 years of age consist of trained professionals leading participants through a 15-minute, 12-point checklist with their vehicle to recommend adjustments and adaptations that can make the vehicle ‘fit’ better and enhance safety. Those interested in a Car Fit evaluation can call (925) 931-5365 to make an appointment.
Participating transit agencies will also sell their reduced cost senior discount passes and cards during the event. These include the popular Clipper Card for seniors 65 years of age and older with an accepted identification such as a birth certificate, driver’s license, state identification card, or Alien Registration/Permanent Resident card. The Clipper Card is an all-in-one transit card that keeps track of any passes, discount tickets, ride books and cash value that is loaded onto it. Clipper Cards can be used on Muni, BART, AC Transit, VTA, SamTrans, Caltrain and Golden Gate Transit and Ferry. Non-senior Clipper cards will also be issued at the event.
Also available will be a $9 Senior BART pass (a $24 value), the Pleasanton Paratransit $30 punch card for residents of Pleasanton, the Pleasanton Paratransit Downtown Route which offers 8 rides for just $12, Dial-A-Ride’s 10 rides for $35, and a Wheels monthly senior bus pass for $18.
The Pleasanton Senior Center’s ‘Snappy Café’ will offer a St. Patrick’s Day meal for $5 for adults and $3.50 for seniors. Reservations must be made by 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9. For more information or to make a luncheon reservation, please contact the Pleasanton Senior Center at (925) 931-5365.

This Week’s Headlines in Transportation & Transit: Feb. 12-18, 2011

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We’ve finally arrived at the weekend of the new West Dublin/Pleasanton BART station opening! If that doesn’t suit your fancy, there’s also a group meeting at 9 am to walk in Pleasanton, and free bicycle repairs being offered in Richmond.
For all of the biking, transit and transportation news we thought was noteworthy last week, read on:

For a list of lucky winners, click here (Twitter) and here (Facebook).

Other Biking, Transit & Transportation News

New West Dublin/Pleasanton Station opens Saturday

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When was the last time you rolled into a brand new BART station?
BART’s 44th station, and first in eight years, opens this weekend between Castro Valley and Dublin/Pleasanton stations. The first train in scheduled to arrive at 6:03 am Saturday.
The new station comes with 1,190 new parking spaces. Dublin/Pleasanton station, 1.6 miles away, regularly fills up by 7:30 am, and the new station offers relief in both permit and fee parking. BART began offering monthly reserved monthly parking permits on Feb. 1. Monthly reserved parking permits are available online for $63. Daily reserved parking is $4, and daily fee parking is $1. We’ll have to wait and see how long it takes the West Dublin/Pleasanton lot to fill up on the morning of the 21st.
In addition to offering relief for commuters headed downtown, the station is just a short walk from Stoneridge Mall and several office buildings. Private developers contributed $20 million of the total $106 million to build the new station, and have plans for housing, retail, and other transit-oriented development around the station.
The new fares are already on BART’s website (be sure to use a date of Feb. 19 or later). For example, a one-way trip from West Dublin/Pleasanton to Powell Street Station in San Francisco will cost $5.40.
The new station offers transit connections on both sides. From the Pleasanton side, the station is served by Wheels routes 3/3V, 53, 70XV, and Rapid, as well as the Tri-Delta Transit Dublin/Pleasanton Delta Express. On the Dublin side, the station is served by LAVTA Route 3. Both sides are served by bike racks.
The West Dublin/Pleasanton station is an “infill”, meaning it adds a new stop along an existing line. There are few infill stations in the US and no others in BART. Working around the existing and operating track was tricky, but BART managed to do it by creating two sets of tracks. Workers were able to make progress on one set while BART riders rode through on the other. BART plans to extend rail service to Livermore some day, but West Dublin/Pleasanton offered the opportunity to relief congestion more quickly with fewer funds.

Photos of the station are from BART’s blog.

