To view the new Marin County bike and pedestrian report, visit http://www.walkbikemarin.org/
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Better Streets for All
Streets of San FranciscoNew plazas and more vibrant streets sprout across the city
Last year, Project for Public Spaces helped set up the San Francisco Great Streets Project modeled after our New York City Streets Renaissance Campaign. Now, with the successful launch of two municipal projects that allow greater pedestrian use of road space, San Francisco is showing its commitment to Placemaking as a strategy for creating more vibrant public life.
San Jose/Guerrero neighborhood above
Applying lessons from a PPS led training workshop for transportation planners as well as a forum for Business Improvement Districts earlier this year, the city has launched the Pavement to Parks program, which reconstitutes swaths of roadway into temporary parks and plazas, as well as the Better Market Street Project, which aims to transform the downtown arterial into a world-class street. More from:
http://www.pps.org/info/newsletter/from_place_to_place/StreetsofSanFrancisco
Sunday, November 29, 2009
NEW Winter Wild Life on LVR!
These enormous newcomers to Lucas Valley Road are probably Boletus mirabilis...big as your head!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
County employees install safety signs along Lucas Valley Raod
__________________________________________________
Robert Beaumont – Chief Assistant Director
Department of Public Works
County of Marin
3501 Civic Center Drive #329
San Rafael, CA 94903
Subject – Letter of Appreciation
On Friday November 20, 2009, we observed the County of Marin Department of Public Works employees Jim Mayo, Travis Fleetwood and Steve Mitchell installing No Parking / Bike Path signs along Lucas Valley Road.
The signs were being installed along the Las Gallinas Avenue to Los Gamos Drive corridor of Lucas Valley Road. This is the corridor that we discussed with you and Supervisor Susan Adams on Thursday, November 12. Needless to say that we were delighted to see the no parking signs being installed. As we discussed during our meeting, parking along this corridor is a hazard to the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians who need to share the road with cars traveling by at 45 mph.
To see your staff, working in the rain on the edge of the road while 45 mph traffic is rushing by in order to get these measures of safety installed rather than delaying the work until a nicer day, encouraged us to write to you to express our appreciation for their dedication and hard work in very dangerous and unpleasant weather conditions.
The employee dedication demonstrated by Jim mayo, Travis Fleetwood and Steve Mitchell is not observed very often. Their effort should not go unrecognized. Please express to them the appreciation of our community.
Ray Lorber
President- Mont Marin Homeowners Association
Co-Chair Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Campaign
Carolyn Lenert
President – Santa Margarita Neighborhood Association
Co-Chair Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Campaign
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Progress Report
c/o Five Upper Oak Drive
San Rafael, CA 94903
San Rafael, CA 94903
November 13, 2009
Hon. Susan Adams, District One Supervisor
Mr. Robert Beaumont, Chief Assistant Director, Department of Public Works
County of Marin
3501 Civic Center Drive #329
San Rafael, CA 94903
Dear Supervisor Adams and Mr. Beaumont:
Thank you for arranging our meeting yesterday. We greatly value the opportunity to meet with you both. Your leadership is especially appreciated at this time of scarce resources.
The meeting was informative, encouraging and clarifying. We better understand the issues involved and the staff commitment required for a project of this scope. We are proud of what has been accomplished to date.
Thanks to the County’s support and cooperation, the shrubbery has been cut back and the roadside is clearer, the surface shrapnel is being swept away, the survey has been completed, the lighting project for the north side is scheduled, repaving/re-striping is scheduled, and improved signage and reflector bumps are under consideration.
We will continue to do everything in our power to positively communicate the County’s progress and accomplishments. We have built the “strong community support for these types of improvements,” per Amanuel Haile’s direction in October 2007. We will continue to inform a caring community of more than 200 supporters of your efforts and the challenges ahead.
We really appreciate your efforts and commitment to safety along this corridor.
Sincerely yours,
Ray Lorber Carolyn S. Lenert John Rojas
415 479-7193 415 499-9234 Long Time Supporter
raylorber@yahoo.com Mont Marin Resident
carolynrealestate@msn.com
| |
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Reducing Trash in the Gallinas Headwaters
The Gallinas Watershed News: San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board Puts Trash in its Place
Save the Bay reports that fish and wildlife may finally get some relief from pervasive trash pollution. On October 14, 2009, the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board voted to approve historic and long-overdue requirements for cities to make significant, measurable reductions in trash flowing to the Bay. This is great news for the Bay!
Under the new municipal regional permit, cities and other permittees must reduce trash getting into the Bay by 40 percent in the next four years, and achieve zero trash discharge from storm water within 12 years. Save The Bay is urging the Water Board to work diligently to ensure full compliance with these groundbreaking regulations; and through the Clean Bay Project, will continue to work with cities to help them achieve these important trash reductions.
See more at http://sites.google.com/site/gallinascreekwatershed/ and http://www.lgvsd.org/stream-restoration-groups.html and also www.marinwatersheds.org/index.html
The Gallinas Watershed is a focus of the Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road and the North San Rafael Coalition of Residents.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Patrick Siedler takes a "Walk with Us" along Lucas Valley Road
Monday, November 2, 2009
NY Driving/Texting Banned
New York: Driving and Texting Ban Carries Fines Up to $150. New York's law against texting while driving went into effect Sunday. The new law forbids the use of mobile devices for reading, typing and sending text messages while driving. The ban on texting while driving comes with fines up to $150. It was already illegal in the state to talk on a cellphone while driving. The U. S. Transportation Department reported that 5,870 people were killed and 515,000 were injured last year in crashes connected to driver distraction, often involving mobile devices or cellphones. Wall Street Journal, November 2, 2009.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Report to NSRCR for September 2009
To:
"Ray Lorber"
| North San Rafael Coalition of Residents Meeting Thursday, October 1, 2009 Hosted by Carolyn Lenert Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Report By Ray Lorber Activities since the last meeting on September 3rd: Sept. 6 – Art Reichert and Mary Feller enjoyed a “Walk with Us” experience Sept. 8 – Canoed the Gallinas Creek with Art and Carolyn Sept. 9 – Attended a Marinwood Association Annual meeting and met Supervisor Adams Sept. 10 – Endorsed Candidate Mark Levine at his Kickoff Meeting at Falkirk Sept. 11 – Researched Grants at the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership (CVNL) Sept. 13 – Mont Marin Ice Cream Social – Adams, Levine, and Ford attended – Carolyn and I worked the crowd Sept. 15 – Jim Leonard (MMHA) and Ray Lorber cut branches along LVR in preparation for Coastal Cleanup Day Sept. 16 – Talked with IJ reporter, Jennifer Upshaw, about Monique Petrov’s accident Sept. 19 – Coastal Cleanup Day – Great success with 22 supporters Sept. 22 – (Major MILESTONE) - Lucas Valley Road Boundary Survey delivered to my door by Craig Tackabery . “HOORAY” County line is between 100 and 200 feet south of the edge of LVR. There is plenty of room to construct a safe and separate path for pedestrians and bicyclists. Sept. 23 – Held a Barbeque luncheon for Mont Marin residents who have worked on the Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Campaign during the past 3 years. Sept. 25 - Carolyn and I met with Craig Scheidt, Building Manager 101 Lucas Valley Road Complex Sent out periodic emails to update our 200 supporters Have a meeting scheduled with Damon Connolly on 10-4, and a meeting with Susan Adams & Bob Beaumont- DPW on 11-12. |
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Task Force Tackles Graffiti and Litter!
Now there are three NEW ways to report graffiti and litter issues in the community: Telephone, Quick-Form and Email. Report the Crime - get a dime! Either way you report it, make sure to include as much information as possible: location, type of issue, colors, tag name and upload a picture, possible.
1. Telephone: Call 800.311.1493 - use this number to report all graffiti: simply say the name of the agency you believe is responsible: City of San Rafael, ATT, Comcast, or PGE and you will be forwarded to the correct voicemail. If you don't know who should get the call, just say "graffiti", leave all the location details and your return number and we will take it from there.
