Bicycle Fix-it Station Grants Available ~ Re-Imagine SamTrans Survey Open ~ Transportation AuthorityAdvisory Openings ~ Bike to Wherever Day Swag ~ Bike to your Library Day ~ San Carlos Traffic Calming Projects ~ Eucalyptus St Holiday Traffic Mtg ~ San Carlos Housing Workshop ~ New SVBC San Carlos team forming ~ Bike Film Festival ~ Teen Road Riding Group Interest ~ East Side Planning meeting & more...
New:
1) 2021 Bike Month “Bike to Wherever Day” Swag is here! Four San Carlos locations to pick up: Friday, 5/21 - Sunday 5/23
2) Transportation Update from City Newsletter on City-Wide Traffic Improvements
3) SamTrans Survey needs our input before May 30! -- Public transit and bikes go hand-in-hand: More buses means less traffic, better commute alternatives (think ride down to the train station, take the bus back up the hill)
4) Grant Available to Install “Bicycle Fix-it Stations”
5) Transportation Authority Seeks Volunteers for Citizens Advisory Committee
Upcoming Events:
6) Tues, 5/18, 7pm is Transportation Commission -- Agenda includes updates on new Climate Plan, Housing, and East Side
7) Wed, 5/19 is the FIRST MEETING of new SVBC San Carlos chapter -- join us!
8) Fri, 5/21 is Bike to Work/Wherever Day -- Pledge to Ride
9) Sat, 5/22 is Bike to Your Library Day -- Did you know you can check out bikes at Belmont Library?!
10) Got ideas? Wed, 5/26, 7pm is first Eucalyptus Street Holiday Traffic-Mitigation community-wide meeting (2nd meeting June 8)
11) Got input? Wed, 5/26, 6-8pm, is third San Carlos Housing Workshop -- needs bicyclist perspective
12) Got input? Thurs, 6/9, 6-8pm, is second East Side Planning meeting -- needs bicyclist perspective
13) Sundays, 9am-1pm -- San Carlos Farmers Market has live music, fruits/veggies, prepared food, hot coffee, cold beer & wine tasting at 11am, artisan & community booths & free bike valet parking
Still Relevant:
14) Silicon Valley Bicycle Film Festival (virtual) -- May 7-16
15) San Carlos Teens Interested in Social Road Rides? -- group forming now
16) Learn to Bike Classes available through REI Fremont, Ages 12+
17) Wheel Kids Summer Bike Riding Camps (Palo Alto, Grades 1-7)
18) New Organization: Mountain Biking Experts -- Jump Clinics & Summer Camps enrolling now for ages 7 and up
19) Bicycle Sundays on Cañada Rd is back
20) Good news for Bike/Train Commuters - Hillsdale Station open
21) Spring Commuter Promotion Continues -- sustainable commuters eligible for $100 drawings
Interesting:
22) Streetsblog Article: Cycling rates low unless women are riding
23) Mercury News: Meet Mr. Barricade--The Bay Area’s unlikely Tik Tok Star and ‘New Urbanist’ Influencer
1) 2021 Bike Month’s “Bike to Wherever Day” (Fri, 5/21) Swag arrived just in time -- the new design is lovely!
Here’s where to get this year’s BTWD messenger bag around San Mateo County: BTWD Energizer Stations in San Mateo County. There are four sites in San Carlos:
Corner of White Oaks Way @ Chestnut St. (Offered by San Carlos Bikes) | 1805 White Oaks Way, San Carlos | Friday, May 21st 9am-6pm - Bike to Wherever Day, bike on by for a bag |
REI | 119 Industrial Rd., San Carlos | During May, Bike Month, for REI customers who bike |
San Carlos Farmers' Market | 1001 Varian St., San Carlos | Sundays, 9am-1pm @ the valet bike parking |
Sundays, 9am-1pm @ the valet bike parking | 610 Elm St, San Carlos. | Saturday, May 22nd 11am-4pm “Bike to Your Library Day” |
2) From the 5/14 City Council Newsletter (5/14 City Council Newsletter)
Pedestrian Enhancement at Arroyo-Cedar and Hemlock-Orange Pathway
Project: Arroyo-Cedar and Hemlock-Orange Intersections
J.J.R. Construction completed all improvements in the intersections except for minor roadway repair, raising the utility covers, traffic striping, pavement markings, and bike dismount areas.
The contractor will be on site Friday, May 14th, to complete the roadway repair and raise the utility cover.
The traffic striping, pavement markings and bike dismount areas are scheduled for completion on May 18th and 19th. The contractor will require minor traffic control to complete the work, but vehicles and pedestrian access will not be restricted.
Project: Postman’s Pathway
Although the Postman’s Pathway is complete, it remains closed to the public until the handrails are installed, which will occur during the week of May 24th.
