At Bike Concord’s Bike to Work Day event this year, we were delighted to host Contra Costa County Supervisor Karen Mitchoff among the speakers on our stage. She delivered a proclamation of support for bicycle transportation on behalf of the Board of Supervisors.
We are now asking for her support on a specific decision that matters for non-motor transportation in Central Contra Costa.
Treat Blvd from I-680 to Pleasant Hill BART is soon to be redesigned to encourage walking and bicycling. There are a few different options for the design, some better than others. The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA), on which Sup. Mitchoff sits, will make the final decision about the design.
We have asked her to support a design that keeps motor, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic separate from each other down the entire streetspan in the project. This is important for the safety of pedestrians from bicycles, and the safety of bicyclists from cars.
(Yes, Bike Concord is concerned about danger to pedestrians from bicycles. We care not only about the needs of bicyclists, but our responsibilities too – especially our responsibilities to more vulnerable parts of traffic.)
107 residents signed our petition calling for full mode separation, some in person with Bike Concord volunteers at Pleasant Hill BART, and some online. You may have been one of them! We’ve delivered that list of signatures both to Jamar Stamps, the CCC staff member responsible for the project, and to Sup. Mitchoff in particular.
The Supervisor has declined to make any promises to us on this point, so we will have to wait until the matter comes before CCTA to see if she agrees that safety for all users of the street should be a higher priority than maximizing the volume of motor traffic that flows through Treat Blvd.
Here is the text of the proclamation that Sup. Mitchoff delivered.
In the matter of: Resolution No. 2015/159
Honoring Bike East Bay in partnership with Bike Concord on May 14, 2015 – Bike to Work Day
WHEREAS, Contra Costa County is dedicated to promoting safe and healthy communities; and
WHEREAS, bicycling is a sustainable, healthy, and efficient mode of transportation that also incorporates physical activity into everyday life; and
WHEREAS, safe streets are an essential element to promoting more transportation by bicycle; and
WHEREAS, Contra Costa County envisions a balanced, safe and efficient transportation network that promotes healthy transportation choices, this includes the encouragement of bicycling and walking in Contra Costa County; and
WHEREAS, Contra Costa County supports the implementation of a growing comprehensive and safe bicycle network using a mix of existing local roads, collectors and bikeways which prioritizes bicycle movement from residences to key attractors while minimizing automobile presence on the network; and
WHEREAS, in March of 2002 the Contra Costa Transportation Authority launched a collaborative effort to work with local jurisdictions, agencies and special interest groups to produce the Contra Costa Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. This effort produced a comprehensive plan that was adopted by many City Councils and the Board of Supervisors; and
WHEREAS, on May 5, 2015 the Board adopted Resolution No. 2015/136 proclaiming May 14, 2015 as Bike to Work Day in Contra Costa County; and
WHEREAS, many of the 19 cities in Contra Costa County are hosting Energizer Stations celebrating biking to work, with over 40 stations, and all bike commuters are encouraged to stop by an Energizer Station for snacks, drinks and cool swag; and
WHEREAS, Bike East Bay in partnership with Bike Concord is hosting an event in honor of Bike to Work Day on May 14, 2015.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors does hereby honor Bike East Bay in partnership with Bike Concord, recognizing their Bike to Work Day efforts and encouraging cycling as a healthy and fun commute option.
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