shotwellian

This issue has been discussed once or twice on this forum, so you might be interested in my article on the topic for SFGate, here.

I'm super excited about this project because of all the new ride possibilities it'll open up, so it's not just about getting between San Rafael and Richmond per se. Some examples:

-SF to Berkeley will be only 40 miles by bike via the GGB and RSR, vs 90+ miles now via the Dumbarton.

-SF to Napa (and Davis and other points north) will be 15 miles shorter via the GGB, RSR, and Carquinez Bridges compared to the current standard route via Nicasio, Petaluma, and Sonoma.

-Short 3 Bridge ride: SF to Marin via GGB, over to the East Bay via RSR, trip out to Treasure Island on the Bay Bridge, then return via Bart or Muni.

-Long 3 Bridge ride: Head south from SF, cross over to the East Bay via the Dumbarton, ride north through the East Bay Hills, over to Marin via RSR and return via GGB. ~130 miles.

trailangel

That would be great..... A way to bike over from Oakland to San Rafael.

bikingshearer 

Not acceptable. The MTC gave its word, and so did the other players in this, that there would be a dedicated bike lane. That was a condition of getting the third eastbound cars-only lane. So the eastbound lane is going in even as we speak, but the powers that be are talking about taking away the bike lane, either completely or in significant part.


This is a case of "what's mine is mine and what's your is negotiable." As I said, not acceptable.


I'm not sure what I or we can do about it, but I'm open to suggestions.

trailangel

Critical Mass bike ride over bridge, blocking all lanes at rush hour.

B. Carfree

This idea was already taken...by the motorists. They bring it to a standstill on a regular basis.

trailangel

Lol..^^^

bikingshearer 

That would be the worst, most counterproductive response possible. It would piss off many, many people (including many who have no idea where or what the San Rafael Bridge is) and give political cover to what some of the MTC board members are trying to do. It would also leave an anti-cyclist taste in these pissed-off peoples' mouths that will last far into the future. Bad idea all around.

cthenn

Doesn't that describe all critical mass events? This would just be turning it up to 11.

shotwellian

I'm pretty sure trailangel was joking there.

trailangel

Ha. It would be good media coverage about the issue.
If MTC promised bike lane... bring them to their word.
Ya... of course I am kidding. But I would like a way to get from Oakland to San Rafael... relatives in both places.

bikingshearer 

Boy, is my face red. To quote Emily Latella: "Well, that's different. Never mind."

curbtender

They need to widen the freeway out on the other side. Plenty of room. I hear talk of a movable barrier.

shotwellian

You might want to check out this City Lab article on induced demand--it gives a good summary of the research showing that, even if avoiding delays to drivers is your prime objective, widening freeways isn't necessarily the best way to do it.