Existing Conditions

There are significant “gaps” in the existing official bike network downtown and either near or crossing El Camino. Although most were identified years ago (2004) none have been fixed.

Gap #1:  Ravenswood – El Camino This crossing remains popular mostly with adult and young adult bicyclists. However, the lack of  bike lanes and appropriate signage on the Ravenswood approach to El Camino forces bicyclist to either take unreasonable detours or endure the discomfort of riding in a very stressful environment.

• Westbound bicyclists must either share vehicle lanes at a complex intersection or detour via Merrill to Santa Cruz.
• Eastbound bicyclist also have undesirable options: (a) use the narrow unbuffered/unprotected bike lanes on Ravenswood, (b) take inconvenient detours around the intersection, e.g., via Santa Cruz and Merrill; via Robles and the parking lots behind El Camino buildings; via Crane, Santa Cruz, and Merrill; via Crane, Oak Grove and Alma.

Gap #2: Downtown Santa Cruz between University and El Camino is popular with bicyclists but lacks signage and street markings that remind motorists and bicyclists they have equal rights to using the narrow  vehicle lanes.

Gap# 3: Safeway Plaza. The lack of bike lanes on Middle between University and El Camino and effective vehicle traffic controls at the entrance to the Safeway Plaza handicaps bicyclists riding to the most popular destination in Menlo Park.  The problem of riding a bike on this section of Middle will be amplified when Middle Plaza is completed (2020?). Unfortunately, Middle is too narrow for conventional bike lanes so a different type of solution is required.

Gap #4: University Between Santa Cruz and Menlo.

Gap #5: Menlo Avenue. The lack of bike lanes on Menlo Avenue is stressful for bicyclists who must share vehicle lanes with faster motor vehicles. Vehicles are parked on both sides. Existing sharrow street markings have little impact on the behavior of bicyclists and motorists.

Gap #6: Middle-Alma Connection. The lack of a convenient southern east-west bike corridor for crossing both El Camino and Caltrain tracks forces eastbound and westbound bicyclists who use Middle Avenue to take significant detours via either Roble, Menlo-Ravenswood, Santa Cruz or Oak Grove. This problem also effects westbound bicyclists who want to access the Safeway Plaza.

Gap #6: The lack of bike lanes both on Alma between Ravenswood and Oak Grove and on Garwood Way between Oak Grove and Glenwood denies bicyclists a convenient, safe and stress-free north-south alternative to riding on El Camino.

Context & Potential Solutions

Middle Avenue-Based East-West Bike Corridor. Menlo Park is now studying a southern east-west bike corridor – identified at least as early as 2004 – that is expected to include (a) bike lanes on Middle between University and El Camino, (b) bike crossing infrastructure at El Camino, (c) a bike path across Middle Plaza, (d) a passageway either over or under the train tracks, (e) a connection to Alma near Burgess Drive and (f) suitable vehicle controls at Alma. While Stanford has agreed to fund up to $5M o the cost, it is unlikely that this could be build for at least 5 more years for a number of reasons: (1) Middle Plaza will not be built before 2021, (2) Caltrain must approve any crossing of its right-of-way and (3) no solution for enabling bicyclists to safely travel on Middle between University and El Camino has been identified. Therefore, this should be viewed only as a long term solution.

Ravenswood between El Camino and Laurel. Ravenswood remains a popular route for bicyclists accessing downtown and crossing El Camino from the east side of Menlo Park. Unfortunately, bike lanes exist only between Laurel and Middlefield so bicyclists and motorists share an unsafe and uncomfortable section about 300 feet long between El Camino and Laurel.There is a prevailing bias by non-bicyclists that Ravenswood is too unsafe for bike riding given the amount off traffic. It is noteworthy that many of these individuals support bike lanes on El Camino, a highway that carries a much higher volume of daily and commute-time vehicle traffic.

Potential Solution: A combination of a new bike path on City land and existing bike lanes would solve this problem. The bike path might be extended to Middlefield by crossing SRI property along Ravenswood.

Menlo Avenue: This is a popular route for bicyclists who want to access downtown but avoid Santa Cruz and cross El Camino. However, vehicle traffic is heavy especially at commute times, vehicles travel much faster than bikes, and parallel parked cars line on both sides of the street make it hard for bicyclists to move out of the way and avoid opening car doors. The existing bike street markings (“sharrows”) provide no material benefits.

Potential Solution: Replace unlimited parking on the South side of Menlo with 2-way protected bike lanes from University to Doyle. Extend to El Camino if the Ravenswood “gap” is fixed. (Note: There is only one cross street – Crane – on this side.

Central North-South Bike Corridor. In 2017 Menlo Park decided NOT to approve a field trial for buffered bike lanes on El Camino, concluding these would not be safe. The Specific Plan (2012) identified an alternative that  included (a) existing bike lanes on Alma between Creek and Ravenswood, (b) a bike route on Alma between Ravenswood and Oak Grove and (c) a bike route on Garwood Way between Oak Grove and Glenwood. The developer of Station 1300 has agreed to build the section on Garwood Way and completion is expected by 2020. Menlo Park could improve bike safety on the middle section by making Alma one-way for vehicle traffic and dedicating the other lane to bikes but this idea has not been seriously considered.

Downtown Santa Cruz between University and El Camino is popular with bicyclists traveling to downtown destinations from the east and west sides off Menlo Park. Middle school students living east of El Camino favor Santa Cruz for riding to Hillview School in the morning and for returning home after school. Starbuck’s is a popular downtown stop along the way.

Potential Solution: Since bicyclists must share the narrow street with slow moving motor vehicles, share the road signs should be posted at all stop signs to remind bicyclists and motorists that bikes are allowed to take entire lanes when necessary.

University between Santa Cruz and Menlo Avenue. This short section of University is narrow, heavily travelled by motorists and intersected by two busy driveways that provide access to the parking plaza near Draeger’s. Bicyclists riding east on Santa Cruz now face two undesirable options: either proceed to downtown Santa Cruz or turn right onto University. In both cases they must share a single vehicle lane, an acton that is unsafe and uncomfortable for both bicyclists and motorists. Because few pedestrians walk on the west sidewalk on University bicyclists should be encouraged to share the 200-foot section between Santa Cruz and Menlo Avenue.

University between Middle and Menlo Avenue. Like Menlo Avenue this section of University is a popular route for bicyclists to access downtown and cross El Camino. However, vehicle traffic is heavy especially at commute times, vehicles travel much faster than bikes, and parallel parked cars line on both sides of the street make it hard for bicyclists to move out of the way and avoid opening car doors. The existing bike street markings (“sharrows”) provide no material benefits. Protected bike lanes (“cycle tracks”) should be installed.

Coleman between Willow and Ringwood. This is a popular route for students riding to Menlo Park District Schools and M-A High School. There is a lot of vehicle traffic especially at morning commute times. Either bike lanes or a bike route is needed.

Middle between University and El Camino Real. While the Safeway shopping plaza is the most popular destination for Menlo Park residents bike access is severely constrained by the lack of bike lanes between University and the plaza entrance. Bike lanes and a cyclist-controlled crossing light are needed. New bike lanes would also serve riders that use Nealon Park. Note that the city plans to extended bike lanes across El Camino to Alma after 500 ECR is developed (2020?). There is no reason to delay a “Safeway connection”.