bike | 511 Contra Costa - Part 3

Tag: bike

Coming Soon to the East Bay: Bay Area Bike Share (2014)

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After a successful pilot in San Francisco, Bay Area Bike Share is going east.
After a successful pilot in San Francisco, Bay Area Bike Share is going east.

In less than a year, these baby blue bikes have zipped around San Francisco and the peninsula on over 200,000 trips, and soon, even in the East Bay. This spring, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), which supplied much of the original funding to launch the Bay Area Bike Share, committed $8.7 million to expand the system to the East Bay. Here are the three things you need to know.

1) How Does Bay Area Bike Share Work?

You can join Bay Area Bike Share for a $88 annual pass, $22 three-day pass, or $9 for a 24-hour pass. Annual members get a fancy electronic key fob, and other members can just get a keycode from the bike station itself. Enter your keycode into the bike’s dock, pop out the bike, ride it some place fun, and then return it to that or another dock within 30 minutes. There’s a mobile app and website to help find an available bike or empty dock.

2) Where Will the New Bike Stations Be Located?

In this phase, the 750 new bikes will be distributed between Oakland, Berkeley, and Emeryville.  MTC will be conducting a public planning process to make sure the bike stations are located where people need them.

3) When Can I Get On A Bike?

It is anticipated that the bike stations could be on the street during the spring of 2015 . Look for a launch date to be announced later this year, which MTC is hinting could be before Bike to Work Day in May.

How Do I Learn More?

If you’re on Twitter, follow @SFBayBikeShare, @BikeEastBay or @MTCBATA for the latest. Or subscribe to our newsletter, which goes out every second Tuesday with the latest transportation news for Contra Costa County and the East Bay.

Closer Look at The Amazing "Hovenring"

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With thousands of likes, shares, re-blogs, tweets, comments and views, the floating bicycle roundabout known as “Hovenring” may well be the most popular piece of bicycle infrastructure around the globe. It really is quite impressive, in fact we blogged about it shortly after it was first unveiled.  Visually, it’s sleek and beautiful…
… but there’s more to the story.
The project was an engineering feat that had to overcome some obstacles. Ethan Siegel, writing for Starts with a Bang!, notes:

“A huge challenge for building any large, suspended structure is dealing with the inevitable vibrations that will come about, and the Hovenring indeed came face-to-face with that right after its inauguration. A 70-meter (230-foot) tall central pylon was erected, which was then connected by 24 steel cables to the circular bridge deck. All told, the structure weighs in at more than one million kilograms. That much mass, constructed in this fashion, prevented torsion on the structure to keep it stable, but was insufficient to prevent severe vibrations due to winds.”

It took a few months, but the Hovenring eventually overcame all barriers and today sits as likely the most stunning roundabout – bicycle-specific or not – in the world.
For more information about Hovenring, head over to Starts with a Bang! or Twisted Sifter.

Cool Stuff at BTWD 2014 Energizer Stations

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BTWD is Thursday, May 7, 2014. There are a lot of  energizer stations to visit in Contra Costa. All are providing SNACKS and some are providing: bike repair, smoothies, bike lights, Peet’s Coffee, slushies, and more! Stop by a few stations to say hello and for a full listing of energizer stations click here.
Here is a sneak peek at a few stations with unique attractions or giveaways.
Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek Medical Center, Walnut Creek,  Corner of S. Main St & Newell Ave, 7:00-10:00 am
A DIY bike repair tools for minor needs, cool bike light, and 5 Thrive Dollars!
Argent/Umpqua Bank, Concord, 1900 Grant St (Todos Santos Plaza)  3:00-6:00 pm
Along with Farmers Market, inaugural bike corral bike-check in, bike station for minor repairs.
Pleasant Hill BART, near bike racks 6:30-9:00 am, hosted by REI
Expert bike technician on site to provide a quick check and adjustment of brakes, drive train, tires, chain lube.
Iron Horse Trail at Bollinger Canyon Rd, San Ramon 6:00-10:00 am, hosted by City of San Ramon/Bishop Ranch Transportation Centre/Whole Foods Market
Spin on the bike blender and enjoy a fresh smoothie!
Contra Costa Canal Trail off N. Wiget Ln, Walnut Creek  7:30-9:00 am, hosted by Renaissance ClubSport
TEAM ClubSport will be there as will for support with any bike concerns or basic instruction if needed.
Contra Costa Canal Trail off N. Wiget Ln, Walnut Creek 4:00-7:00 pm, hosted by Sports Basement
Bike mechanics on site and 10% off coupon which if used in-store you get a FREE SB water bottle.
Front of 2730 Shadelands Dr, Walnut Creek  7:00-9:00 am, hosted by Gilbane
Bicycle bells while supplies last!
Walnut Creek BART, 6:00-9:00 am, hosted by Sports Basement
Bike mechanics on site and 10% off coupon which if used in-store you get a FREE SB water bottle.
Walnut Creek BART, 4:00-6:00 pm, hosted by Mike’s Bikes
Bike mechanic available to diagnose and do minor repairs.

Lafayette-Moraga Trail at Olympic Blvd & Pleasant Hill Rd, Lafayette 4:00-7:00 pm, hosted by Sports Basement
Bike mechanics on site and 10% off coupon which if used in-store you get a FREE SB water bottle.
Ygnacio Valley Rd & Contra Costa Canal, Walnut Creek 7:00-9:00 am & 5:00-7:00 pm, hosted by Encina Bicycle Center
Bike mechanic on site to diagnose/make minor repairs.
Iron Horse & Contra Costa Canal Trail intersection,Walnut Creek 6:30-9:30 am and 4:00-7:00 pm, hosted by Contra Costa Transportation Authority/511 Contra Costa
Spin on the bike blender and enjoy lemonade slushies!
Peet’s Coffee & Tea,  Brentwood, 5411 Lone Tree Way #L-130, 6:00-9:00 am, hosted by Schwinn City
Free Peet’s Coffee to cyclists!