2. Quick-Form - if you really care about making sure we know about the graffiti, then you can add it on our new interactive map. Simply type in all of the details and we will receive time-stamped alerts. This enables you to track completion from the comfort of your own computer! www.srtaskforce.org
3. Email: Send all of the details to info@SRtaskForce.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
1. Telephone: Call 800.311.1493 - use this number to report all graffiti: simply say the name of the agency you believe is responsible: City of San Rafael, ATT, Comcast, or PGE and you will be forwarded to the correct voicemail. If you don't know who should get the call, just say "graffiti", leave all the location details and your return number and we will take it from there.
2. Quick-Form - if you really care about making sure we know about the graffiti, then you can add it on our new interactive map. Simply type in all of the details and we will receive time-stamped alerts. This enables you to track completion from the comfort of your own computer! www.srtaskforce.org
3. Email: Send all of the details to info@SRtaskForce.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Biketobertfest Marin-2009 “The human-powered two-wheelin’ festival”
WHO: Access4Bikes (A4B), Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC) present…
Sponsored by Lagunitas Brewing
WHAT: Biketoberfest Marin 2009
Biketoberfest combines a handmade bicycle show with a brewfest, featuring Northern California's best!
A celebration of the bicycle, Biketoberfest 2009 is for cyclists of all ages, combined with a brewfest of over a dozen handcrafted beers from premier Northern California brewers. Biketoberfest features a bike expo, vintage bike show, activities for kids and live music.
Highlights include...
• Beer tasting featuring over 20 different beers from 15 different Northern California Brewers!
• Soda tasting for the kids.
• Live music featuring Honeydust, Sons of the Pacific and Philip Der Stein Quintet
• Handmade bikes from Steelman, Ingis/Retrotec, Sycip, Rivendell, Soulcraft, Calfee, Ahrens and more!
• Classic bike show featuring 40 vintage bikes!
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, October 10, 2009
LOCATION: FairAnselm Plaza Parking lot765 Center Blvd. (next to Iron Springs Pub and Java Hut), downtown Fairfax, Calif. COST: Free. Includes bike expo, vintage bike show, kids activities and music.
BEER TASTING: The Biketoberfest beer tasting features over 20 beers from 15 Northern California brewers. The fee for tasting is $20 and includes a commemorative Biketoberfest 8oz. glass. Proceeds benefit bicycle advocacy in Marin County.
PHONE: 415-453-4333
WEB SITE: www.biketoberfestmarin.com
Proceeds from Biketoberfest 2009 benefit bicycle advocacy in Marin County, the Bay Area's premier cycling destination.
Sponsored by Lagunitas Brewing
WHAT: Biketoberfest Marin 2009
Biketoberfest combines a handmade bicycle show with a brewfest, featuring Northern California's best!
A celebration of the bicycle, Biketoberfest 2009 is for cyclists of all ages, combined with a brewfest of over a dozen handcrafted beers from premier Northern California brewers. Biketoberfest features a bike expo, vintage bike show, activities for kids and live music.
Highlights include...
• Beer tasting featuring over 20 different beers from 15 different Northern California Brewers!
• Soda tasting for the kids.
• Live music featuring Honeydust, Sons of the Pacific and Philip Der Stein Quintet
• Handmade bikes from Steelman, Ingis/Retrotec, Sycip, Rivendell, Soulcraft, Calfee, Ahrens and more!
• Classic bike show featuring 40 vintage bikes!
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, October 10, 2009
LOCATION: FairAnselm Plaza Parking lot765 Center Blvd. (next to Iron Springs Pub and Java Hut), downtown Fairfax, Calif. COST: Free. Includes bike expo, vintage bike show, kids activities and music.
BEER TASTING: The Biketoberfest beer tasting features over 20 beers from 15 Northern California brewers. The fee for tasting is $20 and includes a commemorative Biketoberfest 8oz. glass. Proceeds benefit bicycle advocacy in Marin County.
PHONE: 415-453-4333
WEB SITE: www.biketoberfestmarin.com
Proceeds from Biketoberfest 2009 benefit bicycle advocacy in Marin County, the Bay Area's premier cycling destination.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Milestone - San Rafael/Marin County Border Survey Completed - September 22, 2009
Point your cursor on the map and left click the mouse button to zoom in for a larger image.
The survey map clarifies the City/County property line along the Las Gallinas Avenue to Los Gamos Drive corridor of Lucas Valley Road.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
All Eyes on the Road?
EYES ON THE ROAD
SEPTEMBER 15, 2009, 10:56 P.M. ET
Driving While Texting: Is It the New DWI?
By JOSEPH B. WHITE
Here's one issue in these contentious times that almost everyone appears to agree on: Driving while typing out text messages on a mobile phone is dumb, potentially deadly and should be banned.
So let's just ban driving while texting, right? Not so fast. Nothing's ever that easy, especially when powerful economic interests and different levels of government are involved.
Later this month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration plans to convene a "summit" on "distracted driving." The issue of driving while texting, or DWT, will be high on the agenda. For the first time, it appears that most major interest groups involved are for doing something to make DWT illegal.
View Full Image
Associated Press
The wireless phone industry's main Washington lobbying arm, CTIA-The Wireless Association, once opposed bans on using mobile phones to talk or text. Now the association supports bans on texting and is officially neutral on other limits to mobile phone use. It notably didn't object when Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said that if it were up to him alone (which it is not), he'd institute a federal ban on DWT. CTIA is also working with the National Safety Council on a series of advertisements warning of the dangers of on-road texting.
CTIA would prefer one nationwide law on the matter, says John Walls, a spokesman for the association.
That's not quite the same position as the Governors Highway Safety Association. This influential group had also balked at the idea of banning driving while texting. Now, the GHSA says it supports state laws banning the practice, though it doesn't like proposals in Congress that would compel states to ban DWT or risk losing federal highway funds.
"States don't need to be sanctioned," says the GHSA's Jonathan Adkins. He points out that 18 states and the District of Columbia have passed anti-texting laws—about half of them within the past year. It's counterproductive to threaten states with the loss of federal funding at a time when states are supposed to be spending on road projects to save jobs, he says.
It could well turn out, at the rate state legislatures are going, that Congress will get around to enacting a federal DWT ban at about the same time that most states have already acted on their own laws.
But that won't put the issue of distracted driving to rest.
Distracted driving is a broad term that can be applied to a wide variety of behaviors. You can be distracted behind the wheel by talking on a mobile phone held in your hand, talking on a phone using an earpiece, or talking on a phone using a hands-free "telematics" system embedded in your car. You can be distracted by a messy cheeseburger or a hot cup of coffee. You can be distracted by an iPod that's not playing what you want, or a passenger, or a map or paper with directions on it. You can be distracted by a ball game on the radio, or a billboard.
Some safety advocates argue that any use of mobile communications while on the road is dangerous, and should be stopped. On their side is a body of research that suggests that the mere act of talking to someone not in the car—whether the phone's up against your head, or in a cupholder while you wear an earpiece—is a risky overload of a driver's cognitive functions.
But auto makers, and some safety researchers, are gearing up to argue to federal safety regulators—at this month's summit and beyond—that with the proper technology and under appropriate conditions, communicating from a moving vehicle is a manageable risk.
Ford Motor Co. researcher Louis Tijerina, a veteran of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, says that even as mobile-phone subscriptions have surged to more than 250 million during the past decade, the death rate from accidents on the highways has fallen.
Some tests done in simulators suggested that talking on a phone, no matter how it's done, sharply elevates the risk of an accident. But so-called naturalistic studies—essentially watching people driving around in the real world—suggest that just talking, especially when hands-free, isn't as risky as the laboratory experiments indicate.
That's good news for auto makers selling onboard telematics systems, such as Ford's Sync or General Motors Co.'s Onstar, that offer the ability to dial and respond to phone calls hands-free.
Mr. Tijerina says his work, and the work of others, suggests that in the real world, "people appear by and large to be acting responsibly" when it comes to using mobile communication devices.
Texting with your fingers and thumbs, however, is clearly a problem. A recent Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study found that manual text messaging elevated the risk of a crash or near crash to more than 23 times higher than "nondistracted" driving.
What the auto and phone industries hope to get out of the government's distracted-driving summit is funding for more naturalistic research, such as a study that's gearing up to include observations of some 2,000 motorists over two years. They also hope to avoid federal action that bans all use of mobile communications on the road. Auto makers and their suppliers are working on systems that will allow drivers to send and receive text messages using voice-activated systems. They don't want those features outlawed.