Free Dublin/Pleasanton Commuter Shuttle: Feb 14-18

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DUBLIN/PLEASANTON – Tired of waiting in traffic west of Antioch? Heard about the Delta Express commuter service, but just haven’t gotten around to it? Next week is your chance.
From February 14-18, Tri Delta Transit will run their regular luxury motor coaches (complete with WiFi and comfy seats) for FREE. There’s no need to sign up – you just show up, walk on, plug in, and stretch out.
Not familiar with the Delta Express? It runs to and from Antioch to Dublin/Pleasanton BART station each and every weekday during regular commuting hours, with stops at:

  • Antioch Park and Ride (Hillcrest)
  • Oakley – Lucky Shopping Center
  • Brentwood Park and Ride (Oak Street)
  • Discovery Bay Park and Ride (Bixler Road)
  • Mountain House Parkway
  • Dublin BART Station
  • Hacienda/Owens Business Park

Delta Express will run its regular morning and afternoon schedules.
But wait, I have to work late all the time – I don’t want to be stranded at work! Never fear!
As always, Delta Express will offer its Guaranteed Ride Home program. If you need to leave work in the middle of the day or stay late, Delta Express will provide a free taxi ride or rental car to make sure you get where you need to be. For more information, Contra Costa County residents should call 510-215-3035.
If you have to miss next week’s free commutes, Tri Delta Transit has other great giveaways for the month of February.
Half Price Monthly Passes just $80 from East County and $55 from Mount House
Two-for-One Tickets on the Express Route 300
New to Tri Delta Transit? Curious if you can bring a bike or stroller on board? (Hint: the answer is “yes”) Check out Tri Delta Transit’s comprehensive introduction for new riders. Who knows? maybe you’ll like it.
Photo from eb1_2000‘s Flickr stream.

Trips for Kids Fundraiser Feb. 13, 2011 – Meet Mountain Bike Pioneers Gary Fisher, Tom Ritchey, & others

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What: Brews, Bikes, Bucks: Meet the Mt. Bike Pioneers
When: Sunday Feb. 13, 2011 from 2-6 PM
Where: The Broken Drum Brewery, 1132 Fourth St., San Rafael, CA (click to open Google Maps)
Contact: For more details about the fundraiser or about Trips for Kids, call 415/458-2986, e-mail info@tripsforkids.org or visit http://www.tripsforkidsmarin.org/
Details: Mountain biking pioneers will support Trips for Kids’ at the 13th annual “Brews, Bikes and Bucks” fundraising party on Sunday, February 13th from 2-6 p.m. at the Broken Drum Brewery, 1132 Fourth Street in San Rafael.

Well known mountain bike pioneers such as Gary Fisher, Joe Breeze, Ned Overend, Tom Ritchey, Scott Nicol, Juli Furtado, Jacquie Phelan, Otis Guy, Charles Kelly, Ross Shafer, Steve Potts, Mert Lawwill, Rick Sutton and Chris Lang will be guests at the event.

Continue reading “Trips for Kids Fundraiser Feb. 13, 2011 – Meet Mountain Bike Pioneers Gary Fisher, Tom Ritchey, & others”

2011 Cycling Events

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Celebrate the new year by getting out on your bike and taking a ride! Here’s our list of cycling events for 2011 (to be updated as we find out new events), so mark your calendars and get going!
Saturday, June 18:

This year is the 2nd annual Transit & Trails Triple Threat. Using only public transportation and their bicycles, riders will ride to the summits of the three major peaks in the Bay Area: Mount Hamilton, Mount Diablo, and Mount Tamalpais.
October 1:

Levi Leipheimer’s King Ridge GranFondo, Santa Rosa, CA. 7,500 riders, three different routes. Although the Gran Route (100 miles) is full, you can still sign up for the Medio Route (65 miles) or Piccolo Route (32 miles). For registration information, volunteering opportunities and more, visit www.levisgranfondo.com.
September 17:
Bike MS Waves to Wine Ride takes you on an unforgettable, two-day journey through San Francisco, Marin, and Sonoma Counties. Riders raise money to support MS research, programs and services dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals affected by MS.

Activities Throughout the Year
East Contra Costa County
Regular Ride Schedules (click to download) with the Delta Pedalers.

  • Every SUNDAY MORNING (8am and 9am) – Starbucks at Balfour Rd. and Fairview Ave. in Brentwood.
  • Every MONDAY EVENING (7pm) – Starbucks at Sand Creek Rd. and Hwy 4 Bypass in Brentwood
  • Every WEDNESDAY EVENING (6pm) – Starbucks at 4045 Lone Tree Way (Lone Tree & Bluerock) in Antioch

San Francisco
Bike About at the San Francisco Zoo.