BIKE TO WORK DAY: THURSDAY MAY 8, 2014

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BTW2014_logo_stackedThe morning commute brought 4,175 bicycle commuters which is more than the combined a.m. and p.m. count for cyclists recorded last year.  So far we have seen our Best Dressed; a Walnut Creek Councilwoman pedaled a bike blender to make a smoothie; and bicycle commuters in San Ramon were treated to burritos. What’s in store for the evening bicycle commute today? You’ll just have to stop by an energizer station and see for yourself. Check out our Facebook page for this morning’s photos.
Contra Costa County Energizer Stations
BTWD Photos & Videos
Bike Commuter of the Year (BCOY)
Bike-Friendly Business Awards
Team Bike Challenge & Company Bike Challenge
Need help planning your route?
Host an Energizer Station Next Year
Our 2014 Local Hosts
Come help celebrate National Bike Month and California Bike Commute Week in May with Bike to Work Day.  Bike to Work Day is a promotional event to encourage non-bike riders to try commuting by bicycle.  The 20th Anniversary of Bike to Work Day is presented by 511.org, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Kaiser Permanente, with additional support from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Typekit, BART, Clear Channel Outdoor, Beyond Pix Studios, Adobe, the Canary Challenge, Revolights, REI and Clif Bar.
There will be over 300 Energizer Stations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area where cyclists can stop by for refreshments and promotional items.  511 Contra Costa has supported cyclists and Energizer Station hosts throughout  Contra Costa County since 2001 using Bay Area Air Quality Management District funds and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority’s half-cent sales tax for transportation funds.

BTWD Photos & Videos

The 511CC flickr stream is chock full of Bike to Work Day photos from years past.  Check out the BTWD 2013 photos.  View older Bike to Work Day photos here.
BTWD 2014 ShirtWant to share your BTWD 2014 experience?  Send your best photos and videos from BTWD for a chance to win 2014 Bike to Work Day t-shirts!  Your submissions (with a brief description) must be sent before Monday, May 12th at 5:00 pm to be eligible for the drawing.  Participants must commute through Contra Costa County. You can use any social network to post your photo (Instagram, Flickr, Facebook, etc.), however entries will be accepted via Twitter (Mention @511CC and use the hashtag #ibikecoco – that’s i bike coco and #btwd2014) and email (submissions@511contracosta.org). Simply tweet @511CC or email us with your photo or a link to your photo.
Watch the official 2014 BTWD video by Beyond Pix:

Bike Commuter of the Year (BCOY)

Congratulations to Ray Pixton from Pleasant Hill, CA as Contra Costa County’s 2014 Bike Commuter of the Year.  In addition to an award, Ray Pixton will receive a set of Revolights and a set of Bay Trail Maps to help with his planning adventures.  Read about other Bike Commuter of the Year (BCOY) award recipients in the Bay Area.

Bike-Friendly Business Awards

Bike East Bay awards three companies the title of “Bike Friendly Business” to recognize their efforts encouraging bicycling.  There are no restrictions: you can nominate your own business, nominate a friend’s business or a company you work for.  Find out how!

Team Bike Challenge & Company Bike Challenge

The competition begins May 1, 2014 between friends and colleagues.

Need help planning your route?

511 Contra Costa’s Bike Mapper is designed to find flat, safe, and fast routes anywhere in Contra Costa County and the Bay Area.  The 511CC Bike Mapper is the only mapper to give you a complete elevation profile for your trip and allows you to choose from nine pre-computed routes.  Or check out our selection of free paper and online bike maps.
Still not sure what to do?  Check out Bike to Work Day: Are you ready? and see you at the Energizer Stations!

Contra Costa Energizer Station List

PM hours in bold
Alamo

  •  Iron Horse Trail at Stone Valley Rd West, 7:30-9:30 am & 4:30-6:00 pm, RPM Mortgage

Antioch

Brentwood

Concord

Danville

  • Iron Horse Trail behind Lunardi’s/Danville Train Depot, 6:30-9:00 am, Street Smarts/Town of Danville
  • Iron Horse Trail at Sycamore Valley Rd, 7:00-9:00 am & 4:30-6:30 pm, The Studio

El Cerrito

El Sobrante

Hercules

  • Hercules Transit Center on Willow Ave, 6:30-8:30 am, Sunnie S./511 Contra Costa

