Pipeline Organizers Coordinate with Cycling Clubs for Safety

This post was contributed by former SVBC Board Member Ted Huang and Roadway Safety Solutions Team co-leader Cindy Welton.We just want to share a positive community / bicycle collaboration that really epitomizes “Give a Little”, a local initiative, and the power of being connected and pro-active.The Town of Portola Valley, where thousands of people bike through on any given day of the week, is undergoing a lengthy and extensive pipeline project along the Portola Rd. corridor between Sand Hill and Alpine Road. The Civil Engineer working on the project emailed a one-pager on the project to Cindy Welton, leader of the Roadway Safety Solutions Team asking her to distribute it to her network of cycling team leaders.The Preston Pipelines safety manager, “Bill,” followed up with a call to express concern for keeping cyclists safe during the project. Bill wanted to learn more about what to expect and how to best handle the large group that rides through the corridor around noon. Cindy connected Bill to Ted for advice. The Safety Manager wanted to figure out exactly what time the ride would come through so he could have his flagging crew stop traffic to allow the ride through unimpeded. Bill even had visions of someone from the ride figuring some way to call him when the group reached the corner of Alpine and Portola so that they’d know more exactly how long it would take for the group to reach their work area. Ted told him that wasn’t feasible. While trying to keep the group moving is commendable, he told Bill that having the ride stop, especially in a construction zone, would not be too much of an imposition. Even the informal ride leader has been modifying the routes in order that they don’t come through the area more than necessary.While really all Ted did was converse back and forth with Bill on when to approximately expect one of the group rides he knows, word soon got out about what we were doing. A local Italian Trattoria, Terun, whose owners do that group ride, heard about it as well and delivered a dozen or so personal pizzas to the pipeline work crew a couple of weeks ago. Thank you Terun!After riding the corridor herself, Cindy asked Bill if he would consider changing out the "Share the Road" signs with clearer, more effective "Bicycles May Use Full Lane" messaging. A week later Bill had the new signs posted.Now that’s the power of “Give a Little”… a little-known initiative that a few of us local cyclists developed a few years ago, in which we advocate that all cyclists and motorists alike could afford to give a little, whether it’s a bit more space, a tad more courtesy, or a friendly wave. Every little bit counts towards improving relations and safety - like picking up a gel wrapper you see on the side of the road, that’s in the same place every time you ride by, or pulling over to the side on narrow roads when cars are behind.If you like this idea, please go to: https://www.facebook.com/giveabit/ Let’s continue to be safe out there.