2020 Annual Traffic Calming Improvements
The 2020 Annual Traffic Calming Improvement
Project is now complete. The project constructed the Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons at the intersections of Brittan/Woodland Avenues, Brittan/Tamarack Avenues, and Crestview Drive at Crestview Park. Cedar and Brittan Avenue
Resurfacing Project
G. Bortolotto & Co., Inc. completed the street resurfacing improvements on Cedar Street and Brittan Avenue.
3) SamTrans Needs our Advocacy for Better Bus Service in San Carlos/Redwood City
Please help San Carlos reduce traffic congestion and enable better commute options for bicyclists by helping shape the future of SamTrans in our neighborhoods!
Do you want to help reduce traffic on Alameda de las Pulgas and make sure we have adequate bus service to places like Sequoia High School, Sequoia Hospital and Sequoia Station? ...how about making sure San Carlos students have bus service from Tierra Linda/Mariposa/CLC campus to the Youth Center at Burton Park? (See Route 295 Proposed Changes)
Do you have kids who take the bus to San Carlos schools and have feedback on the proposed plan to merge routes #95 and #61? (Details on Route 61/95: See Route 95/61 Proposed Changes)
Are you interested in the new proposed route #291 that would connect Redwood City and San Carlos along Industrial Rd to improve job and residential access? (Details on Route 291: See Route 291 Proposed Route)
Do you have students who take the #260 to get to College of San Mateo from San Carlos? (See: Route 260 Proposed Cancellation)
Do you have other bus route suggestions, ideas or feedback to offer SamTrans, like requesting the Route 61 run throughout the day between our San Carlos hills and San Carlos Caltrain/Downtown?
Then make sure to GIVE SAMTRANS YOUR FEEDBACK to help shape the future of bus and mobility systems in San Mateo County and help decrease traffic and parking congestion in our towns.
Two ways to give your feedback, and please SPREAD THE WORD!
Call and give in-person input by calling SamTrans Customer Service Center at 1-800-660-4287.
Complete the Survey, due by May 31, 2021!
Link to the Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/reimaginesamtrans
Important Note: You have to do multiple surveys to be able to
comment on both “Local/Express Routes” and
“Changes to School-related Service”.
Click here to read my personal recommendations for the survey--if you agree with them, please include them in your own survey, and spread the word!: Specific Community Recommendations for the SamTrans Survey
You can read more about the Reimagine SamTrans proposed alternatives by visiting: https://www.reimaginesamtrans.com/alternatives/
4) Grant Available to Install “Bicycle Fix-it Stations”!
There is a great opportunity to ask cities/organizations to install free bike fix-it stations!
Excitingly, the Office of Sustainability has funding available to offer a limited number of bicycle fix-it stations to schools, community centers, and non-profit partners around San Mateo County. A bicycle fix-it station is a stand that is affixed with the tools necessary to perform basic bike repairs and maintenance. Bicycle fix-it stations are key elements of a bicycle-friendly environment, allowing folks to make basic repairs themselves to their bikes at no cost!
The basic requirements for applying for a station are that the station must be located within San Mateo County, each station needs a 2 foot by 2 foot slab of concrete to bolt into, and the applicant will be responsible for taking care of the station, including replacing broken or missing tools and parts.
The application will remain open until filled. However, first consideration will be given to organizations that respond by June 18, 2021.
Questions? Contact commute@smcgov.org Click here to apply: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/17TF3uW7ueQochQKh5m1i7UHUA8szKJ7WHx_pFp_Zow0/viewform?edit_requested=true
5) Transportation Authority Seeks Volunteers for Citizens Advisory Committee
The San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA) is soliciting
applications to fill four seats on its Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC).
The CAC is a 15-member volunteer group who serve in an advisory capacity to the TA Board, advising on the administration of the funds collected by Measures A and W, and providing valuable input on the projects and programs in the Expenditure Plan. The plan includes Caltrain improvements, highway and street projects, allocations to cities and the county for local undertakings, paratransit service for people with disabilities, and pedestrian and bike upgrades.
Committee members are asked to serve a three-year term. All applicants must be residents of San Mateo County. The committee meets every Tuesday before the first Thursday of the month at 4:30 p.m. via Zoom teleconference (and eventually in San Carlos when it is safe to do so).
The application form is available online by clicking HERE: https://www.smcta.com/about/cac/TA_CAC_Online_Application.html or contact the CAC Secretary’s office at brookj@samtrans.com. Applications are due by Friday, June 4.
6) Tues, 5/18, 7pm is San Carlos Monthly Transportation Commission Meeting
On Agenda:
a. Update on the Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Plan.
b. Introduce Community Workshops for Housing 2040 and East Side Innovation District.