Lafayette

Martinez

Moraga

Oakley

Orinda

Pittsburg

Pleasant Hill

Richmond

San Pablo

San Ramon

Walnut Creek

  • Olympic Blvd & Newell Ave, 6:00-9:00 am & 4:00-7:00 pm, Bike Walnut Creek
  • Near fare gates at Walnut Creek BART, 6:00-9:00 am & 4:00-6:00 pm, Sports Basement/Mike’s Bikes – Bike mechanics on site and in a.m. 10% off coupon which if used in-store you get a FREE SB water bottle.
  • Near bike racks at Pleasant Hill BART, 6:30-9:00 am & 4:00-7:00 pm, REI/Republic Services -expert bike technician on site to provide a quick check and adjustment of brakes, drive train, tires, chain lube.
  • Iron Horse & Contra Costa Canal Trail intersection, 6:30-9:30 am & 4:00-7:00 pm, Contra Costa Transportation Authority/511 Contra Costa -Lemonade slushies!
  • Iron Horse between Broadway & Newell Ave, 6:30-9:30 am, Whole Foods Market
  • Front of 2730 Shadelands Dr, 7:00-9:00 am, Gilbane – bicycle bells while supplies last!
  • Ygnacio & Contra Costa Canal intersection, 7:00-9:00 am & 5:00-7:00 pm, Encina Bicycle Center -bike mechanic on site to diagnose/make minor repairs.
  • Corner of S. Main St & Newell Ave, 7:00-10:00 am, Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek Medical Center – a DIY bike repair tools for minor needs, cool bike light, and 5 Thrive Dollars!
  • Contra Costa Canal Trail off N. Wiget Ln, 7:30-9:00 am & 4:00-7:00 pm, Renaissance ClubSport/Sports Basement – A.M. TEAM ClubSport will be there as will for support with any bike concerns or basic instruction if needed.  P.M. bike mechanics on site and 10% off coupon which if used in-store you get a FREE SB water bottle.
  • Contra Costa Canal Trail off Geary Rd & Lexington Pl, 6:00-9:00 am & 4:00-6:30 pm, Generations Church/AssetMark

Want to Host an Energizer Station Next Year?

Energizer Stations are all set for 2014.  If you are interested in volunteering for Bike to Work Day or hosting an Energizer Station next year, please contact us!

A big thank you to our local hosts!

Hilton Concord Employs Commute Alternatives (2014)

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Hilton Concord
Hilton Concord is located off of I-680 and Willow Pass Road

Staff recently visited the Hilton Concord as part of the Contra Costa Green Business Program certification process.  We were delighted to learn that the Hilton encourages both hotel employees and guests to think about using alternative ways of traveling.

  • Hilton employees are eligible for pre-tax commuter benefits to pay for transit expenses
  • Nearly all employees live within a 10 mile radius of the hotel
  • Around 50% of employees  take the bus, bike or walk to work. A County Connection bus stop is located in front of the hotel entrance and the Iron Horse Regional Trail runs behind the property
  • Bike racks are available to employees and guests alike
Hilton Concord Bike Rack
Hilton Concord Bike Rack2
  • A complimentary shuttle to and from the Concord BART station is available to hotel guests
  • Eight (8) electric vehicle plug-in vehicle charging stations are available to the public; six (6) Level II and two (2) DC fast chargers on the Blink Network
Blink Network Level 2 Chargers
Blink Network Level 2 Charger at Handicap Space
Blink Network DC fast charger

We can’t wait to see what Hilton Concord does next!

See other sustainable practices Hilton Concord has implemented.

Removing The Conflict Between Buses and Bikes

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Catching the Bus to Horseshoe Bay

A bicyclist peacefully overtakes a bus loading and unloading passengers. Photo credit: Canadian Veggie

If you commute by bike or bus, the conflict is familiar: a bus will overtake a person bicycling then arrive at a stop to pick up passengers, and while the bus is momentarily stopped the person bicycling will catch up and overtake the bus.

Vancouver public transit - 01
Buses continuously cross the path bicyclists to pick up and drop off passengers, causing a game of “leap frog” as the two modes alternate overtaking each other. Photo credit: pembina.institute

This effectively creates an unwanted game of “leap frog” in which bicycles and buses are constantly overtaking one another, sometimes causing near collisions since it can be difficult to see a bicycle approaching on the left as the bus driver attempts to re-enter the flow of traffic. As if contending with traffic weren’t stressful enough, this repeated negotiation can be exhausting and tense for both parties.
Thankfully, there is a solution– routing bicycles to the left of bus stops in a separated lane, known as “bike channel” or “bus bypass.”  Here in the Bay Area, San Francisco has pioneered this practice on streets with streetcar stops where it seems to be working just as it should, removing the bus-bike conflict seen on heavily traveled routes throughout the region.
So it comes as good news that the practice will soon expand into the East Bay along AC Transit’s 51 route this summer as part of the “Line 51 Corridor Delay Reduction and Sustainability Project.” Not only is this anticipated to remove the common “leap frogging” conflict between buses and bikes, but this is also expected to help speed up bus times too– a win-win!
While the proposed orientation (which will look similar to the configuration in the lead photo) is unfamiliar in the East Bay, it certainly is not new. In The Netherlands, transportation planners have separated buses and bicycles at bus stops since as early as the 1950’s. To learn more about how this clever design improves conditions for everyone watch the video.

Video credit: markenlei

Partial Insight Into Why The Dutch Cycle

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American transportation planners are fixated on getting more people on bikes, and it’s easy to see why. Bicycles offer a number of benefits, so much so that we have a “bike benefits” tag on this blog.

Eureka bike ramp
The Ohlone Greenway offers a speedy and safe connection for bikes between Richmond and Berkeley. Photo credit: TJ Gehling

With the immense popularity of blogs such as Bicycle Dutch and A View From The Cycle Path, which demonstrate what everyday bicycling is like in The Netherlands (where 25% of all trips are by bicycle), there has been a strong focus in recent years on learning from the best, and bringing lessons stateside.
Large credit rightfully goes to the magnificent and safe  bicycle infrastructure present in The Netherlands. However, related to the infrastructure, Dutch cyclists can often also take more direct routes to their destinations as well.
As a result, not only is bicycling safe and pleasant in The Netherlands, it is also fast. In fact, the Dutch Cyclists’ Union recently found that bicycling is about the fastest mode of transportation for distances up to 5km (3 miles). In The Netherlands, the bicycle is competitive in time with cars, which makes it an appealing option given the many other benefits (economic, health, etc…) bikes offer as a mode of travel. The Dutch Cyclists’ Union notes:

People using a bike to travel distances of up to 7.5 km, arrive on average faster than people travelling by a bus, tram, or subway as the main mode of transport. Distances up to 5 km travelled by car take on average 9 minutes, while travellers taking the bus, tram, or subway spend 23 minutes traversing this short distance.