In the meantime, given how hard it will be for police to enforce legislated bans, the best way to curb texting while driving probably is to make it socially unacceptable, particularly among teens.
A graphic British public-service announcement depicting teens who get into a bloody crash after the driver loses control while texting has now been tagged on Youtube as inappropriate for children under 18. It is a deeply disturbing video. Parents who choose not to expose their kids to that video should find ways to deliver the message some other way—and hope that popular figures whom kids take more seriously deliver it as well.
—Email: joseph.white@wsj.com
Copyright 2009 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved
About Joe White
Joe White writes Eyes on the Road every Monday for the Online Journal. His column offers readers insight into the top consumer issues in the automotive industry, ranging from car pricing to safety to the latest gadgets.
Joe is a senior editor for The Wall Street Journal, and has worked for the Journal since 1987. For most of that time, he has covered the auto industry from Detroit. In 1993, Joe and then-Detroit Bureau Chief Paul Ingrassia shared a Pulitzer Prize for beat reporting for their coverage of management turmoil at General Motors. Paul and Joe co-authored a 1994 book about the American auto industry in the 1980s and 1990s, "Comeback: The Fall and Rise of the American Automobile Industry." Joe also contributes new-car reviews to SmartMoney magazine. A graduate of Harvard University, he lives with his family outside Detroit and commutes in a 2004 Subaru WRX.
Send comments about Eyes on the Road to Joe at joseph.white@wsj.com .
SEPTEMBER 15, 2009, 10:56 P.M. ET
Driving While Texting: Is It the New DWI?
By JOSEPH B. WHITE
Here's one issue in these contentious times that almost everyone appears to agree on: Driving while typing out text messages on a mobile phone is dumb, potentially deadly and should be banned.
So let's just ban driving while texting, right? Not so fast. Nothing's ever that easy, especially when powerful economic interests and different levels of government are involved.
Later this month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration plans to convene a "summit" on "distracted driving." The issue of driving while texting, or DWT, will be high on the agenda. For the first time, it appears that most major interest groups involved are for doing something to make DWT illegal.
View Full Image
Associated Press
The wireless phone industry's main Washington lobbying arm, CTIA-The Wireless Association, once opposed bans on using mobile phones to talk or text. Now the association supports bans on texting and is officially neutral on other limits to mobile phone use. It notably didn't object when Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said that if it were up to him alone (which it is not), he'd institute a federal ban on DWT. CTIA is also working with the National Safety Council on a series of advertisements warning of the dangers of on-road texting.
CTIA would prefer one nationwide law on the matter, says John Walls, a spokesman for the association.
That's not quite the same position as the Governors Highway Safety Association. This influential group had also balked at the idea of banning driving while texting. Now, the GHSA says it supports state laws banning the practice, though it doesn't like proposals in Congress that would compel states to ban DWT or risk losing federal highway funds.
"States don't need to be sanctioned," says the GHSA's Jonathan Adkins. He points out that 18 states and the District of Columbia have passed anti-texting laws—about half of them within the past year. It's counterproductive to threaten states with the loss of federal funding at a time when states are supposed to be spending on road projects to save jobs, he says.
It could well turn out, at the rate state legislatures are going, that Congress will get around to enacting a federal DWT ban at about the same time that most states have already acted on their own laws.
But that won't put the issue of distracted driving to rest.
Distracted driving is a broad term that can be applied to a wide variety of behaviors. You can be distracted behind the wheel by talking on a mobile phone held in your hand, talking on a phone using an earpiece, or talking on a phone using a hands-free "telematics" system embedded in your car. You can be distracted by a messy cheeseburger or a hot cup of coffee. You can be distracted by an iPod that's not playing what you want, or a passenger, or a map or paper with directions on it. You can be distracted by a ball game on the radio, or a billboard.
Some safety advocates argue that any use of mobile communications while on the road is dangerous, and should be stopped. On their side is a body of research that suggests that the mere act of talking to someone not in the car—whether the phone's up against your head, or in a cupholder while you wear an earpiece—is a risky overload of a driver's cognitive functions.
But auto makers, and some safety researchers, are gearing up to argue to federal safety regulators—at this month's summit and beyond—that with the proper technology and under appropriate conditions, communicating from a moving vehicle is a manageable risk.
Ford Motor Co. researcher Louis Tijerina, a veteran of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, says that even as mobile-phone subscriptions have surged to more than 250 million during the past decade, the death rate from accidents on the highways has fallen.
Some tests done in simulators suggested that talking on a phone, no matter how it's done, sharply elevates the risk of an accident. But so-called naturalistic studies—essentially watching people driving around in the real world—suggest that just talking, especially when hands-free, isn't as risky as the laboratory experiments indicate.
That's good news for auto makers selling onboard telematics systems, such as Ford's Sync or General Motors Co.'s Onstar, that offer the ability to dial and respond to phone calls hands-free.
Mr. Tijerina says his work, and the work of others, suggests that in the real world, "people appear by and large to be acting responsibly" when it comes to using mobile communication devices.
Texting with your fingers and thumbs, however, is clearly a problem. A recent Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study found that manual text messaging elevated the risk of a crash or near crash to more than 23 times higher than "nondistracted" driving.
What the auto and phone industries hope to get out of the government's distracted-driving summit is funding for more naturalistic research, such as a study that's gearing up to include observations of some 2,000 motorists over two years. They also hope to avoid federal action that bans all use of mobile communications on the road. Auto makers and their suppliers are working on systems that will allow drivers to send and receive text messages using voice-activated systems. They don't want those features outlawed.
In the meantime, given how hard it will be for police to enforce legislated bans, the best way to curb texting while driving probably is to make it socially unacceptable, particularly among teens.
A graphic British public-service announcement depicting teens who get into a bloody crash after the driver loses control while texting has now been tagged on Youtube as inappropriate for children under 18. It is a deeply disturbing video. Parents who choose not to expose their kids to that video should find ways to deliver the message some other way—and hope that popular figures whom kids take more seriously deliver it as well.
—Email: joseph.white@wsj.com
Copyright 2009 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved
About Joe White
Joe White writes Eyes on the Road every Monday for the Online Journal. His column offers readers insight into the top consumer issues in the automotive industry, ranging from car pricing to safety to the latest gadgets.
Joe is a senior editor for The Wall Street Journal, and has worked for the Journal since 1987. For most of that time, he has covered the auto industry from Detroit. In 1993, Joe and then-Detroit Bureau Chief Paul Ingrassia shared a Pulitzer Prize for beat reporting for their coverage of management turmoil at General Motors. Paul and Joe co-authored a 1994 book about the American auto industry in the 1980s and 1990s, "Comeback: The Fall and Rise of the American Automobile Industry." Joe also contributes new-car reviews to SmartMoney magazine. A graduate of Harvard University, he lives with his family outside Detroit and commutes in a 2004 Subaru WRX.
Send comments about Eyes on the Road to Joe at joseph.white@wsj.com .
Gallinas Creek Headwaters Protected
Alex Kahl and his wife Tisha made this video of the recent Coastal Cleanup Day they did on the North fork. I think you'll enjoy it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUsbEwF7kMU The issue of trash and pollution in our watersheds has been raised at the San Rafael City Manager meeting by Art Reichert art-earth-sky@comcast.net. This issue is another one of the projects of the North San Rafael Coalition of Residents.
P.S. Lucas Valley Road between Las Gallinas and Los Gamos are headwaters for Gallinas Creek proper...not the North Fork you will be viewing.
P.S. Lucas Valley Road between Las Gallinas and Los Gamos are headwaters for Gallinas Creek proper...not the North Fork you will be viewing.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Gallinas Creek Headwaters Cleanup Day - September 19, 2009
Left side back row: Craig Murray - President Terra Linda HOA, Markus Breyer - Safe Routes to Schools, San Rafael Councilman Greg Brockbank, Mason Scharer, Ray Welch, and Jackie Schauer
Left side bottom row: Robert Karfiol, David Crowne and Preston McCoy - President, San Rafael Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC)
Right side back row: San Rafael Councilman Damon Connolly, Patrick Seidler - President, Transportation Alternatives for Marin (TAM), Mark MacMillan (Mark was hit by a truck while walking along Lucas Valley Road), Carolyn Lenert - Cochair, Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road - President, Santa Margarita Neighborhood Association - Executive Council, North San Rafael Coalition of Residents
Right side bottom row: Darin Connolly, Kim Bromley, Jim Leonard - Director, Mont Marin Homeowners Association, Nicole Love
Trash collection along Lucas Valley Road between Las Gallinas Avenue and Los Gamos Drive included a mattress and a tire.
