How SVBC’s Policy Positions Support People-Centered Streets and Communities
Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC) adopted a Strategic Plan in 2022 which identifies “People Centered Streets and Communities'' as one of our prime strategies. The goal is to make bicycling the easiest and most obvious transportation choice by creating connected, comfortable bike networks and ensuring new development is planned around people, not cars.
To make this happen, SVBC staff with guidance and feedback from our Policy Advisory Committee and local team members put together a comprehensive list of policies and positions that the organization supports.
The headings are direct from our Strategic Plan and the policy positions are categorized under these five broad headers. Each broad heading further lists supporting policy positions, strategies and metrics.
Check the complete list of supported policy positions here.
Please note, this list does not mean that SVBC is actively advocating for every policy mentioned, rather, this is a comprehensive list of all the policies and positions the organization supports.
Influence city and agency bicycle plans and policies, and build the political support to fund and implement them. Focus on street designs that slow cars, allocate more space for bikes, and fix “bicycle hot spots” such as highway interchanges
SVBC envisions a network of bike facilities across the region that are low stress for all ages and abilities including bike trails, protected bike lanes, safe intersections, and bike boulevards/slow streets. SVBC has a Vision Zero goal (zero traffic fatalities and major injuries) for San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties with an emphasis on areas with the most collisions and low-income communities and communities of color. The policies under this bucket reflect goals around low-stress bike facilities and vision zero efforts.
Create a network of east-west and north-south bicycle routes, with a focus on making El Camino Real safe and accessible. Expedite projects using quick builds and pilots and relentlessly push agencies to shorten timelines from planning to construction.
Given the geographic spread of the two Counties and the existing network of highways and the railway line (which often present as barriers), it is essential to create a backbone of North-South and East-West bike routes that seamlessly connect people to their intended destinations.
On the other hand, bicycle plans and projects can easily take years to complete as they go through different stages of planning and execution. SVBC supports city/agency efforts which help accelerate their on-the-ground project implementation timeline using innovative strategies like quick-build, tying complete streets efforts with repavement and more.
Advocate for a more integrated trail system that gets people where they need to go, is well maintained, and is welcoming.
Studies show that people feel most secure biking on trails where there is little to no interaction with vehicular traffic. Fortunately, the region boasts several well-frequented walking and biking trails and several agencies are working to stitch them together into a cohesive Bicycle Highway Network. SVBC envisions that our existing trail-system is high-quality, complete with clear wayfinding signage and direct links to key destinations, thereby not only drawing in new users but also creating an enjoyable and inviting cycling experience. We plan to work toward this vision by supporting other organizations that focus on trails.
Work with community partners to advocate for effective public transit, affordable housing, and smarter parking policies so our communities have jobs, housing, and services closer together and within easy reach by bicycle.
SVBC supports a more urban buildout by addressing land use, housing, and zoning so that people are able to safely and conveniently get around without a car and access essential services within a 15-minute bike ride. SVBC supports transportation modes other than single occupancy vehicles including biking, walking, transit, and micro mobility devices, as well as the connections between these modes.
Ensure that emerging technologies such as automated vehicle technology and speed safety cameras incorporate the experiences of people of color, low-income individuals, bicyclists, and pedestrians and are deployed in a way that advances social equity and safety.
As a part of Silicon Valley, we cannot afford to ignore the various emerging technologies in the realm of automated vehicles, e-bikes, surveillance, and more. SVBC endorses a range of technological advancements, as outlined below, while emphasizing the need to consider the requirements of the most vulnerable users and cater to the experiences of all segments of society
Check the complete list of supported policy positions here.
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