See details in Agenda Packet: Agenda Packet for 5/18 TCC Meeting
Planned Public Comment by San Carlos Bikes:
Bike Fix-It Station: Whom should we contact about selecting a space in San Carlos appropriate for a Commute.org grant-funded Bicycle Fix-It Station, ideally centrally located, like in Burton Park? Would that be Amy Newby? Parks & Rec Commission?
Cedar-Arroyo Intersection: Thanks for finishing such a big project in a relatively short time. It’s attractive and, as promised, feels much safer as a pedestrian. Thankfully the curb extensions are smaller than expected and the curb ramps angle into the sharrow lane which seems to eliminate the need for any ‘bicycle dismount area’ at all, despite the narrower roadway.
However, while the risk of running into the curb extension as a cyclist seems to be successfully mitigated, the other identified risk for bicyclists (especially younger/smaller students) having to merge in front of vehicles when approaching the intersection seems not yet to be addressed.
Given that Cedar is a designated “Bike Boulevard”, bicyclist accessibility and comfort is not sufficiently addressed. If our previous request to visually divide the lane at the intersection with a dotted line and a symbol of a bicycle on the right half isn’t acceptable, what kind of roadway painting could be used that lets drivers know to expect bicyclists merging in front of them? Can a bike sharrow symbol with angled chevrons indicate cars should expect merging bikes? Can “Bikes May Use Full Lane” signs replace the “Share the Road” signs? Can “BIKE BLVD” be painted at various points along Cedar, like it is on E. San Carlos Ave?
Note: If anyone has additional feedback, suggestions, questions, ideas concerns, etc, on this or any other location in San Carlos, feel free to email sonia@sancarlosbikes.org and I’d be happy to share your comments at the meeting.
7) This Wed, 5/19 is the FIRST MEETING of new San Carlos chapter of SVBC
Also called the “Biketivist Forum”, on Wed, May 19, 5-7pm San Carlos bike advocates are invited to begin meeting every 3rd Wednesday of the month as part of this SVBC-sponsored regular event. It’s free and everyone is welcome. The format is:
5-5:30pm features a Speaker on a bike advocacy topic relevant to all teams.
5:30-7pm is for local Teams to meet (See list of all local teams here: https://bikesiliconvalley.org/local-teams/). Bring your ideas, concerns and passion topics and we’ll discuss and make a 2021 advocacy plan. Our goal is to determine 5 specific bike-related transportation goals from the interests of participants.
Could include aspects of:
Bike-friendly Downtown: Advocating for better bike access to downtown, a bike-friendly Laurel St ped zone, accessibility, one-way streets pilot, economic revitalization through bike-friendly means, better bike parking, installing bike fix-it stations, etc.
Bike-friendly San Carlos East Side: ensuring bike-friendliness overall, especially Old County Road and/or the El Camino Real Grand Boulevard Initiative; Re-advocating for Bike/Ped Bridge over 101, etc
Bike-friendly Safe Routes to School Advocacy: ensuring bike/ped friendliness of intersections, sidewalks, crosswalks; Projects that educate drivers and bicyclists on effective road-sharing
Bike-friendly Transit Advocacy: ensuring transit is user-friendly for bicyclists, advocating for excellent, bike-friendly bus/train connections for school and work commutes, etc.
Recreational Biking & Events: Bike to Work/Wherever Day organizing/volunteering; Advocating for bike/skate/scooter-friendly parks and “Pump Tracks”; Planning rides and bike events; volunteering for bike valet parking at Hometown Days, Farmer’s Market, Art & Wine Faire, Goblin Walk, Holiday Lights, etc.
This San Carlos Team of SVBC is free to join and communicates through Google Groups. Click here to join: https://groups.google.com/a/bikesiliconvalley.org/g/sancarlos. Use this email address to contact each other: sancarlos@bikesiliconvalley.org
Hope to see you (virtually) on May 19 at 5pm! (Look for an e-vite in your inbox soon…)
8) Bike to Work/Wherever Day is Friday, May 21
Here’s everything you need to know about opportunities to celebrate biking on BTWD 2021: http://bikesiliconvalley.org/btwd/
Fun Activity for Kids Alert: Look for the full-page picture to color/design in several of this month’s San Mateo Daily Journals, sponsored by the SM County Office of Education. Submit finished artwork to SRTS@smcoe.org for a chance to be featured on the County Office of Education’s website:
9) Bike to Your Library Day is Saturday, May 22
From San Mateo County Libraries:
Grab your helmet, fill-up your water bottle, hop on your bicycle and ride out to your nearest San Mateo County Libraries location during our Express Service hours on Saturday, May 22, 2021 in celebration of Bike to Your Library Day! We know many of you have been enjoying riding your bikes this past year, so make sure to visit us that Saturday to pick up some fun bicycle swag courtesy of Commute.org
Between 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM (exception: Pacifica Sanchez Library, which hours are 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM) all of our libraries will provide a free Bike Month canvas messenger bag from our community partner Commute.org, while supplies last.
