Bicycle Master Plan

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BikeAlameda has been anticipating the bike plan update since 2000. Our members were involved in the original creation of the bike plan in 1999.

BikeAlameda is excited that the city is open to updating both the infrastructure and programs in currently in place. We see the planning and implementation of these improvements as a way to keep new riders safe and a way to encourage even more people to try bicycling in and around Alameda.

We have an extensive list of recommendations that have been given to us over the years by our members. However, as more and more people ride, we see the need for even more changes to our infrastructure and bike education systems that will incorporate these more novice riders.

BikeAlameda has these goals for this update to the bike plan:

1. Identify the current network and its gaps.
2. Identify a complete network of bikeways with NO gaps. Bikeways can be a combination of Class I (bike path), Class II (bike lane) and Class III (bike boulevard). Bikeways should have destinations at the end and connect to other bikeways.
3. Prioritize projects, detail each one and create a timeline for implementation. The later should be done by implementing policies 7.1, 7.2 * within two years after the adoption of this update.

Proposed Bikeway Improvements

Below is a brief summary of our recommendations. For a detailed list, please see: Bike Plan Update 2008 - BikeAlameda Recommendations.

Short-to-mid-term top recommended project in the plan already (by project number):

1. Improvements to the west end estuary crossing
2. either the Central Avenue project should be completed as described in the current plan, or changed to Santa Clara Avenue. This is a key east-west route that should be completed.
3. Bicycle support facilities- bike loop detectors should continue to be supported and installed to new streets and as needed, otherwise. A new bike rack program should be adopted, that will facilitate businesses getting bike racks. Adopt new standards for bike racks that require racks to meet zoning requirements should be required to meet these standards.
4. Shoreline trail enhancements:
   • bike lanes on Otis from Park Street to Westline Drive.
   • bike lanes on Shoreline Drive from Park Street to Westline
   • Improve the San Francisco Bay Trail section along the shoreline between Broadway and Towata Park. This would increase access to the bike bridge for many users of the bike bridge, especially novice users. This would increase the amount of Alameda Bay Trail by .6 miles. This trail can be expanded and modified to be respectful of the bird sanctuary. There are many Bay Trail sections that pass through sensitive areas, such as Coyote Hills Regional Park and Coyote Point Park.
   • bike lanes along Island drive, westbound, with left turn at Robert Davey Road to get onto bike path.
   • Harbor Bay Parkway bike lanes from Doolittle to North Loop.
5. Project #5 - Bay Farm Island
   • Improve wooden bridge (it is very bumpy), Otis Drive path, Fernside bi-directional bike lanes.
6. Project #6 - This is the Cross Alameda Trail. It is identified as the number 1 project for Alameda in the Alameda Countywide bike plan. Short term goal should be bike lanes ON the Miller-Sweeney bridge and the continuation of bike lanes along Tilden.
7. East West Corridors:
   • San Jose Street: Change San Jose street to be a bike boulevard This is a high priority and should be relatively cheap, since SJ is already a slow street
   • Pacific Avenue: Change the current Pacific Avenue designation to a bike boulevard. It Extend the Pacific Avenue bike route eastward to Park Street and westward to go straight into Alameda Point at Central Avenue.
8. Project #8 - Commercial areas key objectives to continue on this project are:
   • Implementation of bike lanes on Oak Street from Encinal to Lincoln.
   • Removal of the restriction of biking/skating on the sidewalk on Oak Street
   • bike lanes on Lincoln Avenue between Webster and Main street for Chipman school.
9. Project #10 - Atlantic Avenue bikeway - Atlantic should be designed with bike path on the RR ROW and bike lanes should be place to connect Main Street to Webster street.
10. Project #11 Bay Farm Island bikeways - implement these!
11. Project #12 Alameda Point - a bike path should be create that goes all the way around as part of the San Francisco Bay Trail
12. Improvements to bridge access - signage and other improvements to Park Street bridge and Miller Sweeney bridge access.

Above document (brief to the Bicycle Master Plan) can be found here.

The 1999 Bicycle Master Plan is available online here.