Incredible, and given that most trips in America are under 5 miles, could the same be true in the Bay Area? Have you found bicycling to be a fast way of getting around for small trips here and there? Perhaps the relatively new Bay Area Bike Share (BABS) has helped you make trips during your lunch break that wouldn’t otherwise be possible?
Our commuter survey found that bike commutes average 7.5 miles in distance though we don’t have numbers on commute time. However, consider this, maybe the bicycle is faster – even for longer trips – when you take into account the full cost of driving.
Let us know, share your bicycling experience in the comments! Also, visit the Dutch Cyclists’ Union for a cool graph showing average time spent on travel by mode and distance length.

Student Bag Artwork Contest (2014)

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Calling all student artists!

We need your creative talent to design a cool graphic to be featured on the 511 Contra Costa reusable bag that is distributed across Central and East Contra Costa County.  The winning artist will receive a $50 gift card to the movies and his/her artwork featured in the latest edition of our reusable bag!

What is the theme?beachtote

“Explore New Ways to Get Around”: carpool, transit, bike, skateboard and walk.  Your artwork should show how these ways environmentally-friendly ways of getting around help reduce pollution and promote cleaner air.

What are the requirements?

  1. Use the 17×11 cardstock paper supplied by 511 Contra Costa.
  2. Use of up to three (3) colors is allowed.  (Note: Black is considered one color. You can use the white background of the paper as another source of color.)
  3. Include three (3) logos in the artwork:

–  511 Contra Costa (should be featured prominently)
–  Contra Costa Transportation Authority
–  BAAQMD Transportation Fund for Clean Air

     4. Sign your work!

What are the contest rules?

  • Artwork contest ends  Friday, February 28, 2014.  Entries due by 5 pm Thursday, February  27, 2014 at  City of Antioch City Hall; or Friday, 12:00 noon,February 28, 2014 at 511 Contra Costa in Pleasant Hill.
  • Artwork submitted must be from a student enrolled in a middle school within the cities of Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, Martinez, Oakley, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek and the surrounding unincorporated areas.
  • He/she must have permission of parent/guardian to enter in the contest by acknowledging and signing the Parent Guardian Release Form.

Continue reading “Student Bag Artwork Contest (2014)”

Bay Area Bike-Share– Helping Us Get Around (2013)

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Bay Area Bike Share launch in San Jose CA
Will the streets of the Bay Area soon be full with a sea of bike-share commuters cycling that last mile from BART to the workplace? Only time will tell. Photo credit: Richard Masoner
The Bay Area is not new to transportation innovations. Last year, we celebrated four successful decades of the visionary commuter rail known as BART, which stills sees climbing ridership  and continues be seen as a model of sustainable transportation for the rest of the nation. Coincidentally, last year also marked the 75th anniversary of another incredible Bay Area infrastructural transportation monument, the Golden Gate Bridge.
Today, the Bay Area is leading the way in California again*, albeit with a subtler and humbler infrastructural feature, but one that nonetheless has the potential to hugely impact the way we move– Bay Area Bike Share. Bay Area Bike Share just launched Thursday, August 29th, so the system is merely in its infancy, but similar systems have been around Europe for a while in cities such as Paris and London, and  New York City was recently graced with its own iconic bike share earlier this year. Stateside, bike-share programs so far has proven to be surprisingly successful, especially in New York and D.C. Here in the Bay Area, bike share seems to have great potential to compliment our existing excellent regional public transport system, which is perhaps why Bay Area Bike Share is initially launching in Downtown San Francisco and along the Caltrain corridor in Redwood City, Palo Alto, Mountain View and San Jose.
Here’s how the system works:

  1. Get a Bay Area Bike Share Membership (or pay for a single day use, but longer membership quickly pay off).
  2. Use Annual Member key or enter your Ride Code (provided to 24-Hour and 3-Day Members) to unlock a bicycle from any station.
  3. RIDE – Run errands, ride to and/or from your BART station, commute to work,  or just go for a spin and use it as a gym membership of sorts!
  4. Return the bike to the nearest station.
  5. Repeat steps 2 through 4. Remember, any trip under 30 minutes is free– and yes you can simply dock a bike and check out a new one for another 30 minutes of charge-free cycling.

Bike-share bikes are NOT intended for long trips and the pricing system reflects this. For example, using a Bay Area Bike Share bike for an hour and a half before returning it to a station, will cost you $12 in addition to your membership fee. Any trip under 30 minutes, however, is completely free after membership fee is paid.
So what are bike share bikes good for? Going to meetings or grabbing a bite to eat on your lunch break; cycling from a BART station to your office (at the moment, most downtown San Francisco BART stations have bike share stations nearby); replacing bus trips under three miles with a bike ride; avoiding having to bring your own bike on BART; the infamous last-mile… The possibilities are many, and as long as your journey takes less than 30 minutes (keep in mind, at a “no sweat” pace, one can easily cover at least three miles on a bicycle), using a Bay Area Bike Share bicycle is free. Because of this structuring, getting an annual membership is particularly enticing as it can save you money, especially if you use it to replace short bus trips and cab rides when getting around congested parts of San Francisco.
So what do you think– are you ready to take a Bay Area Bike Share bicycle for a spin?
For additional information, check out Bay Area Bike Share’s Frequently Asked Questions or Contact page. And if you are on social media, feel free to check out Bay Area Bike Share on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr or Instagram.
*While Bay Area Bike Share is not the first bike share system to launch in California, it is by far the largest and is also distinguished in that it is regional and not confined to a single city, integrating the system well with our existing public transportation network and commuter routes.