Mark MacMillan and David Crowne drag a mattress out of Gallinas Creek.
David and Mark take joy in their conquest as a vehicle rapidly approaches them from behind.
After a tiring day of picking up rubbish left by passing motorists, Mike Ziegler and sons Grant and Mason pause for a photo moment with Ray Lorber and Carolyn Lenert.
Councilman Damon Connolly and daughter Darin cutting back and removing shrubbery to widen the pathway along Lucas Valley Road.
Councilman Damon Connolly and daughter Darin cutting back and removing shrubbery to widen the pathway along Lucas Valley Road.
Kim Bromley hauling a board back to the GRAND PILE for the County to pick up.
ASHES to ASHES...
Did you know that the Safe Passage team is out on Lucas Valley Road monthly...picking up trash and recycling?
Did you know that each time there are HUNDREDS of cigarette butts!
Here's a tip for the motorized smoking public: PUT BAKING SODA IN YOUR ASHTRAY.
- it will deoderize your car and ashtray
- it will snuff out lighted cigarettes instantly
- without grinding them into your ashtray
- which leaves a tarry mess and
- takes valuable time
With baking soda, your car smells sweeter, it's easier to clean up and you are driving safer since your attention can stay on the road.
Did you know that each time there are HUNDREDS of cigarette butts!
Here's a tip for the motorized smoking public: PUT BAKING SODA IN YOUR ASHTRAY.
- it will deoderize your car and ashtray
- it will snuff out lighted cigarettes instantly
- without grinding them into your ashtray
- which leaves a tarry mess and
- takes valuable time
With baking soda, your car smells sweeter, it's easier to clean up and you are driving safer since your attention can stay on the road.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Wachovia Bank to process donations to Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road - September 9, 2009
To enable nonprofit status, contributions should be made to MarinLink for the Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Project.
From left to right are James Curry, Ray Lorber, Carolyn Lenert and George Bacon.
George Bacon is Wachovia's Financial Specialist.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Mark MacMillan is Hit by a Truck - Letter dated July 12, 2009
My name is Mark MacMillan. I am writing this letter in response to a community concern involving the safety issues on Lucas Valley road for both pedestrians and bicyclists alike. I have been personally involved in a pedestrian/ truck vehicle accident. I will relate my incident in the following manner.
I have been a resident of the Mont Marin neighborhood for the majority of years since 1965. I have seen what some would consider to be major changes in population growth and with that the ensuing greater traffic flow. I realize that a certain faction of residents have warned about impending future traffic growth . This may have arisen from construction projects already completed or already approved plans for other projects. Needless to say I have witnessed an increase in traffic. Although I realize one cannot live in a completely risk free society, my senses are on alert anytime I am a pedestrian on Lucas valley road. The risk could be mitigated if the proposed plans and solutions of SafePassage along Lucas Valley Road would be brought into use.
Thus there I was on March 23rd, 2007 walking towards highway 101 after turning right from Las Gallinas Avenue, a routine done countless times. I had made it as far as the office building, I believe the address is 101 Lucas Valley road, when I was struck by a produce truck from behind. I was told the driver was traveling approximately the speed limit 40-45 mph. I thought that my head area suffered the majority of the impact. The witness in the car behind the truck thought the same. I do believe that her current RN experience allowed her to act immediately and professionally e.g.- phone 911,made sure I was conscious after some time and told me what to do. The first responders showed up quickly, were also very professional and had me transported to Kaiser hospital in Terra Linda. The CAT scan did prove negative but I did have a broken hand possibly from the landing.
Within a few weeks of the incident , I started to complain about my shoulder which, in turned out, actually took the brunt of the impact. After various therapy protocols including an MRI procedure, cortisone shots, I thought surgery was necessary. I had an arthroscopy procedure for rotator cuff and Labrum damage that was incurred done on April 23rd, 2009. I am now in the rehabilitation phase post procedure.
I still do take the same route as a pedestrian although on a much more irregular basis. I do walk with much more trepidation and am constantly looking over my shoulder on Lucas Valley road. I do truly hope that the powers that be can come to a conclusion that will increase the safety for pedestrians and bicyclists alike on what I think is an inherently dangerous part of road.
Sincerely,
Mark MacMillan
I have been a resident of the Mont Marin neighborhood for the majority of years since 1965. I have seen what some would consider to be major changes in population growth and with that the ensuing greater traffic flow. I realize that a certain faction of residents have warned about impending future traffic growth . This may have arisen from construction projects already completed or already approved plans for other projects. Needless to say I have witnessed an increase in traffic. Although I realize one cannot live in a completely risk free society, my senses are on alert anytime I am a pedestrian on Lucas valley road. The risk could be mitigated if the proposed plans and solutions of SafePassage along Lucas Valley Road would be brought into use.
Thus there I was on March 23rd, 2007 walking towards highway 101 after turning right from Las Gallinas Avenue, a routine done countless times. I had made it as far as the office building, I believe the address is 101 Lucas Valley road, when I was struck by a produce truck from behind. I was told the driver was traveling approximately the speed limit 40-45 mph. I thought that my head area suffered the majority of the impact. The witness in the car behind the truck thought the same. I do believe that her current RN experience allowed her to act immediately and professionally e.g.- phone 911,made sure I was conscious after some time and told me what to do. The first responders showed up quickly, were also very professional and had me transported to Kaiser hospital in Terra Linda. The CAT scan did prove negative but I did have a broken hand possibly from the landing.
Within a few weeks of the incident , I started to complain about my shoulder which, in turned out, actually took the brunt of the impact. After various therapy protocols including an MRI procedure, cortisone shots, I thought surgery was necessary. I had an arthroscopy procedure for rotator cuff and Labrum damage that was incurred done on April 23rd, 2009. I am now in the rehabilitation phase post procedure.
I still do take the same route as a pedestrian although on a much more irregular basis. I do walk with much more trepidation and am constantly looking over my shoulder on Lucas Valley road. I do truly hope that the powers that be can come to a conclusion that will increase the safety for pedestrians and bicyclists alike on what I think is an inherently dangerous part of road.
Sincerely,
Mark MacMillan
Emma Ramshaw is Run off the Road - Letter dated January 28, 2009
Firstly, I'd like to say how much I support your cause. Lucas Valley Road has so many possibilities for pedestrians and cyclists to explore, and yet I know there is a genuine feeling of reluctance for any of our community to make the most of it, due to the heavy, fast moving traffic. If I could just clarify one point - I wasn't actually hit by a car whilst on my bike (I think at the speeds most cars drive at on that road, I wouldn't be here to tell the tale!), but I was run off the road by a car that drifted into the bike lane. I was lucky enough to have been missed by only a foot or so, and if I hadn't taken the action of hitting the grass, I definitely would have been severely injured.
It has really made me very reluctant to get back on my bike ANYWHERE in Marinwood, but I can safely say that I won't be riding my bike down to the YMCA any more. It makes me very angry that I have to let my membership of the YMCA lapse as I don't always have the time to walk there and back - since it is at least 3 miles each way for me. I know of several people who were interested in cycling to the YMCA but have been put off by negotiating Lucas Valley Road. What a shame that such a great gym that promotes healthy and active living cannot be safely reached by anyone not in a car. I choose not to drive and have no access to a car, and so this limits me greatly.
I hope that this petition helps to make people more aware of the dangers posed to pedestrians and cyclists in our neighborhood. It would be interesting to see if the YMCA would be interested in making access to their gym safer for the people who use it.
If you need any more information, please let me know. Email is best as my working hours are pretty random!
Best wishes
TAM Letter of Support - 21 August, 2009
August 21, 2009
Mr. Ray Lorber and Ms. Carolyn Lenert
Safe Passage Along Lucas Valley Road
5 Upper Oak Drive
San Rafael, CA 94903
Dear Ray and Carolyn:
Transportation Alternatives for Marin (“TAM”) is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit corporation whose mission is to promote pedestrian
and bicycle transportation, particularly in the United States. This
mission is advanced through the promotion of Marin County,
California as a model community of pedestrian and bicycle
transportation, and the demonstration that investment in integrated
bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, combined with education,
can relieve a substantial portion of the overall transportation load.
