RBPAC Logo Richmond Bicycle / Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Richmond, California
BikesYes - Richmond/SanRafael Bridge
http://richmondbpac.org/meetings.htm News Bike/Ped Plans Action Alerts Maps About Us Links Past Events Email RBPAC Home Page of Richmond BPAC
Who we are: The Richmond Bicycle / Pedestrian Advisory Committee is an organization of people in Richmond, California who prefer biking and walking. Click here to read about our vision, our mission and our goals.    Join our email list
The Richmond Bicycle Master Plan and Pedestrian Plan were APPROVED on November 1, 2011 by the Richmond City Council. This places Richmond on pace with neighboring cities that value and encourage bicycle and pedestrian activity and realize the benefits of a robust Bicycle and Pedestrian infrastructure.
Links to final versions of the two plans (as of 11/26/2011): Bicycle Master Plan; 
Pedestrian Plan
Next BPAC Strategy Meeting Be a Squeaky Wheel...

Date: Monday, February 13, 2012
Time: 5:30 - 7:30 p. m.
Place: Richmond City Hall, 2nd floor, Pt. Molate Room, 450 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, CA.  94804
Featuring a presentation by EBBC on Greenprint Agenda   Map & details

Get Involved / Upcoming Events
Also of Interest

Tues 1/10/2012 -Harbour Way Pedestrian and Bicycle Project is on a fast track.  RBPAC hasn't reviewed a plan uet.

I-5. ADOPT a resolution approving the city's application for the Transportation
Development Act (TDA) Article 3 Pedestrian and Bicycle Funding for Fiscal
Year 2012-2013 and, if awarded, ACCEPT and APPROPRIATE the funds for
implementation of the Harbour Way Pedestrian and Bicycle Project -
Engineering Services Department (Edric Kwan 621-1825).

NEW  1/7/2012 Click here for links to the documents for the Ohlone Trail /Richmond Greenway Gap Closure project on our projects page.

Ohlone Trail  - Richmond Greenway connection 12/23/2011 - From the city manager's report for the two weeks ending on 12/23:Engineering Services Capital Improvement Project Updates Richmond Ohlone/Greenway Gap Closure: The design phase of the project to provide a safe crossing at San Pablo Avenue between the Richmond Greenway and El Cerrito Ohlone bike and pedestrian trail has been completed. Staff received notification from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) that Safe Routes to Transit will fund $501,000 towards construction. Staff is still waiting for a response from the California Rivers Parkway and Strategic Growth Council for an additional $883,000 that is required to fully fund this project.  

Trails for Richmond Action Committee12/1/2011 Bay Trail Crisis at the Richmond Bridge Toll Plaza Area - Action plea from our good friends at TRAC (The Richmond Bay Trail folks)
11/25/11 Click here for Tom Butt's e-forum article on this issue.
12/4/11 Click here for Times article and Tom Butt's follow-up.
Click here to go to TRAC’s website where you can easily send a pre-addressed email to Caltrans Regional Director asking that the agency participate constructively in the City of Richmond’s effort to close the Bay Trail gap with Point Molate and the rest of the Point San Pablo Peninsula.  CalTrans FACT SHEET

For breaking news about the Richmond Bay Trail 51st St. spur cleanup from our friends at TRAC, click here.

Note: A valued Richmond BPAC member who wishes to remain unnamed brought this issue forward to city staff at a public meeting over a year ago. Daylighting the problem led to all of the ensuing work to find out who was responsible for maintenance, etc.  Our member precipitated a long chain of correspondance and research which ultimately led to success. The moral of the story: Be a squeaky wheel!

May 28, 2010 Richmond City Manager Bill Lindsay recognizes Richmond BPAC for our participation in Bike to Work Day 2010.  Read the City Manager's Report>>
9/14/2009 From the East Bay Bicycle Coalition website Richmond progress follows BPAC formation: "EBBC made it a campaign to form a BPAC in West County several years ago. The dividends from this grassroots organization are increasingly evident. ..., get involved in Richmond's BPAC..."  -Robert Raburn
Thank you Robert for your kind words about us!!

