Menlo Park: Grant pays for safer routes to school
by Kate Bradshaw / Almanac – February 2, 2016
The city of Menlo Park has received a $498,783 grant from OneBayArea, a transportation fund of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, to pay most of the cost of a project to increase bike and pedestrian safety for Menlo Park and Atherton students.
The project will create a continuous pedestrian pathway along Valparaiso Avenue that will be clear of vegetation or other obstacles, enhance bike lanes with a “green” road treatment to increase vehicle awareness, and improve pedestrian and bicycle crossings along Valparaiso Avenue.
Total cost of the project is expected to be about $564,000; the city will pay the remaining $65,000 or so.
In mid-2015 Re-Imagine Menlo Park proposed the creation of a new east-west bike corridor that would take advantage of the central location of Menlo and Ravenswood Avenues, and near year-end the Menlo Park Bike Commission introduced an alternative proposal that would transform Oak Grove into a bike corridor at the north-end of El Camino Real. Since then, the Bike Commission has been advancing its proposal through the city planning process.
While both proposed east-west bike corridors would greatly improve the quality and capabilities of Menlo Park’s community bike network their respective benefits, negative impacts and the trade-offs for all users of El Camino differ significantly.
A beautiful 2-way bike path between Alma and Laurel among the oaks on city property.
2-Way protected bike lanes would provide greater safety, convenience and comfort for both bicyclists and motorists.
Primary Recommendation
That Menlo Park fairly and openly evaluates BOTH the Oak Grove and Menlo-Ravenswood proposals to determine (1) if one or both warrants a city investment and (2) which one should be implemented first if BOTH are considered important but only one can be undertaken in 2016-2017.
Re-Imagine Menlo Park believes the Menlo-Ravenswood Bike Corridor is a high-impact investment with only minor drawbacks.
- It’s central location makes it a convenient way for residents to reach all popular destinations in Menlo Park regardless of the origin of their travel.
- The Menlo-Ravenswood corridor is already the most popular route for bicyclists crossing El Camino Real despite the existing sub-par bike facilities because it is convenient. These residents deserve a safer and far less-stressful experience.
- The proposed bike corridor would create a world-class bike environment that would serve more than current users as it would be suitable for all but very young bicyclists who travel without adult supervision. For example, this new bike corridor would become an attractive route for most middle and high school students and likely reduce the number of daily car-trips.
Proposal Highlights
- Should appeal to the majority of bicyclists.
- Positive impact on motorists and bicyclists: no longer share vehicle lanes = greater safety and convenience.
- 2-way protected bike lanes on the south side of Menlo Avenue between Crane and El Camino Real.
- 2-way protected bike lanes on the south side of Ravenswood between El Camino Real.
- Separate 2-way bike path parallel to Ravenswood between Alma and Laurel Streets.
- 2-way protected bike lanes on the west side of University Avenue between Middle and Live Oak.
- Bike route signage and street marking on Live Oak between University Avenue and Crane Street; and these to Crane between Live Oak and Menlo Avenue.
- 2-way bike lanes in parking lots behind stores on the south side of Santa Cruz between University and Crane.
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- Eliminates about 45 street parking spaces on one side of Ravenswood and University.
- Field trial cost estimate: unknown
- Total cost: unknown
Actual Proposal
Advantages/Drawbacks of Menlo-Ravenswood Bike Corridor
(Plus) Most convenient route for bike trips with BOTH origins and destinations locate either on or south of Santa Cruz and Ravenswood Avenues.
(Plus) Increases the safety and comfort for bike riders on THE MOST POPULAR east-west bike route in Menlo Park. Currently motorists cannot safely pass bicyclists because the vehicle lane is too narrow due to street parking. California state law requires that motorists maintain a passing distance of at least. The speed limit is 30 mph and few bicyclists ride as fast as 15 mph.
(Plus) Adds an attractive bike path across city property between Alma and Laurel.
(Minus) Eliminates about 45 street parking spaces.
(Minus) Bike connection between University and Crane requires either bike lanes thru two parking lots or shared vehicle lanes on Santa Cruz like the Oak Grove bike corridor design. Otherwise bicyclists must continue to share vehicle lanes on short sections of University and Menlo Avenues.
Additional Benefits
- This centrally located east-west bike corridor would provide the most direct, safe and stress-free bike route to popular Menlo Park destinations on both sides of El Camino.
- The bike corridor would be suitable for most bike riders including middle and high school age youth and younger children accompanied by an adult.
- A large number of confident bicyclists ALREADY ride in heavy vehicle traffic on both Menlo and Ravenswood between El Camino and Laurel. They would no longer be required to share vehicle lanes with motorists.
- A dedicated bike path running through the Civic Center near Ravenswood and between Alma and Laurel would be attractive and keep bike riders off this busy section of Ravenswood.
- A painted bike crossing on El Camino and effective signage would reassure bike riders and alert motorists to their presence.
- Bike riders would no longer need to unsafely travel (a) in vehicle lanes on the section of University between Santa Cruz and Menlo Avenues nor (b) through the busy Menlo/University intersection.
- The addition of 2-way protected bike lanes on the busy stretch of University between Middle and Live Oak would eliminate lane sharing, provide additional safety, and likely attract more bike riders to downtown, and to the improved east-west bike corridor.
- Expect greater usage of Burgess park facilities, especially by youth who live on the west side of El Camino and currently rely on parents to drive them.
- The loss of only 28 parking spaces is a reasonable trade-off and these would be only on one side of Menlo Avenue and one side of University between Middle and Live Oak.
- There would be little or no impact on private property.
- Caltrans would likely have only a small impact on the implementation schedule for the bike corridor improvements.
- Together these improvements would send a dramatic, reassuring and highly visible signal that Menlo Park is truly committed to becoming a bike-friendly community, an equal to many neighboring cities, e.g., Palo Alto, Mountain View, San Mateo.
Bike Corridor Plus Approaches
This new bike corridor is easily accessed from the west using Santa Cruz and Middle Avenues and from the east using Alma, Laurel and Middlefield.
Blue Lines = Existing Bike Facilities Green Lines = Other Popular Bike Routes Red Lines = Proposed Bike lanes, Routes and Separate Path
A Closer Look At Ravenswood Avenue
Today Ravenswood is a nightmare for both bicyclists and motorists as it has a hodgepodge of bike facilities. Some sections have buffered bike lanes and others have either unbuffered bike lanes or only ‘sharrow” street markings. Crossing El Camino is also confusing for bicyclists and motorist who must share turn lanes. The bike corridor would eliminate this major transportation problem with a solution that combines protected bike lanes and a bike path.
Green Lines = 2-way protected bike lanes Red Line = 2-way bike path
Bike Corridor Elements
Green Lines = Existing Bike Lanes
Future Enhancements
- Add protected bike lanes to Middle Avenue between Olive and the entrance to the Safeway shopping mall. Include a bike crossing and either warning lights or a controlled signal.
- Extend the cycle path from Laurel to Middlefield using land between Ravenswood and the SRI parking lot. This is private property but the entire bike corridor would also serve SRI employees.