  • Every month (February – October) the San Francisco Zoo offers this awesome family activity! Bring your bikes to the Zoo for a 1.5 hour, docent-led cycling tour. Registration includes parking and Zoo admission.

Know any other activities that we’ve missed? Let us know! We’d love to add them to our list!
Past Events:
ride on race seriesJanuary 9 and 16:
Ride on Race Series, Redding and Red Bluff. The cyclocross series that began in October has three races remaining. Each event offers races of 60-, 45- and 30-minutes on 1- to 2-mile loop courses. Expect muddy conditions, obstacles and at least one short hike-a-bike section per loop.

January 14:

East Bay Bike Party. A monthly social ride for East Bay bikers! Currently, the next ride scheduled is for Jan 14 in Hayward, ‘Hillbilly Wedding.’ Check the blog a couple days in advance to find out more details about where to meet up, what the route is, and what to expect!
January 22, 10am to 11am:

1,000 New Cyclists: Healthy Habits – Nutrition & Everyday Cycling
Healthy Habits – Nutrition & Everyday Cycling, Sat. Jan. 22nd, 10-11am – Sign up!?Have a New Year’s resolution to eat well & get into shape this year? This workshop is for you. Advice, inspiration, and a community of others with the same goal.

Sat Jan 22, 10am to 6pm:
The Park Tool School, offered year-round at the REI Concord store, will teach you the skills you’ll need to keep your bike running well. In this day-long class, you’ll learn how to adjust brakes, headsets, hubs, and drive trains, as well as how to true wheels. You must bring your own bike. Fee: $130 REI members, $150 nonmembers.
February 13:
Rice Valley Tandem Rally (The Love Ride), Gridley. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with your numero uno with this low-key, enjoyable outdoors event. You may pedal a single-seat or two-seater for this relatively low-key century bike ride in the Sacramento Valley, which has 34-mile and 40-mile options.
April 2:
Cinderella Classic in Pleasanton. Choose from a 65 mile (100 km) Classic Cinderella course, or take the Cinderella Challenge and go an extra 23 miles, climbing 2,000 feet. Note: registration is now closed. Requests to be on the 2012 mailing list will be accepted after July 5, 2011.
April 14-17:
The Sea Otter Classic in Monterey is now the largest cycling festival in North America and is universally regarded as the cycling world’s premiere festival. Online registration closes April 10, 2011 11:59 PM Pacific Time.
April 16:
Cycle for Sight in Napa Valley. Proceeds will go to the Enchanted Hills Camp For The Blind & Visually Impaired and The California Veterans “Pathway Home Project.” Same day registration will be available Saturday morning from 7-10 am.
April 17:
3rd Annual Diablo Century Bike Ride. Choose from 100-mile, 100K, and 25-mile routes. Registration begins Jan 15, Early Bird Registration through March 25. Contra Costa JCC, Walnut Creek.
May 7:
Pittsburg Twilight Criterium (alternatively, PittCrit). Kids win cowbells, adults can win up to $5000 in cash. What’s not to love? The 1-km course, located in Pittsburg’s waterfront downtown setting, starts and finished on Railroad Ave while running clockwise on 8th, Marina Blvd, E. 3rd St, Railroad. E St. The Expo will occupy the Plaza 6th & 8th on Railroad, while the Pro Athlete Village area is located on the waterfront on Marina Blvd & E. 3rd.
May 12:
Bike to Work Day. Get ready for the 17th Annual Bike to Work Day on May 12, 2011. Join over a hundred thousand other Bay Area Bicycle riders in making Bike To Work Day a continued success.

May 15-22:
AMGEN Tour of California. This year, Livermore is proud to host the Stage 4 Start of the Amgen Tour of California on Wednesday May 18, 2011. Other cities include: Modesto, Sacramento, San Jose, Thousand Oaks, Lake Tahoe, Mt. Baldy, Santa Clarita, Claremont, Solvang, Seaside, Paso Robles, and Auburn.
 

Try BART Week begins today!