Award
2009 BTWD slideshow

2010 BTWD facebook photos

2010 BTWD flickr photos

A Day in the ParkPostcard  

"A Day in the Park"

Postcard design and graphics by David Moore

RBPAC Postcard Front
5/14/09
slide show

Postcard design and graphics by David Moore

Ride with us
3/29/09 slide show

Postcard design and graphics by David Moore

Trail Xing sign
Richmond Greenway
Ohio St. Bike Lane Barrett Bike Sign

Einstein on a Bikeshare the roadWhen we accidentally kill something without any intention of killing, recite a mantra from the Root Tantra of Manjushri seven times and then blow at your bicycle tires. I have listed the mantra below for your convenience. - Phakchok Rinpoche

OM KAY TSA RA GAM HUNG HRI TRA

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Richmond Cycling Activist Mike Hudley after the City Council Mtg 11/1/2011 
11/1/2011 Native Richmond Bicycle Activist Mike Hudley
at the Richmond City Counci Meeting
Rosie
Thanks
1/13/2012 California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices 2012 (MUTCD)
1/2012 Napa County Bicycle Plan
11/2011 League of American Bicyclists Bridging the Gaps in Cycling Networks, An advocate’s guide to getting bikes on bridges

11/26/2011 Dangerous Bay Area Bike Intersections  Video  League of American Bicyclists

Map of bicycle accidents and injuries in Contra Costa County | abc7news.com

Click here to see RBPAC at the North Richmond Shoreline Festival 10/8/2011. We gave out bags, safety information, maps and lots of bicycle-themed kids items.  Plus, we did valet bike parking using Richmond Spokes's bike racks.

RBPAC also coordinated a helmet giveaway where 200 helmets were fitted and distributed to cyclists of all ages along with safety information.  We thank the Boy Scouts for being willing students and helping make thie giveaway a huge succes. CCHS and EBBC generously donated materials.

There is no federal law requiring helmets. Following: CA state law taken from here.
State Law Passengers under 5 1987
State Law Riders under 18 1994
State Law

Under 18 * Scooters, skateboards, inline skates

2003
Bidwell Park, Chico All ages 1991
El Cerrito All ages 1993
Want to know the CA state bicycle codes, regulations & safety suggestions? Click here
Caltrans Study Finds Better Training Would Improve Walking, Biking Options 
“Most engineers don't get trained on designing for bicyclists and pedestrians in their degree programs, so the on-the-job training is critical". "Proper training will not only result in safer facilities and better access, but our research shows that it's cheaper to design bike and ped into the project from the beginning - late design changes, retrofits and lawsuits are expensive."

Biking with Baby (1941): Safety Headgear (photos courtesy of M. Joscelyn)

1941 baby

Biking with Baby 2: High Tech Carrier

Baby on bike

7/2011 Caltrans Complete Intersections: A Guide to Reconstructing Intersections and Interchanges for Bicyclists and Pedestrians Click here to download

"The comprehensive and easy-to-follow guide identifies actions that will improve safety and mobility for bicyclists and pedestrians at intersections and interchanges. "

7/4/2011 Click here for the 12th annual Richmond Bay Trail Mid Year Report. In reading this colorful, upbeat report, you will learn about major accomplishments and events during the first half of 2011.
news 5/18/2011 Caltrans Design has released the Highway Design Manual (HDM) Draft Update.   Comments are due by July 8, 2011.  Click here
5/5/2011 Congresswoman Matsui Introduces Safe and Complete Streets Legislation Policies Would Create Safer Roads for Bicyclists, Pedestrians, Seniors, Schoolchildren and Motorists  Click here  to view the press release, the bill, and the letter

5/18/2011  View some photos from the Richmond Ride of Silence on the RBPAC facebook page here.   The Ride was held on 7 continents to honor bicyclists injured or slain riding in their local communities.

The ride commenced at City Hall with stations along the Richmond Greenway from San Pablo Ave to 2nd St. ending at the Pt. Richmond farmers market.

Mayor Gayle talked about Richmonders Laura Case(in ’08) and Weinstein & Dollstedt (in ’06). (See Richmond Road Conditions Which Have Led to Tragedy)

From Ray LaHood's blog:  "High gas prices are hitting American families in their wallets and pockets pretty hard these days. But did you know that more than 40 percent of urban trips in the United States are less than two miles, yet 90 percent of those short trip are taken by car? That’s why I was pleased to hear about a new competition called the 2 Mile Challenge that demonstrates how many car trips could be replaced by bikes." Click here to read more about the 2 Mile Challenge
5/5/2011  Walking the Bay - Blogster Corinne DeBra traverses Richmond in mile 700 of her planned 1000 mile walk around the Bay Click here
5/5/2011 Bay Trail Update per TRAC: Click here to view the elegant new Wildcat Marsh & Landfill Loop Trail Guide. Referring to the guide, it will not be possible to use the section of trail on the eastern side of the landfill along San Pablo Creek for the next two months or so due to construction work in capping that side of the closed landfill combined with paving and other improvements in that area. However, 3.7 miles of trail will remain open and accessible from the southern trailhead from the staging area at the end of Parr Blvd. This route follows Wildcat Marsh for 1.3 miles where you may hike a 2.2-mile loop involving the upper trail and the Bay Trail along the shoreline of San Pablo Bay before heading back to the trailhead for a worthy hike of 4.8 miles in total. The upper trail is not recommended for bicycles. TRAC will inform you when construction work has been completed and full Landfill Loop can be traversed once again. The trail leading to East Bay Regional Park District’s Wildcat Creek Trail will not be open until this Fall
4/26/2011  Proclamation for Major Taylor from the Mayor of Richmond Click here
Nacto3/9/2010 Cities Release Bikeway Design Guide — New manual reflects spread of innovative street designs in U.S. Click here to view