Have You Tried the Bay Bridge's Bike/Pedestrian Path?

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DSC_0031
(Two people enjoying the toll-free, bicycle-pedestrian path along the new Bay Bridge span.  Photo credit: Sharon Hahn Darlin)
The bicycle and pedestrian path along the new East Bay span of the Bay Bridge has proved incredibly popular, even though one still can’t completely reach San Francisco by bicycle or foot. People just really like recreating outdoors, enjoying breath-taking views in one of the most beautiful parts of California– who knew?
Have yet to go for a walk or ride? Enjoy a virtual tour of ascending and descending the bicycle-pedestrian path by bike, courtesy of KQED SCIENCE:

(Ascending. Video credit: KQED SCIENCE)

(Descending. Video credit: KQED SCIENCE)
Once completed all the way to San Francisco, popularity of the bicycle-pedestrian path will surely soar, for both commuting and recreational purposes. However, until then, the completed East Bay span still provides some unique and fantastic views worth seeing. If you’d like to check out the new path, be sure to get details about how to access the path (helpful map included) and its winter hours from the bridge’s website.

Olympic Corridor Trail Connector Study (2013)

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Contra Costa County, together with the cities of Lafayette and Walnut Creek are conducting a planning study to examine a preferred alignment for a feasible alignment and a preferred alternative for a pedestrian/bicycle facility from the Lafayette-Moraga Trail to the Iron Horse Trail in downtown Walnut Creek.  Review the study area map.
The first Community Workshop will be held  Thursday, December 5 at 6:30 p.m. in Walnut Creek.
6:30-8:30 pm
Multi-Purpose Room
Parkmead Elementary
1920 Magnolia Way
Walnut Creek, CA 94595
[google map]

The specific purpose of the Community Workshop is to capture community ideas about the preferred alternative and the criteria that will be used to select the recommended alignment.
After the Community Workshop a preferred alternative will be selected, designed and studied for feasibility and cost.  A second Community Workshop will be held to present the conceptual drawings and design elements for Preferred Trail Alternative and to receive comments.  Public comments will be incorporated into the Final Study Report.

BitLock: World's Coolest Bike Lock?

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What if someone told you there were a way to safely lock your bike with a not a key, but a smartphone app? And that this same app enables you to seamlessly borrow a friend’s bike, effectively allowing users to create their own bike-share network? And that the app alerts you if your bike has been stolen?
That’s the amazing and genius concept behind BitLock, a kickstarter idea that has just reached its crowd-sourced funding goal. The below one and a half minute video manages to easily explain how it works while capturing the incredible uses and benefits the device has the potential to offer the world.

(The world’s coolest bike lock? Could very well be! Video credit: Terry Knight)
For additional details about BitLock, visit its Kickstarter page.

Bikes: Good For Your Health, The Environment…and The Economy?

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Cycling scene on York Blvd
Good for business? A former parking space for a single car now easily accommodates 10 times as many bicycles.
Photo credit: Walk Eagle Rock
Here at 511 Contra Costa we tag posts that directly or indirectly feature the benefits of bicycling with our “bike benefits” tag. Of the many benefits we’ve covered, one is increasingly being spotlighted by city officials and advocates alike– the economic benefits of bicycling and bicycle infrastructure. It is perhaps little surprise that the League of American Bicyclists put together a graphic outlining the studies conducted across the nation that have demonstrated bicycling  provides economic benefits.
LAB Map
From coast to coast, bikes mean business! Image via: Co.Exist
Among the studies highlighted in the graphic is one from the Bay Area in San Francisco, which showed 66% of merchants along Valencia Street reporting improved business following the implementation of bike lanes on the street. Intuitively, this finding makes a lot of sense because bike lanes typically lead to an increase in the number of people cycling on the street, and over 300 parked bicycles can fit  in the same amount of space it takes to accommodate 30 parked cars. With space for automobile parking being a concern among retailers, it seems  more efficient and economically sound to have as many customers arrive by bicycle rather than car as possible (And not to mention that by bicycling people save money on gas and parking and therefore have more money to spend at local businesses).
Since the League of American Bicyclists put together this graphic, and the accompanying report on the economic benefits of bicycle infrastructure, additional studies continue to echo these findings. In New York, a study conducted by the Department of Transportation found businesses on 9th Avenue in Manhattan reporting almost a 50% increase in sales after a protected bike lane was installed on the street. Even in Los Angeles, one case-study found that the re-configuring of one commercial street to include bike lanes did not hurt businesses despite fear among merchants that it would.
As more studies emerge be sure to keep an eye on our “bike buck$” tag for more posts on the economic benefits of bicycling.

