pages_fts: 136
This data as json
rowid | text |
---|---|
136 | Lisa Foster stated that she does not live far from tonight's meeting location and she bikes with her 1 and 5 year olds frequently. She said she regularly goes west towards Washington Park, the library and other establishments. However, when she hits Sherman Street they have to go over to Santa Clara Avenue, a busy street with buses, so she would love to stay on Central Avenue. She also said when going past Webster Street and staying on Central Avenue she is okay with that, but the cars that are stuck behind her are probably not okay because they have to negotiate around her. Overall, she felt the proposal is a step in the right direction. John Spangler, Alameda resident and a League of American Cycling Instructor, stated that he rides his bicycle, drives, walks and takes public transit. He explained that he lived on San Antonio and Encinal Avenues so he understood the different perspectives. He said Monday through Friday from 6-7 am and 6:53 pm he has been stuck in the tube going to the Capital Corridor Station in Oakland. He said the intersection of 8th Street and Central Avenue is the chokepoint, but if they can save 16 people from being killed or injured over the next few years, then 96 seconds is not a big price to pay. He was disheartened to hear former chief of police Bernie Matthews say that traffic was more important to him because he was sure his heart bled every time someone was in a collision or victim of a crime. He felt there are too many preventable collisions and injuries and he supported the project. Yet, if the plan had to be revised and there are no bikes lanes created the safest thing is to take the curb side lane, which is the same thing as having a bike lane. Lucy Gigli, Director of Advocacy for Bike Walk Alameda, stated that Central Avenue is not Alameda's main highway it is a neighborhood because the corridor contains housing, schools, parks and businesses. She said currently it is a four lane roadway with an average of seven collisions per year. Staff has done an incredible job composing a detailed packet addressing the diverse community and their needs. She felt it was an iterative process with many people involved. She pointed out that the result and package seen before the Commission does not match Shore Line Drive, but instead matches Atlantic Avenue, Broadway and Fernside Boulevard. As the report showed, the middle turn lane will make it easier for people to turn onto Central Avenue from San Antonio Avenue and Bay Street. She explained that the Commission received over 200 letters and postcards of support and 72 people came that night from Franklin Elementary and other schools, so let's support this project. John Knox White stated that a previous resident spoke about how the flags were put up on the corner of Central Avenue and if that intersection is broken and not working than there it is. He exclaimed the question that should be asked is how many people are acceptable to hit on this street because if the answer is greater than 0 feel free to shoot it down. He said the City must create a safe environment and this is a best compromise plan. He went on to say that the City has a 20-year experiment happening, which is Broadway. The corridor carries more vehicular traffic and has neighborhood streets that cross into it including driveways that enter on to the street. He said they don't have to wait for Shore Line Drive to be evaluated when they know there have not been major accidents or backups. He brought up the fact that this will be the first bike lanes west of Webster Street and if that is not a call for equity on the west end then that is it. He asked the Commission to please move forward with the project. Brian McGuire stated that there was a well-publicized article within the last couple of weeks about two kids walking in the San Francisco Marina District with an almost identical road setup Page 11 of 17 |