1/13/2011  New data adds job creation to the many benefits of bicycle infrastructure from the blog of Ray Lahood, US Transportation Secretary

"This week, a coalition of bicycling advocates introduced me to a new report showing that in Baltimore, MD, pedestrian and bicycle projects created nearly twice as many jobs per dollar spent than traditional road projects. That report was followed last week by a survey released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicating widespread public support--67 percent--in America's cities for street design activities that increase physical activity. Putting the two studies together creates a powerful argument for continuing the Department of Transportation's support for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects. Even as these investments increase mobility, they also generate economic growth. And, people are demanding them for their communities. Click here to read more about bicycle infrastructure. "

The California Blueprint for Bicycling and Walking

Caltrans Deputy Directive 64-R1, Complete Streets - Integrating the Transportation System

Ever wonder what it looks like UNDER the Richmond- San Rafael Bridge? Click for the Slideshow
8/4/2010 Huffington Post - Colorado Gubernatorial Candidate Warns Of U.N. Plot To Destroy America With Bike-Sharing Programs Click here>>

6/28/2010 Archives of Internal Medicine - A study of more than 18,000 middle-aged women found that those who bicycled regularly put on less weight as they aged.  Bicycle Riding, Walking, and Weight Gain in Premenopausal Women 

1896 Guide Map of the City of Detroit for Bicyclists - per Joe Light
Biketopia - An Article about Bike / Ped in Brunswick on the East Coast
Bike Riders Code of Conduct - Etiquette, Vehicle Code Laws, & more...  from the Marin County Bicycle Coaltion - the pioneers
June, 2010 New Data Show Bicycling and Walking Up by 25 Percent - Report Looks at Efforts to Increase Bicycling and Walking in the U.S. The National Biking and Walking Study 15-year Status Report

May, 2010 Complete Streets Newsletter: Minnesota First State to Adopt Complete Streets Law in 2010  Note the Spotlight on Fehr & Peers, our bicycle plan consultants, & the link to a survey on multi-modal level of service (MMLOS)
Local copy>>     Read online>>

How the City of Cupertino built its Mary Avenue Bicycle Footbridge
MTC May, 2010 Newsletter
Sec'y of transporation Ray Lahood's blog from the March, 2010 bike summit.
Google's new (not quite ready for prime-time) bike route mapping
Chengdu's new pedestrian overpass (bikes, too)
Deadly road design
"Creating a Roadmap for Producing and Implementing a Bike Master Plan"  Download

CalTrans Bikeway definitions

Caltrans Highway Design Manual Ch. 1000 - Bikeway Planning and Design

Bike to Work Day 2009 Slides
Richmond Road Conditions Which Have Led to Tragedy
Evolving information: The east-west Greenway "connection"
3/9/2009 Request to Caltrans for solid barrier separation of I-580 bicycle shoulder Read
2/5/09 Letter read by Tony Sustak at the BCDC in San Francisco for safety measures on the deadly I-580 shoulder. Read
Designated Bike Lanes Increase Business

3/1/09 Suggested Bicycle Reading from the Richmond Librarian:

The Great Neighborhood Book: A Do -It-Yourself Guide to Placemaking"by Jay WalljasperProject for Public Spaces, Inc. New Society Publishers, 2007 call no. 307.3362 Wall

David Suzuki's Green Guide: How to find fresher, tastier, healthier food, create an eco-friendly home, make sustainable transportation choices, reduce consumption and be a green citizen by David Suzuki & David R. Boyd. Greystone Books, 2008. New Books Shelf call no. 363.7052

Bike lane engineering specs
ACRONYMS
•  List 1 Contra Costa
•  List 2 Solano

12/3/2008 From Marilyn in the mayor's office:

Livable Streets Network
a collection of videos showing how cities are becoming more welcoming to cyclists and pedestrians. Physically Separated Bike Lanes around the world
Older Adults Bike Program
Marilyn loves this video.

Marilyn sez: "Check it out—we could find some great ideas to implement here in Richmond!!!"

6/2/2008 Powerpoint Richmond Bike / Ped Issues & Collision Data
Good Bike Info for Contra Costa Bikers
FREE Guaranteed Ride Home if you're “stuck” at work or a  destination when an emergency happens. The rider can use up to 6 vouchers per calendar year & no more than 2 per month.
SFBC's extensive help page
SFBC's Give and get respect
Funky bike alphabet from Benny Zeng's facbook page