Caltrans, Amtrak Announce New Bike Reservation Policy to Improve Customer Service and Enhance Safety (2013)

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Bike aboard Amtrak. Photo credit: ubrayj02
Looking to take a nice train and bike trip along the coast this summer?
The Source published this news release from Caltrans, which funds some passenger rail service in California, regarding the new bike reservation policy (with our emphasis added) :

Caltrans, Amtrak Announce New Bike Reservation Policy to Improve Customer Service and Enhance Safety
SACRAMENTO – Amtrak California passengers traveling with bicycles can reserve onboard bike rack space free of charge beginning June 1, 2013 when booking travel on Pacific Surfliner trains.
“We heard our customers and we responded,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “Caltrans eliminated the $5 bike reservation fee to make it as easy as possible to bring your bike along when riding the Pacific Surfliner trains.”
Previously, without a bike reservation system in place, when bike racks became full, passengers had no choice but to store bikes next to luggage storage areas or walkways.  At times, if bike traffic became too heavy, bike passengers would not be allowed to board at all.
“With bike reservations, planning travel is made easier by enabling bike-toting passengers to choose an alternate train should their first choice be fully booked. It’s truly a win-win,” said Caltrans Division of Rail Chief Bill Bronte.
While there is no cost to reserve a bike slot, reservations will be required for each travel segment and must accompany a valid Amtrak ticket. Bike reservations can be made one of several ways: Online when booking tickets at AmtrakCalifornia.com (click “Add Bike to Trip” after selecting the departure and class of service); at Quik-Trak kiosks (visit the Amtrak California Station Directory for kiosk locations); from station ticket agents; or by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL.
Amtrak Multi-Ride Ticket holders (10-trip or Monthly Pass) can only obtain bike reservations through station ticket agents or by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL. Amtrak has issued refunds to passengers who booked and paid for bike reservations in advance.
Most trains can accommodate six bikes. Passengers should reserve space as early as possible, as bike space is limited and may not be available on all trains or departures.  All bike passengers are responsible for securing their own bicycles in provided bike racks.
About Amtrak California:  Under the Amtrak California banner, Caltrans funds three of the five busiest intercity passenger rail routes in the Amtrak system: the Pacific Surfliner(r) corridor (ranked second), the Capitol Corridor(r) (ranked third), and the San Joaquin(r) corridor (ranked fifth). Caltrans manages both the Pacific Surfliner and San Joaquin corridors. The Capitol Corridor, although funded by Caltrans, is managed by the Capital Corridor Joint Powers Authority. Visit us at www.amtrakcalifornia.com; join us on Facebook at Facebook.com/AmtrakCalifornia or follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/Amtrak_CA.

Note: Folding bicycles may be brought aboard certain passenger cars as carry-on baggage. Only true folding bicycles (bicycles specifically designed to fold up into a compact assembly) are acceptable. Generally, these bikes have frame latches allowing the frame to be collapsed, and small wheels. Regular bikes of any size, with or without wheels, are not considered folding bikes, and may not be stored as folding bikes aboard trains.
You must fold up your folding bicycle before boarding the train. You may store the bike only in luggage storage areas at the end of the car (or, in Superliners, on the lower level). You may not store bikes in overhead racks.

From Country Road to Bay Trail – Carquinez Scenic Drive Restoration (2013)

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Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline
A beautiful view from Carquinez Scenic Drive, overlooking the Carquinez Strait Photo credit: renedrivers

Next fall, Central and West Contra Costa County will be better connected for travel by foot and bicycle as the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) will complete work on converting 1.7 mile of the neglected, and outdated, Carquinez Scenic Drive country road, between Martinez and Port Costa, into the latest scenic addition to the regional San Francisco Bay Trail. This portion of Carquinez Scenic Drive has already been closed to motor vehicles for decades and is currently used informally for recreational jogging and hiking, however the EBRPD will be making improvements over the next year to ensure the trail is structurally safe and sound.
Converting less than two miles of old road into a bike and pedestrian path will take over a year because as reported by the Contra Costa Times, the task is not as straightforward as it may seem. The Contra Costa Times reports:

During a recent tour of the trail west of Martinez, only about three feet of the road clung to the hillside in one spot. Not much more of the road remains in some other areas.
To develop the trail, contractors will rebuild hill sections and protect them against slides by driving tall pilings into the ground in nine locations and pouring concrete around them.

The Carquinez Scenic Drive is  falling apart and eroding, requiring extensive excavation to make the trail safe  for the next several decades and as a consequence the trail will be fenced off for the work preventing the current informal use.
When the trail is restored, Bay Trail users will have a smooth 10-foot wide path with shoulders on each side to safely enjoy. The projected year of completion is 2014, which will mark the 100th anniversary of Carquinez Scenic Drive, originally built in 1914. What better way to celebrate the value of the old road by giving it new life as one of the most beautiful additions to the San Francisco Bay Trail?
 For additional details, head over to Contra Costa Times.

It's About Better Cities

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From one beautiful bridge to another...
Photo credit: vision63
In just about every major American metropolitan region, and especially here in the Bay Area, streets are congested – and contested – spaces.  Increasingly cities are reallocating mixed-traffic lanes to accommodate bicycling, and while this makes it safer for the cyclists, it can affect the traffic flow by reducing the number of lanes available for motorists, transit, and goods movement. Encouraging more cycling through the creation of dedicated bicycle infrastructure may be a wise investment in the long-term, but the short-term pains it causes some commuters has given rise to the use of phrases such as “anti-car” and “war on drivers.”
More anti- #bikela signs at Colorado bike lane town hall. #fig4all
Do people on bikes cause or relieve congestion? Oftentimes changing streets to accommodate bicycling is as being a “bikes vs cars” issue. Photo credit: ubrayj02
In contemplating the growing tension over bike lane implementation in North American cities, city planner Bret Toderian contends that we should not lose sight of the greater societal aspiration behind changing our existing transportation system– to improve our cities. In an article on the Huffington Post, Toderian describes this approach to recent bike lane debates:

We need a more sophisticated discussion about how we get around in cities, and it starts with this — it’s not about loving your bike. It’s about loving what biking does for cities. If more cars make cities worse, the opposite is true for bikes. Expanding urban biking is about making better, fiscally smarter, healthier, more flexible and resilient cities. Bikes are hardly a silver bullet, but they can be a big part of better city-making.