Do you know about “Book-A-Bike”? San Mateo County residents can check out bikes from Belmont Public Library! Details: https://smcl.org/blogs/post/bike-to-your-library-day-is-may-22/
10) Wed, 5/26, 7pm is first Eucalyptus Street Holiday Traffic-Mitigation community-wide meeting
Got ideas for better traffic flow around the holidays around Eucalyptus? A one-way street pilot on Eucalyptus and Birch maybe?
The San Carlos community is invited to attend either of two virtual meetings to discuss the annual Eucalyptus Avenue holiday celebrations on May 26 or June 8, 2021. We’re bringing community members together to share experiences and listen to concerns in a thoughtful, productive, and respectful discussion. Join us and your neighbors for one of our virtual community meetings on either May 26 or June 8.
Get additional information and register for either meeting now at www.cityofsancarlos.org/eucalyptus
11) Wed, 5/26, 6-8pm, is third San Carlos Housing Workshop -- needs bicyclist perspective
Points to consider:
Will new housing units that have limited on-site parking have secure or in-unit bike/micromobility parking?
What steps are being taken to ensure that additional street parking needs are minimized, to ensure space for future bike lanes?, etc
Details and to register for meeting: https://www.sancarlos2040.org/
12) Thurs, 6/9, 6-8pm, is second East Side Planning meeting -- needs bicyclist perspective
Consider:
Bike lanes, micromobility device share (bikes, scooter, etc), extending Peninsula Bikeway along Old County Road, etc
Details /register for meeting at: https://www.sancarlosinnovation.org/
13) Sundays in May, 9am-1pm -- San Carlos Farmers Market
Ride on down to the San Carlos Farmers' Market, 9am-1pm, Bayport and Varian in the San Carlos Industrial Arts District.
Vendors include: Made Out of Dough, Alonso Foods, Wings of Nature Bees, Carter Custom Cut Beef, Greek Table, Marks Artisans, Contreras Farm, #MB's Place chili, #Choupette & Co, BunBao, Hidden Star Orchards.
Open for Beer Garden and Wine tasting at 11am: Cuvee Wine Cellars Flying Suitcase Wines Russian Ridge Winery Domenico Winery Devil's Canyon Brewing Co.
Local Artists! Live Music! Bike parking with San Carlos Bikes!
14) Silicon Valley Bicycle Film Festival (virtual) -- May 7-16
It’s not too late to get tickets and watch! Details: https://btt.boldtypetickets.com/events/111195047/bicycle-film-festival-silicon-valley
15) San Carlos Teens Interested in Social Road Rides? -- group forming now
A number of teens in San Carlos have expressed interest in getting together with like-minded peers for social road rides in the area. To connect with other teens who are interested, email sancarlosbikes@gmail.com.
16) Learn to Bike Classes available through REI Fremont, Age 12+
17) Wheel Kids Summer Bike Riding Camps (Palo Alto, Grade 1-7)
Details: https://wheelkids.com/palo-alto/
18) New Organization: Mountain Biking Experts
Jump Clinics & Summer Camps enrolling now for ages 7 and up
19) Bicycle Sundays on Cañada Rd has returned
20) Good news for Bike/Train Commuters - new Hillsdale Station open
21) Spring Commuter Promotion Continues -- Sustainable Commuters Can Enter to Win $100
22) Streetsblog: Cycling rates low unless women are riding
“Around the world, cities that do the best job of catering to the needs of women cyclists also have the highest level of cycling overall, a new study finds — and the U.S. has among the lowest share of female-identified riders on the planet.”
23) Mercury News: Meet Mr. Barricade--The Bay Area’s unlikely Tik Tok Star and ‘New Urbanist’ Influencer
“For a lot of young people like me, we know we can fix our urban environment,” Swaminathan said. “We may not want to live our lives in a car. We want to plan our life differently. Tik Tok for me is a way to get that word out there that cities can be built differently, and people are noticing.”
Thanks for reading/riding! Sonia Elkes,
Founder, San Carlos Bikes
(415) 806-4632
PS: Want to get bike-related news more promptly? To see more bike- and San Carlos transportation-related updates sooner:
Follow San Carlos Bikes on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sancarlosbikes
Join the Nextdoor Group, “Let’s Talk Transportation: San Carlos & Surroundings,” https://nextdoor.com/g/ldy7tlfot/
Join the SVBC San Carlos Team: https://groups.google.com/a/bikesiliconvalley.org/g/sancarlos
Want a general Guide to Biking in San Carlos? See this article: Guide to Biking In San Carlos (San Carlos Living magazine, April 2021)