TAM has long been a proponent of multi-use paths, single
directional bike paths, and sidewalks on each side of Lucas Valley
Road from Westgate to McGinnis Park.
Recently, neighbors have come together to promote a segment of
this larger project to create a safe passage along Lucas Valley
Road from Las Gallinas to Los Gamos Road. TAM fully supports
these efforts to build a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists
along Lucas Valley Road between Las Gallinas Avenue and
Los Gamos Drive. The community already uses this routing,
which demonstrates its need. However, present conditions are
unsafe.
The traffic accidents near the 101 Lucas Valley Road office
complex suffered by Emma Ramshaw while she was biking
along this corridor and Mark MacMillanwhile he was walking
along Lucas Valley Road can only be prevented byutilizing a
safe and separate multiuse pathway along Lucas Valley
Road from Las Gallinas to Los Gamos on the south side of
Lucas Valley Road. Mark was hit by a truck on
March 23, 2007 and is still in rehabilitation.
The lack of street lighting is an additional safety hazard.
The County of Marin and the City of San Rafael need to
come together to resolve the boundary issue. This issue
continues to hinder resolution of the dangerous existing
conditions.
Mr. Ray Lorber and Ms. Carolyn Lenert
August 21, 2009
Page 2
TAM considers completion of the (Las Gallinas to Los Gamos)
corridor a key project for Marin County and the City of
San Rafael. The larger project is to connect
Las Gallinas/The North South Bikeway and McGinnis.
This can be done with a Caltrans Class I Bike Single
Directional bike path, or a Caltrans multi-use path on
each side of Lucas Valley Road.
TAM supports your efforts to improve the safety of the
corridor along Lucas Valley Road. Thank you for
encouraging healthy and safe non-motorized transportation
for our community.
Very truly yours,
Patrick M. Seidler
President
Mr. Ray Lorber and Ms. Carolyn Lenert
Safe Passage Along Lucas Valley Road
5 Upper Oak Drive
San Rafael, CA 94903
Dear Ray and Carolyn:
Transportation Alternatives for Marin (“TAM”) is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit corporation whose mission is to promote pedestrian
and bicycle transportation, particularly in the United States. This
mission is advanced through the promotion of Marin County,
California as a model community of pedestrian and bicycle
transportation, and the demonstration that investment in integrated
bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, combined with education,
can relieve a substantial portion of the overall transportation load.
TAM has long been a proponent of multi-use paths, single
directional bike paths, and sidewalks on each side of Lucas Valley
Road from Westgate to McGinnis Park.
Recently, neighbors have come together to promote a segment of
this larger project to create a safe passage along Lucas Valley
Road from Las Gallinas to Los Gamos Road. TAM fully supports
these efforts to build a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists
along Lucas Valley Road between Las Gallinas Avenue and
Los Gamos Drive. The community already uses this routing,
which demonstrates its need. However, present conditions are
unsafe.
The traffic accidents near the 101 Lucas Valley Road office
complex suffered by Emma Ramshaw while she was biking
along this corridor and Mark MacMillanwhile he was walking
along Lucas Valley Road can only be prevented byutilizing a
safe and separate multiuse pathway along Lucas Valley
Road from Las Gallinas to Los Gamos on the south side of
Lucas Valley Road. Mark was hit by a truck on
March 23, 2007 and is still in rehabilitation.
The lack of street lighting is an additional safety hazard.
The County of Marin and the City of San Rafael need to
come together to resolve the boundary issue. This issue
continues to hinder resolution of the dangerous existing
conditions.
Mr. Ray Lorber and Ms. Carolyn Lenert
August 21, 2009
Page 2
TAM considers completion of the (Las Gallinas to Los Gamos)
corridor a key project for Marin County and the City of
San Rafael. The larger project is to connect
Las Gallinas/The North South Bikeway and McGinnis.
This can be done with a Caltrans Class I Bike Single
Directional bike path, or a Caltrans multi-use path on
each side of Lucas Valley Road.
TAM supports your efforts to improve the safety of the
corridor along Lucas Valley Road. Thank you for
encouraging healthy and safe non-motorized transportation
for our community.
Very truly yours,
Patrick M. Seidler
President
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Biketobertfest Marin-2009 “The human-powered two-wheelin’ festival”
WHO: Access4Bikes (A4B), Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC) present…
Sponsored by Lagunitas Brewing
WHAT: Biketoberfest Marin 2009
Biketoberfest combines a handmade bicycle show with a brewfest, featuring Northern California's best!
A celebration of the bicycle, Biketoberfest 2009 is for cyclists of all ages, combined with a brewfest of over a dozen handcrafted beers from premier Northern California brewers. Biketoberfest features a bike expo, vintage bike show, activities for kids and live music.
Highlights include...
• Beer tasting featuring over 20 different beers from 15 different Northern California Brewers!
• Soda tasting for the kids.
• Live music featuring Honeydust, Sons of the Pacific and Philip Der Stein Quintet
• Handmade bikes from Steelman, Ingis/Retrotec, Sycip, Rivendell, Soulcraft, Calfee, Ahrens and more!
• Classic bike show featuring 40 vintage bikes!
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, October 10, 2009
LOCATION: FairAnselm Plaza Parking lot765 Center Blvd. (next to Iron Springs Pub and Java Hut), downtown Fairfax, Calif. COST: Free. Includes bike expo, vintage bike show, kids activities and music.
BEER TASTING: The Biketoberfest beer tasting features over 20 beers from 15 Northern California brewers. The fee for tasting is $20 and includes a commemorative Biketoberfest 8oz. glass. Proceeds benefit bicycle advocacy in Marin County.
PHONE: 415-453-4333
WEB SITE: www.biketoberfestmarin.com
Proceeds from Biketoberfest 2009 benefit bicycle advocacy in Marin County, the Bay Area's premier cycling destination.
Sponsored by Lagunitas Brewing
WHAT: Biketoberfest Marin 2009
Biketoberfest combines a handmade bicycle show with a brewfest, featuring Northern California's best!
A celebration of the bicycle, Biketoberfest 2009 is for cyclists of all ages, combined with a brewfest of over a dozen handcrafted beers from premier Northern California brewers. Biketoberfest features a bike expo, vintage bike show, activities for kids and live music.
Highlights include...
• Beer tasting featuring over 20 different beers from 15 different Northern California Brewers!
• Soda tasting for the kids.
• Live music featuring Honeydust, Sons of the Pacific and Philip Der Stein Quintet
• Handmade bikes from Steelman, Ingis/Retrotec, Sycip, Rivendell, Soulcraft, Calfee, Ahrens and more!
• Classic bike show featuring 40 vintage bikes!
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, October 10, 2009
LOCATION: FairAnselm Plaza Parking lot765 Center Blvd. (next to Iron Springs Pub and Java Hut), downtown Fairfax, Calif. COST: Free. Includes bike expo, vintage bike show, kids activities and music.
BEER TASTING: The Biketoberfest beer tasting features over 20 beers from 15 Northern California brewers. The fee for tasting is $20 and includes a commemorative Biketoberfest 8oz. glass. Proceeds benefit bicycle advocacy in Marin County.
PHONE: 415-453-4333
WEB SITE: www.biketoberfestmarin.com
Proceeds from Biketoberfest 2009 benefit bicycle advocacy in Marin County, the Bay Area's premier cycling destination.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Councilwoman Barbara Heller on "Walk with Us" - August 13, 2009
City Council Candidate Gary Ford on "Walk with Us" - July 19, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Letter submitted to San Rafael BPAC - July 6, 2009
Date: July 6, 2009 c/o Five Upper Oak Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903
To: Preston McCoy, Chairman
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC)
750 Pine Lane, San Rafael CA 94903-2334
From: Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road (Ray Lorber and Carolyn Lenert, CoPresidents)
A Project of the North San Rafael Coalition of Residents and MarinLink
Re: Include Lucas Valley Road ─ from Las Gallinas Avenue to Los Gamos Road ─
In the San Rafael Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan 2009 Update
MULTI-USE CLASS I PATHWAY FOR LUCAS VALLEY ROAD...PLUS
With the increasing number of pedestrians walking along Lucas Valley Road between Miller Creek and Los Gamos Roads, a Multi-use Class I pathway (separated from the vehicular traffic) is sorely needed along this corridor. CalTrans standards per Section 1003.5 apply. Also, we recommend the redesign the intersection of Lucas Valley and Los Gamos Roads to improve pedestrian safety---to possibly include right turn lane and bulbouts, etc. Note that there is a similar problem at 101 Lucas Valley Road where a private driveway does not allow for safe passage.