Toderian proceeds to provide compelling arguments to support this position. He notes that encouraging cycling makes sense in cities because bicycles are more space efficient:

Most pragmatically, city-builders understand that bikes make cities work better because they take a lot less space. Even if cars were clean in emissions, the biggest challenge with car-dependency is a space problem. There isn’t enough room on the roads and parking lots of cities, to have everyone drive. They just don’t fit, and our failed efforts to make them fit, cost a staggering amount.

Perhaps surprisingly, Toderian also argues that having more people cycle in a city actually makes driving easier, not more difficult:

Even if they [cities] prioritize driving, global city-builders recognize the best thing those who feel they need to drive could hope for, is for OTHER people to be able to walk, bike and ride transit. Multi-modal cities make it easier for EVERYONE to get around – including, counter-intuitively, drivers.

When viewed through this lens it does become apparent that existing traffic congestion cannot be solved by only accommodating one mode of transportation and that bicycles are just one tool in the tool box of ways to make cities more pleasant and inhabitable– it isn’t about bikes versus cars. Check out Toderian’s full Huffington Post article.

More Incredible Dutch Innovations in Cycling

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When a quarter of all trips within the entire country are done by bicycle it’s difficult to imagine much could be done to make cycling more attractive in the Netherlands. Then the municipality of Eindhoven unveiled it’s spectacular aerial roundabout for bikes that lets cyclists fly over motorized traffic.
More recently the city of Groningen – where almost 60% of all trips are by bicycle – yet another innovation has come about to make cycling even more attractive and convenient. It’s just a test at the moment, but the city is installing sensors at certain intersections that will change to give cyclists on bike paths green lights faster if it is snowing or raining. In a country infamous for its rain, cyclists may find themselves getting priority quite often! Also, by getting shorter wait times during inclement weather, cyclists are probably less likely to run red lights– thus this test is likely to improve safety as well.
Another attempt to make cycling more pleasant in times of harsh weather has been the idea to heat bike paths when it’s snowing. The purpose of this  is to reduce the need to salt and clear popular bike routes of snow as well as reduce the risk of people slipping and getting injured if a bike path is slick from being partially frozen.
Will The Bay Area Ever Be That Bike Friendly?
It may seem like cycling conditions could never be as good here as they are in The Netherlands, but keep in mind the Dutch haven’t always been bike friendly, they oriented their cities towards the automobile for a while too. Also, currently city officials from major San Jose and San Francisco are actually getting help from Dutch planners to make cycling more appealing. San Francisco in particular has seen great leaps in the levels of cycling in just the past five years despite its hilly topography. San Francisco has also pioneered the concept of the “green wave,” which synchronizes traffic lights to the speed of the bicycle rather than the automobile, on popular bike corridors to make cycling effortless. With Bay Area cities leading in bike commute rates nationally, it seems like we may well be on our way to someday see the levels of cycling that exist in The Netherlands; perhaps we should view this as a sign of encouragement to maximize the potential for cycling to be a viable form of transportation and help address our climate and traffic problems.

Is It A Bike Day? Check Your Bicycle Barometer!

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Have you ever been unsure whether you should bike or take public transit to work? You’re not alone! Richard Pope of London recently blogged about his most recent invention, the bicycle barometer, which tells him if he’s better off cycling, or taking the Tube to work. Richard Pope describes it like this:

“The bicycle barometer takes data about the weather, the status of the tube lines I use to get to work, and whether my local station is open or shut.
It then reduces all that data down to a single value and displays it on a dial with a bike sign at one end and a tube sign at the other.
For example, if it is raining a bit the dial will move a bit towards the tube sign, but if the tube is suffering delays, it will move a bit back in the other direction.
Different data points get different weightings. E.g. snow is more important than a bit of drizzle; the tube station being shut trumps everything.”

Here’s a short video of the bicycle barometer in action:

How Do You Lock Up?

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Cycling scene on York Blvd

(Five bicycles locked to bike racks, one bike rack locked to a sign post. Photo credit: Walk Eagle Rock)

Whether you’re going to your favorite restaurant for lunch or to the local grocery store to pick up a few items, bicycling is a great way to get there– especially as the days are getting longer  it’s a perfect time to take advantage of the gorgeous weather to hop on a bike. Of course, once you get to your destination it’s always a good idea to lock your bike properly to a designated bike rack if possible. Even if you’ll “just be a minute,” remember, it takes less time than that to steal an unlocked bike.
So, to help keep you and your bike together, here’s a round-up of helpful bike locking tips and types of locks to consider.
Tips of Locking
Los Angeles’ Department of Transportation Bicycle Blog has a handy three part series about why you should lock your bike, where to lock your bike and how to properly lock your bike. Here’s an excerpt from the series:

Try to park in a location where your bike can be seen.  A good rule of thumb is: are other bikes parked there? Bike thieves don’t want to be seen, so park in areas with a lot of pedestrian traffic.  The more people around your bike, the better.  If you’re parking at night, try to park in a location that provides good, safe lighting.  If you can’t find anywhere you’re comfortable with, you can always ask store owners if you can bring in your bike.  The worst thing they can say is “no”, and piece of mind is worth the trouble of asking.

The LADOT even offers this concise list of bike parking tips.
The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has additional details about proper locking technique to ensure your bike doesn’t get stolen.
locking: relaxed

 (The “Sheldon Brown” Lock Technique, note the lock is around the rear wheel inside the rear ‘triangle’ of the frame. Photo credit:Kaptain Amerika)

The ‘Sheldon Brown (RIP)‘ Lock Technique: By locking your back wheel inside the rear triangle, you protect your wheel and the frame. It’s nearly impossible to cut the rim of a wheel. Just make sure your lock is around the rim and through the triangle. Hint: Front wheels are less expensive than back wheels – back wheels have gears and cost about twice as much, so if you can only protect one wheel, make it the back one!