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Are you ready to get your BART on? Today marks the kickoff date for Try BART Week, which will run Monday, October 18 through Friday, October 22.
Also today is a kickoff event from noon to 1 PM at the 12th St. Oakland City Center station. According to BART, 5,000 Green & Black’s chocolate bars will be given away, as well as $100 BART tickets, a pair of CAL vs Stanford football tickets, and one grand prize winner will walk away with BART tickets for an entire year (a $2500 value).
To enter this week:
Every day, watch the platform destination signs for the Try BART Week word of the day and text your response to 44144, or enter the contest online. Every day, check the prizes page for a list of Try BART Week winners. Here is the full list of prizes that will be given away this week: Continue reading “Try BART Week begins today!”

Eastbound I-580 early morning closures Oct. 17-29

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From the Contra Costa Times:
Caltrans has scheduled early morning closures for eastbound Interstate 580 between 1 and 4 a.m. from Sunday, Oct. 17 to Friday, Oct. 29.
The eastbound freeway lanes will be closed at Airway Boulevard. Traffic will be detoured onto local streets heading east on Airway to Portola Avenue and North Livermore Avenue, then back onto the freeway.
According to a press release, Caltrans crews will be building temporary support structures for the future I-580/State Route 84 interchange at Isabel Avenue.
Closures in the westbound direction of I-580 are expected to take place from mid- to late November.

BART to hold hearing on 2011 West Dublin station station fares, parking fees

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From the Contra Costa Times:
The BART board will hold a public hearing on Thursday on proposed train fares and parking fees to be charged at the new West Dublin-Pleasanton train station when it opens in early 2011.
The board meets at 9 a.m. in its board room at the Kaiser Center 20th Street Mall, third floor, 344 20th St., Oakland.
For trips starting at the new station, BART proposes to charge $4.15 for a ticket to Berkeley, $5.40 to Embarcadero, and $10.40 to the San Francisco International Airport. To calculate the fares, BART employs a distance-based formula used to determine fares throughout the rapid transit system.
Parking fees at the new station would be $1 per day for regular parking, $5 per day for long-term parking for airline passengers, and $63 per month for reserved parking.
The board is expected to approve the fares at its Oct. 28 meeting and the parking fees on Dec. 2.

NorCal Solar and City of Walnut Creek host Solar Tour

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On October 2, 2010, the Northern California Solar Energy Association (NorCal Solar), in partnership with the City of Walnut Creek, hosts a self-guided open house tour of homes and businesses in central Contra Costa County using solar energy and other green features. The tour starts at the new Walnut Creek Library located at 1644 N. Broadway in Downtown Walnut Creek with solar energy how-to talks and demonstrations. Detailed maps of the tour locations and free educational material will be available.
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., tour participants will be able to visit a half dozen local sites with solar and green features including three private homes, one apartment complex, and a college campus. Homeowners will be on hand to talk about real life with solar. There will also be information on new government rebates and tax incentives for solar.

NorCal Solar’s tour is one of 677 occurring all across the U.S. as part of National Solar Tour Day, an event produced by the non-profit American Solar Energy Society (ASES). The ASES National Solar Tour is the world’s largest grassroots solar events. More than 160,000 participants will visit some 5,500 buildings in 3,200 communities.

“Our tour is bringing families and businesses real-life examples of how their neighbors are harnessing free energy from the sun to generate electricity, warm and cool their homes, heat water and slash monthly utility bills,” said Deborah C Donovan, a NorCal Solar volunteer who coordinated the Contra Costa tour. “In the wake of one of the largest man-made environmental disasters in U.S. history, the Gulf oil spill, learning about clean, job- creating, energy options that provide tax breaks, lower energy bills and energy independence is an exciting step Contra Costa County residents can take to address America’s dangerous dependence on fossil fuels.”
NorCal Solar is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization whose mission is to foster the development and application of solar energy through the exchange of information. Since 1975, NorCal Solar has served as an information portal for industry professionals, policymakers, advocacy groups, the media, and the general public. NorCal Solar is a Northern California chapter of ASES, a national organization dedicated to advancing the use of solar and other renewable energy sources for the benefit of the global environment.
For more information on NorCal’s Solar Tour go to www.norcalsolar.org/tour To learn more about the 2010 ASES National Solar Tour go to http://nationalsolartour.org/