FIVE ACCIDENTS BETWEEN MILLER CREEK AND LOS GAMOS ROADS IN 2 YEARS
The County of Marin and the City of San Rafael must not continue to expose themselves to the liability incurred by car/pedestrian/cyclist injury accidents such as those experienced by Mark MacMillan on March 23, 2007 and by Emma Ramshaw in January 2009.
ONLY MARIN EAST-WEST ARTERY THAT LACKS PEDESTRIAN/BICYCLE PATHWAY
Tiburon Boulevard, Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Ignacio Boulevard and Novato Boulevard each have a separate pathway for pedestrians and bicycles. Freitas Parkway has a separate pathway for pedestrians. Due to volume and usage, it is time that this northernmost gateway to our City has pedestrian/bicycle accommodation. This will connect the neighborhood residents to the new McInnis Park.
THE SAN RAFAEL BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PLAN 2009 UPDATE. The City/County boundaries need to be clarified. We want the revised Bicycle and pedestrian Plan to call for a survey that will resolve cross-jurisdictional issues. The Plan needs to address this issue and offer a solution. For schools, for recreation, for health and for safety: The community supports your transportation safety efforts in this important connector corridor.
cc: City of San Rafael: Hon. Mayor and Council Members
Nader Mansourian – City Traffic Engineer (August 4, 2008 letter attached)
Leslie Morris – City Associate Engineer (Traffic)
Kel Harris – Safe Routes to Schools
Patrick Seidler – Transportation Alternatives for Marin (TAM)
David Hoffman – Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC)
Diane Steinhauser – Transportation Authority of Marin
Patsy White - YMCA
North San Rafael Coalition of Residents
Nancy Boyce - MarinLink
Diane Steinhauser – Transportation Authority of Marin
Patsy White - YMCA
North San Rafael Coalition of Residents
Nancy Boyce - MarinLink
City Council Candidate Marc Levine on "Walk with Us" - June 26, 2009
MCBC Letter of Support - June 25, 2009
June 25, 2009
Ray Lorber and Carolyn Lenert
Safe Passage on Lucas Valley Road
5 Upper Oak Drive
San Rafael, CA 94903
Dear Ray and Carolyn,
Thank you for the opportunity to meet with you on June 24th, 2009 to discuss the need for better non-motorized facilities along the south side of Lucas Valley Road between Las Gallinas and Los Gamos Road. During our one-hour walkabout it was evident that this section of road is clearly heavily used by pedestrians, joggers, runners, and bicyclists.
MCBC supports your efforts to have specific accommodations along this stretch of road installed. We would be happy to support you in any what that we can to help you achieve this goal.
Please let me know if you have any questions. I may be contact via the following ways below.
Best regards,
David Hoffman
Director of Planning
Marin County Bicycle Coalition
Promoting Safe Bicycling for Everyday Transportation and Recreation
Ray Lorber and Carolyn Lenert
Safe Passage on Lucas Valley Road
5 Upper Oak Drive
San Rafael, CA 94903
Dear Ray and Carolyn,
Thank you for the opportunity to meet with you on June 24th, 2009 to discuss the need for better non-motorized facilities along the south side of Lucas Valley Road between Las Gallinas and Los Gamos Road. During our one-hour walkabout it was evident that this section of road is clearly heavily used by pedestrians, joggers, runners, and bicyclists.
MCBC supports your efforts to have specific accommodations along this stretch of road installed. We would be happy to support you in any what that we can to help you achieve this goal.
Please let me know if you have any questions. I may be contact via the following ways below.
Best regards,
David Hoffman
Director of Planning
Marin County Bicycle Coalition
Promoting Safe Bicycling for Everyday Transportation and Recreation
YMCA offers Letter of Support - June 23, 2009
June 23, 2009
Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road
c/o Ray Lorber and Carolyn Lenert
5 Upper Oak Drive
San Rafael, CA 94903
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The YMCA Board of Directors supports your efforts to enable a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists on Lucas Valley Road between Los Gamos Drive and Las Gallinas Avenue.
We have grave concerns over the high volume/speeding traffic and lack of pedestrian accommodation in this area. The obvious dangers to walkers, joggers and cyclists will only be made worse by the proposed increase in speed limit (from 45 mph) to 50 mph. This chronic problem needs to be addressed and resolved.
We support a separate Class I multi-use path for non-motorized traffic along the south side of Lucas Valley Road. This will greatly improve the safety for our membership as they travel between the YMCA and the Mont Marin/Marinwood neighborhoods and beyond.
The YMCA Board enthusiastically supports your efforts to improve the safety of our neighborhood streets. Thank you for encouraging healthy and safe non-motorized transportation for our community.
Sincerely,
YMCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
By____________________________
Patsy White - Chairwoman
Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road
c/o Ray Lorber and Carolyn Lenert
5 Upper Oak Drive
San Rafael, CA 94903
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The YMCA Board of Directors supports your efforts to enable a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists on Lucas Valley Road between Los Gamos Drive and Las Gallinas Avenue.
We have grave concerns over the high volume/speeding traffic and lack of pedestrian accommodation in this area. The obvious dangers to walkers, joggers and cyclists will only be made worse by the proposed increase in speed limit (from 45 mph) to 50 mph. This chronic problem needs to be addressed and resolved.
We support a separate Class I multi-use path for non-motorized traffic along the south side of Lucas Valley Road. This will greatly improve the safety for our membership as they travel between the YMCA and the Mont Marin/Marinwood neighborhoods and beyond.
The YMCA Board enthusiastically supports your efforts to improve the safety of our neighborhood streets. Thank you for encouraging healthy and safe non-motorized transportation for our community.
Sincerely,
YMCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
By____________________________
Patsy White - Chairwoman
Neighbors Coming Together to Remove Shrubbery - June 20, 2009
On June 20, 2009, the Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Project sponsored a cleanup day for the Las Gallinas Avenue to Los Gamos Drive corridor of Lucas Valley Road. The cleanup effort cut back the shrubbery to allow pedestrians to walk on the edge of the road rather than on the road in traffic.
From left to right are Irene Cooper, Kim Bromley, Dave Ganapoler, Jim Cooper, Craig Murray and Carolyn Lenert. Ray Lorber is posing as the photographer.
Kim Bromley
Jim and Irene Cooper
Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road becomes a nonprofit organization - June 17, 2009
On June 17, 2009 Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road signed a Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement with MarinLink.
Becoming a sponsored project of MarinLink enabled the Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Project to become exempt from federal tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Tax Code.
Becoming a sponsored project of MarinLink enabled the Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Project to become exempt from federal tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Tax Code.
Councilman Greg Brockbank on "Walk with Us" - June 14, 2009
On Sunday, June 14, 2009 Greg Brockbank, San Rafael City Councilman, walked the Lucas Valley Road corridor with Carolyn Lennert and Ray Lorber. Observing the danger to pedestrians and bicyclists, Greg expressed his support for the Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Campaign.
Removing Debris along Lucas Valley Road - June 10, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Councilman Damon Connolly on "Walk with Us" - May 23, 2009
On saturday, May 23, 2009 Damon Connolly, San Rafael City Councilman, joined Carolyn Lenert and Ray Lorber for a walk along the Lucas Valley Road corridor to learn the value of the Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Campaign. Following the walk, Damon joined Carolyn and Ray for a cup of coffe to discuss how to further the Campaign.
TAM President Patrick Seidler on "Walk With Us" - May 15, 2009
While running her daily route along the dangerous Lucas Valley Road corridor, Sue Hall stopped to discuss the Campaign with Patrick Seidler and Carolyn Lennert.