Types of Locks

ulock

(The common u-lock and it’s qualities– click for more details. Screen grab via: REI)

 Also useful to know are the different kinds of locks to consider for your bike. REI offers simple descriptions and pictures of different kinds of locks and their respective qualities.
 Additional Notes

  • If there is no bike rack available at your destination, find a sturdy post or object to lock your bike to. If locking to a post, be sure it is tall enough so that a thief can’t simply lift the bike up over the top of the post and walk away with your bike. Also, ask at your destination if they can provide safe bike parking– sometimes business owners aren’t aware of the need and demand for safe, convenient bike parking.
  • Never lock your bike with just the front or rear wheel. Whether you have quick release or not, wheels are relatively easy to remove so if you just lock your bike to either front or rear wheel someone could detach the frame from the locked wheel and walk away with your bike frame.
  • Related to the above bullet– if you can only lock one portion of your bike, lock your frame. Typically a bike is safe as long as the frame is securely locked. While this leaves your wheels vulnerable there is a smaller market for stolen wheels than for stolen frames.
  • Do NOT buy a chain and lock from a hardware store to use as a bike lock. Rarely are chains and locks from hardware stores good for securely parking a bike. Also avoid purchasing bike locks from major retail department stores if possible, the quality of their locks are always inferior to locks available at bike shops.
  • A bike lock, no matter how expensive, is still cheaper than buying a new bike. If a bike lock costing $50 or more keeps your bike safe for a life time it’s a worthy investment.
  • Don’t forget to check out 511 Contra Costa’s public bike locker map of Contra Costa County
  • Find out if your city has a “request a bike rack program.” San Francisco and Oakland  both websites with easy instructions that let the public request bike racks where desired. Your city may have one too, especially if your city has an approved bike plan that calls for additional bike parking– try contacting your local officials and find out how you can get convenient and secure bike parking where you need it.
  • Lastly, if you want to see comical demonstrations of good and bad locking jobs, check out this video “Hal Ruzal Grades Your Bike Locking”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTA3JsZWiec

Kids Who Walk or Bike to School Have Greater Concentration

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Safe Walking with Bikes to School
A family participating in National Bike to School Day. Photo credit: San Francisco Bicycle Coalition
As if there weren’t enough economic, social, environmental, safety, or physical health benefits of walking and cycling, one new study is showing yet another reason to embrace active transportation, especially among children– better concentration ability.
The Atlantic Cities summarized the findings of this new study, which comes to us from Denmark – perhaps no surprise since the country is home to Copenhagen, one of the great cycling cities in the world:

The survey looked at nearly 20,000 Danish kids between the ages of 5 and 19. It found that kids who cycled or walked to school, rather than traveling by car or public transportation, performed measurably better on tasks demanding concentration, such as solving puzzles, and that the effects lasted for up to four hours after they got to school.

Niels Egelund, co-author of the study, notes that among the findings was that “the exercise one uses to transport oneself to school is reflected in the level of concentration one has circa four hours later,” which is much longer than most people would expect. In fact, the physical exercise children had walking or cycling to school was shown to have a greater impact than eating breakfast or lunch– imagine that!
To read more about the findings of this study, head over to The Atlantic Cities

511CC's Newest Resource – Bike Event Page!

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East Bay Bike Party WoS
East Bay Bike Part, one of many events listed at the new Cycling Event Page. Photo credit: RACINGMIX

Here at 511 Contra Costa one of the most viewed blog posts last year was “Upcoming Bay Area and California Cycling in 2012“.

cycling event page
Click the screenshot to link to the Cycling Event Page

Responding to the popularity of this post, there is now a dedicated Cycling Event Page that you’ll be able to regularly refer to when looking for a organized bicycling event.
The page is still growing but there’s already a number of recurring and annual Bay Area bike events listed such as: East Bay Bike Party, Waves to and Wine ride and the California Coast Classic.
Social, sporty, or philanthropic; regardless of your motivation, chances are you’ll find a bicycling event that suits your fancy.
So don’t wait, go ahead and check out the new resource or add it to your bookmarks!
Happy Cycling!

Bay Area Leads In Bike Commuting (2013)

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bike arc on display
Creative bike parking in Palo Alto, where about 10% of commutes are by bike. Photo credit: Adam Fagen
Bicycling accounts for roughly 0.5% of commuting on the national level, but if you feel like you see more bikes on your commute around here it could be because California, and more specifically the Bay Area, leads the nation in bicycle commuting as demonstrated by the latest Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Perhaps as no surprise, Davis is the top bicycling city, where 16% of commutes are by bicycle, followed by Palo Alto where bicycles make up 10% of commutes. Boulder, Colorado claims the number three spot with a 9.6% bicycle commute mode-share but the Bay Area is back at number four with Berkeley, where approximately 8.8% of commutes are done by bicycle.
Other Bay Area cities with significant bicycle commute mode-shares include Mountain View, San Francisco and Oakland, with 6.1%, 3.4%, 3% commute mode-shares, respectively.
Having the Bay Area lead in bicycle commuting is great news, and not just for the environment or cyclists. When more people cycle or take public transit everyone benefits in traffic as Good Magazine conveyed last year in a clever 1 minute video, illustrating that even  a small modal shift away from driving can vastly reduce unwanted congestion.