Not for Strava: SVBC Leads Bike Ride to Check Out Infrastructure

While many SVBC supporters spent their Saturday climbing Old La Honda or riding up Mt. Um, 25 of us spent our Saturday riding around Palo Alto and Menlo Park to check out current and future bike infrastructure projects. Joined by the Mayor of Menlo Park and Palo Alto Councilmember Lydia Kou, the group went on a ten mile mellow spin to check out Caltrain undercrossings, bike bridges, the brand new Oak Grove Ave bike lane pilot, future bike boulevards and much more.We learned a great deal on the ride but two things struck me the most.Door Zone Paint: As a part of Menlo Park’s Oak Grove Ave pilot, the City painted hashmarks on the road next to parked cars to warn of the dreaded door zone. The door zone is the area next to cars where bicyclists can get hit by drivers opening their doors. The door zone paint reminds the driver as they are parking or getting into their car as well as the bicyclist. (Not that bicyclists need reminding about door zones.)Jordan Middle School: In front of Jordan Middle School, a two-way protected bike lane was built creating a safe passage for the 45 to 50% of students who ride their bike to and from school. As well, the school was thoughtful about where their bike cages were placed so that kids can enter and exit the school safely. The massive bike cages are at capacity too.A special thanks to Sylvia Star-Lack and Rosie Mesterhazy, the Palo Alto Safe Routes Team, Robert Neff from the Palo Alto Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission, Yoriko Kishimoto, former PA Mayor and current MidPen Open Space District Boardmember, and Jonathan Weiner from the Menlo Park Complete Streets Commission for helping with the Tour. And, thanks to Palo Alto Bicycles for hosting. Now that we’ve all learned more about bike infrastructure and what it takes to get it built, we’ll see you all at the next city council meeting!