Sue Hall Joins Campaign - April 29, 2009
Sue Hall of KFRC fame has agreed to support the Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Campaign. Sue's support brought additional emphasis to public awareness of the Campaign.
Meeting with County Public Works Director - March 16, 2009
Farhad Mansourian and Criag Tackabery,
Thank you for taking time from your extremely busy schedules to meet with Carolyn Lenert and myself last Monday. Your expression of concern for safe passage along Lucas Valley Road is deeply appreciated. Knowing that the County's Public Works Department is aware of and shares our concern for the dangers of walking and biking along this Las Gallinas Avenue - Los Gamos Road corridor is rewarding and encouraging.
Our Mont Marin and Marinwood neighbors use this corridor to travel to the Golden Gate Transit bus stop, the YMCA and for exercise. They have frequently described to us their personal close encounters with speeding vehicles along this corridor. Because of their personal experience with the dangerous conditions along this road, they have encouraged us and have supported our efforts to bring this issue to your attention.
We are looking forward to future meetings and working with you to provide a safe passage along Lucas Valley Road.
Ray Lorber
Vice President - Mont Marin Homeowners Association
Thank you for taking time from your extremely busy schedules to meet with Carolyn Lenert and myself last Monday. Your expression of concern for safe passage along Lucas Valley Road is deeply appreciated. Knowing that the County's Public Works Department is aware of and shares our concern for the dangers of walking and biking along this Las Gallinas Avenue - Los Gamos Road corridor is rewarding and encouraging.
Our Mont Marin and Marinwood neighbors use this corridor to travel to the Golden Gate Transit bus stop, the YMCA and for exercise. They have frequently described to us their personal close encounters with speeding vehicles along this corridor. Because of their personal experience with the dangerous conditions along this road, they have encouraged us and have supported our efforts to bring this issue to your attention.
We are looking forward to future meetings and working with you to provide a safe passage along Lucas Valley Road.
Ray Lorber
Vice President - Mont Marin Homeowners Association
Data Base of Project Supporters - Began on January 24, 2009
Carolyn Lenert and Ray Lorber began building the Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Campaign data base by setting up a table on Lucas Valley Road and requesting support from persons passing by.
The first person who was asked was Emma Ramshaw. Emma described her experience of being run off the road the previous week by a driver talking on his cell phone. She expressed her appreciation for our campaign and offered to provide a letter of support.
Over fifty names were collected during the first hour.
The first person who was asked was Emma Ramshaw. Emma described her experience of being run off the road the previous week by a driver talking on his cell phone. She expressed her appreciation for our campaign and offered to provide a letter of support.
Over fifty names were collected during the first hour.
Supervisor Adams Initiates "Walk With Us" Program - January 15, 2009
CAROLYN LENERT'S LETTER OF APPRECIATION
Dear Super Supervisor:
I wonder if you still remember what it's like to have an individual such as yourself cut through the red tape and take
ownership-in-collaboration when you're a community member who cares deeply about health, safety and beauty? Oh Happy Day!
I know you know perseverance and persistence, teamwork and collaboration. But it was clear on our Saturday Walk With Me that you know how to inspire, encourage and support leaders around you. That puts you in Mastery and I am deeply honored to work with you. Oh Happy Day!!
We are gratified beyond measure by your down-to-earth, effective action and thorough approach to solving the pedestrian/bicycle safety issue along Lucas Valley Road.
Thank you again. Oh Happy Day!!!
Carolyn
RAY LORBER'S LETTER OF APPRECIATION
Supervisor Adams,
Thank you for taking the time to walk Lucas Valley Road with us this morning. Your concern for our issues is deeply appreciated by myself, Carolyn Lenert and John Rojas.
As an involved and active resident of Mont Marin, I assure you that our community is deeply interested int the pedestrian safety, street lighting and highway adoption issues that we discussed. As you advised, I will be contacting Farhad Mansourian to discuss clean up and trash removal along the road.
I truly enjoyed talking with you and look forward to having the opportunity again.
Ray Lorber
Director - Mont Marin Homeowners Association
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
"Walk with Us" program introduced - January 2009
The "Walk with Us" program was established by the Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Campaign to inform community leaders and neighbors of the danger to pedestrians and cyclists along the Las Gallinas Avenue to Los Gamos Drive corridor of Lucas Valley Road and to hear of their concerns.
We meet at the corner of Las Gallinas Avenue and Lucas Valley Road. At the beginning of the walk we provide some history about how the project came about and then progress down Lucas Valley Road to Los Gamos Drive.
As we walk along the route we discuss, in addition to the danger presented by speeding vehicles, the issues that have to be addressed to implement a safe and separate path for pedestrians and bicyclists. For example: the Gallinas Creek Headwaters are located in this corridor, there is no street lighting in the corridor, and, most significantly, the City/County boundary line needs to be surveyed. This is the only east/west artery from 101 without a safe and separate pathway for non-motorized traffic in Marin.
At the conclusion, we point out that a study needs to be performed to identify the issues that need to be resolved and ask for their support for the Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Campaign.
We meet at the corner of Las Gallinas Avenue and Lucas Valley Road. At the beginning of the walk we provide some history about how the project came about and then progress down Lucas Valley Road to Los Gamos Drive.
As we walk along the route we discuss, in addition to the danger presented by speeding vehicles, the issues that have to be addressed to implement a safe and separate path for pedestrians and bicyclists. For example: the Gallinas Creek Headwaters are located in this corridor, there is no street lighting in the corridor, and, most significantly, the City/County boundary line needs to be surveyed. This is the only east/west artery from 101 without a safe and separate pathway for non-motorized traffic in Marin.
At the conclusion, we point out that a study needs to be performed to identify the issues that need to be resolved and ask for their support for the Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Campaign.
North San Rafael Coalition Joins the Campaign - September 27, 2008
On Saturday, September 27, 2008, Ray Lorber met with Carolyn Lenert and discussed the necessity for the Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Campaign.
Carolyn, as a Director of the North San Rafael Coalition of Residents (NSRCR) and also the President of the Santa Margarita Neighborhodd Association (SMNA) readily recognized the dangers to pedestrians and bicyclists along the Las Gallinas to Los Gamos corridor of Lucas Valley Road. On behalf of NSRCR, she volunteered to commit her time and energy to the Campaign.
Carolyn, as a Director of the North San Rafael Coalition of Residents (NSRCR) and also the President of the Santa Margarita Neighborhodd Association (SMNA) readily recognized the dangers to pedestrians and bicyclists along the Las Gallinas to Los Gamos corridor of Lucas Valley Road. On behalf of NSRCR, she volunteered to commit her time and energy to the Campaign.
Letter of Support from the City - August 4, 2008
... I would like to emphasize that we continue to support the pathway installation; however, there are two issues. The first is which jurisdiction this project would fall under, and the second is the funding. ...
Nader Mansourian
City Traffic Engineer,
now Assistant Director of Public Works
Nader Mansourian
City Traffic Engineer,
now Assistant Director of Public Works
Survey needed to define Property Line - July 21 2008
Thanks for bringing this need to our attention.
The city/county boundary is on the south side of Lucas Valley Road in this area. Without further survey research, I cannot determine in whose jurisdiction a pathway would be. Portions of it could be in each.
Craig Tackabery
NMTPP
County of Marin
The city/county boundary is on the south side of Lucas Valley Road in this area. Without further survey research, I cannot determine in whose jurisdiction a pathway would be. Portions of it could be in each.
Craig Tackabery
NMTPP
County of Marin
Accident frequency along Lucas Valley Road - April 2008
Ray,
Regarding your inquiry....in 2007 calendar year there were three vehicle accidents on Lucas Valley Road between Miller Creek and Highway 101. In 2006 there were two in the same area. I hope this helps, let me know if there is anything else I can do.
Tom Roach
Fire Chief, Marinwood Community Services District
Regarding your inquiry....in 2007 calendar year there were three vehicle accidents on Lucas Valley Road between Miller Creek and Highway 101. In 2006 there were two in the same area. I hope this helps, let me know if there is anything else I can do.
Tom Roach
Fire Chief, Marinwood Community Services District
Meeting with San Rafael Traffic Engineer - April 3, 2008
Mr. Mansourian,
Thank you for taking the time to meet with me
yesterday. Your enthusiastic support and sincere
interest in providing a safe path for pedestrians
along Lucas Valley Road is deeply appreciated by the
Mont Marin Homeowners Association's Board of
Directors.
Your advise to contact Craig Tackleberry and discuss
available NMTPP funding is of great value in our
pursuit to access funding. I will keep you apprised
of our success in this endeavor.
Also, as you suggested, I will contact the Board and
request a letter expressing the concerns of our
residence.
Sincerely appreciative,
Ray Lorber, Director
Mont Marin Homeowners Association
Thank you for taking the time to meet with me
yesterday. Your enthusiastic support and sincere
interest in providing a safe path for pedestrians
along Lucas Valley Road is deeply appreciated by the
Mont Marin Homeowners Association's Board of
Directors.
Your advise to contact Craig Tackleberry and discuss
available NMTPP funding is of great value in our
pursuit to access funding. I will keep you apprised
of our success in this endeavor.
Also, as you suggested, I will contact the Board and
request a letter expressing the concerns of our
residence.
Sincerely appreciative,
Ray Lorber, Director
Mont Marin Homeowners Association
Monday, August 31, 2009
Near Accident Report - Jan. 10, 2008
Sunday evening around 6:30 I was traveling from the
freeway along Lucas Valley Road. It was raining
heavily and terribly dark.
Well, as I have dreaded, and we have discussed, some
pedestrians with their dog decided it was a good idea
to dash in front of my car to cross Lucas Valley Road.
I did not see them until the last minute (thank
goodness, I saw them in time) and had to slam on my
breaks and swerve to keep from colliding with them.
Pedestrians just don't realize that they can not be
seen by the vehicle driver when it is dark and it is
pouring down rain.
I am sending this to you only because we need a
pedestrian path along Lucas Valley Road. And we need
lighting between Los Gamos and Las Gallinas.
Ray Lorber
freeway along Lucas Valley Road. It was raining
heavily and terribly dark.
Well, as I have dreaded, and we have discussed, some
pedestrians with their dog decided it was a good idea
to dash in front of my car to cross Lucas Valley Road.
I did not see them until the last minute (thank
goodness, I saw them in time) and had to slam on my
breaks and swerve to keep from colliding with them.
Pedestrians just don't realize that they can not be
seen by the vehicle driver when it is dark and it is
pouring down rain.
I am sending this to you only because we need a
pedestrian path along Lucas Valley Road. And we need
lighting between Los Gamos and Las Gallinas.
Ray Lorber
County Response - Oct 28, 2007
I am more than happy to work with you regarding pathway installations. We can meet and discuss what it takes to facilitate such an endeavor.
Please consider the following information which merits both the community’s and your attention:
Providing a pathway is a major capital improvement and among other things it requires strict ADA compliance, appropriate drainage design, utility relocations, and right of way acquisition’s etc.
When we receive requests for such projects we consider the specific areas need (how many pedestrians are using it) compared to other locations in the community. These other compared locations include school vicinities and community centers etc. We also have to make sure that there is strong community support for these types of improvements.
Last but not least is fundraising. After the above items are addressed, we then work together to seek funding such as State, Federal or local grants.
Please consider the following information which merits both the community’s and your attention:
Providing a pathway is a major capital improvement and among other things it requires strict ADA compliance, appropriate drainage design, utility relocations, and right of way acquisition’s etc.
When we receive requests for such projects we consider the specific areas need (how many pedestrians are using it) compared to other locations in the community. These other compared locations include school vicinities and community centers etc. We also have to make sure that there is strong community support for these types of improvements.
Last but not least is fundraising. After the above items are addressed, we then work together to seek funding such as State, Federal or local grants.
City Manager Assistance Request - Oct. 17, 2007
Mr. Nordhoff
San Rafael City Manager
Dear sir,
The Mont Marin Board of Directors has asked me to look
into identifying the person within the San Rafael city
government who has the responsibility for improving
the pedestrian access along Lucas Valley Road between
Las Gallinas and Los Gamos.
Today there is no safe passage for pedestrians along
this heavily traveled route. At any time of the day
one can observe pedestrians carefully maneuvering
their way along this heavily traveled road. We are
amazed that there has not been a resolution of this
problem on this extremely dangerous route.
With cars and trucks traveling above 40 miles per hour
(legally) passing within inches of pedestrians we can
assume that it is only a matter of time before another
injury will occur.
We at M.M.H.A. would appreciate your considering our
request and informing us who within the city
government has the responsibility for the pedestrian
safety along this corridor.
Thank you for your assistance.
Ray Lorber
Mont Marin Homeowners Association Board of Directors.
San Rafael City Manager
Dear sir,
The Mont Marin Board of Directors has asked me to look
into identifying the person within the San Rafael city
government who has the responsibility for improving
the pedestrian access along Lucas Valley Road between
Las Gallinas and Los Gamos.
Today there is no safe passage for pedestrians along
this heavily traveled route. At any time of the day
one can observe pedestrians carefully maneuvering
their way along this heavily traveled road. We are
amazed that there has not been a resolution of this
problem on this extremely dangerous route.
With cars and trucks traveling above 40 miles per hour
(legally) passing within inches of pedestrians we can
assume that it is only a matter of time before another
injury will occur.
We at M.M.H.A. would appreciate your considering our
request and informing us who within the city
government has the responsibility for the pedestrian
safety along this corridor.
Thank you for your assistance.
Ray Lorber
Mont Marin Homeowners Association Board of Directors.
PWD Assistance Request - Nov. 4, 2006
Andy Preston - Director
Public Works Department
City of San Rafael
Thank you and your staff for the assistance provided
in the Mont Marin Sign Project.
The effort was a great success. Frequently we receive
accolades for the value the sign has provided to the
neighborhood. You and your staff should feel great
satisfaction for the success of their efforts.
Having successfully completed this project, the Mont
Marin Homeowner's Association Board of Directors would
like to address an issue of great concern to all of
our neighbors. There is a significant amount of
pedestrian traffic on Lucas Valley Road between Las
Gallinas Avenue and Los Gamos Drive.
We are very concerned as to the safety for these
pedestrians and would like to have a pedestrian pathway
installed on the south side of Lucas Valley Road.
Can you assist us in identifying the appropriate
organization that we should contact to initiate our
request.
Thank you for your continued assistance,
Sincerely,
Raymond G. Lorber
Treasurer, Mont Marin Homeowner's Association
Public Works Department
City of San Rafael
Thank you and your staff for the assistance provided
in the Mont Marin Sign Project.
The effort was a great success. Frequently we receive
accolades for the value the sign has provided to the
neighborhood. You and your staff should feel great
satisfaction for the success of their efforts.
Having successfully completed this project, the Mont
Marin Homeowner's Association Board of Directors would
like to address an issue of great concern to all of
our neighbors. There is a significant amount of
pedestrian traffic on Lucas Valley Road between Las
Gallinas Avenue and Los Gamos Drive.
We are very concerned as to the safety for these
pedestrians and would like to have a pedestrian pathway
installed on the south side of Lucas Valley Road.
Can you assist us in identifying the appropriate
organization that we should contact to initiate our
request.
Thank you for your continued assistance,
Sincerely,
Raymond G. Lorber
Treasurer, Mont Marin Homeowner's Association
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Project began in September 2006
With pedestrians an
d bicyclists sharing the traffic lanes with cars and trucks traveling at the posted speed of 45 mph, the Board of Directors of Mont Marin Homeowners Association elected to start a project to see what issues were involved in providing a safe passage for non-motorized traffic along the Las Gallinas Avenue to Los Gamos Drive corridor on Lucas Valley Road. The Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road project was initiated by Marion Elkjer, President of Mont Marin Homeowners Association. On September 13, 2006 she assigned the task of investigating the issues to Ray Lorber.
d bicyclists sharing the traffic lanes with cars and trucks traveling at the posted speed of 45 mph, the Board of Directors of Mont Marin Homeowners Association elected to start a project to see what issues were involved in providing a safe passage for non-motorized traffic along the Las Gallinas Avenue to Los Gamos Drive corridor on Lucas Valley Road. The Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road project was initiated by Marion Elkjer, President of Mont Marin Homeowners Association. On September 13, 2006 she assigned the task of investigating the issues to Ray Lorber.
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