Annual Bike Ride Takes Off Saturday

The annual Marin Century bike rides, the bigggest participatory event in the county, will roll out from Vallecito School (onto Las Gallinas) in San Rafael on Saturday.  Some 2,700 cyclists will hit the roads of Marin County roads for short periods of time, to accommodate the Marin Century riders.  From 7am to 10am, the westbound lane of Lucas Valley Road---from west of Westgate to Big Rock will be closed.  And, from 8am to 11am, the northbound lane of Point Reyes-Petaluma Road will be closed from north of Nicasio Valley Road to the top of Rocky Hill.  Careful Out There !

Lucas Valley Road to be repaved

Listed below is an article from the IJ.  The article refers to the repaving of Lucas Valley Road from Las Gallinas Avenue to Los Gamos Road.

This repaving project is not part of the Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Project.  This repaving was previously planned for July of 2009 and has been delayed till now.

The Safe Passage Project is scheduled for completion in 2012.  Engineering studies are expected to begin in January 2011.  There will  be public discussion of the Safe Passage Project prior to the begin of work.

Mark your calendar - Saturday, September 25, Coastal Cleanup Day, will be the next quarterly cleanup day for the Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Project. 

__________________________

Ghilotti Bros. wins county bike project contract

Nels Johnson

Posted: 08/03/2010 04:11:25 PM PDT

Ghilotti Bros. Inc. will proceed with the county's 2010 "bicycle facility project." The firm was awarded a $238,888 contract Tuesday to move ahead with signs, pavement markings and striping at locations across Marin, with asphalt and concrete widening in some Novato areas.

Ernest Klock, county principal engineer, noted Ghilotti Bros. was low bidder among five firms vying for the job, with a high bid of $382,000 submitted by CF Contracting of Fairfax.

Bike lane asphalt widening, striping and signing in along Atherton Avenue in Novato will include a stretch from Highway 37 to 730 feet east of Olive Drive, and from Armstrong Road and Binford Road to Bugeia Lane.

Signing and striping for bike lanes will proceed at:
- Donahue Street: Highway 101 offramp for 0.2 miles.
- Lucas Valley Road: Los Gamos Road to Las Gallinas Road.
- Kent Avenue: Poplar Avenue to the county limits.
- Novato Boulevard: Point Reyes-Petaluma Road to the city limits.
- Seminary Drive: Ricardo Road to Gilbert Drive.

County supervisors routinely approved the contract, as well as a $23,888 contingency fund to pay for any extras.
Contact Nels Johnson via e-mail at ij.civiccenter@gmail.com.
_____________________________________________________

Traffic speed limit control made fun

Click on the YouTube link listed below to see a video on how to make traffic speed limit control fun!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcaKocRXCB4&feature=channel

Sausalito moves ahead with their multi-use pathway

Multi-use pathway moves forward

By Jessica Mullins

Published: Tuesday, July 6, 2010 5:49 PM PDT

The Sausalito City Council pushed for a resident public workshop after receiving a progress report on multi-use pathway plans.

Soon officials will be creating the first draft of a plan detailing how a multi-use pathway could make its way north through Sausalito, extending from downtown to Gate 6 Road.

A multi-use path is an off-road hard-surfaced path separated from car traffic by an open space or barrier, which has been designated for public use for human-powered travel or movement — mainly, pedestrians and cyclists. There are different pathway options that separate cyclists from pedestrians and provide different widths for each right of way. How wide the path would be, and its configuration, haven’t been decided yet.

The City Council’s update last week on the status of the project was meant to also serve as a public workshop, but the council said it wanted something with more resident involvement. There were about a dozen people in the council chambers attending the discussion at the June 29 meeting.

While the idea of creating some kind of path through northern Sausalito has been around for decades, a federal grant for the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program supplied the impetus needed to begin planning.

A $25 million grant was first awarded to Marin County in 2006 for the pilot program. After six months of review, the Marin Board of Supervisors awarded Sausalito $100,000 to develop a plan for a multi-use path between the ferry landing and Gate 6 Road.

The Sausalito City Council awarded a contract to Alta Planning in March 2009, stressing that Alta should focus on routes along Bridgeway instead of shoreline routes going through the Marinship.

Last week, planning officials pointed out problematic areas they have been studying, and changes that may be necessary, such as decreasing the size of Parking Lot 4 (to which the council had a cool reaction).

The council had approved a stakeholder advisory committee, with appointed members including Sausalito residents and a representative from the Marin County Bicycle Coalition. City Engineer Todd Teachout said some of the committee’s members have not been attending the regular meetings.

Council member Carolyn Ford asked what the city could do to control those who travel too fast on pathways. The council could adopt laws, such as a speed limit for bikes.

During discussion, council member Herb Weiner said it’s essential to continue the pathway effort because “we’re going to see more and more bikes and pedestrians.”

Mayor Jonathon Leone said Sausalito obviously needs a pathway because “there’s no safe place to ride.” He said he has to take his children to Tiburon to teach them how to ride their bikes.

Local architect Michael Rex spoke in support of the project and asked the council to consider scheduling a public workshop.

Resident Pat Zuch said she was concerned about the fate of many old trees on Bridgeway, but that she wasn’t opposed to creating a pathway.

David Hoffman, MCBC director of planning, said what’s been accomplished so far shows what could be done in Sausalito despite many constraints and limitations.

Resident Bob Mitchell, who attended all the advisory meetings, said he felt the advisory committee had been “overtaken” by bicycle advocates, and felt he hadn’t been shown all the data.

Resident Bonnie MacGregor, who was one of the Sausalito residents appointed to the stakeholder advisory committee, said the plans had all been discussed in great detail at the committee’s meetings. “I have seen almost every diagram presented tonight. I don’t know whether Mr. Mitchell was so busy interrupting the meetings he didn’t see it.”

Contact Jessica Mullins at jmullins@marinscope.com.

September 25, 2010 - Coastal Cleanup Day

Mark your calendar for our next cleanup on September 25, 2010.

Our next cleanup along Lucas Valley Road/Gallinas Creek Headwaters will be on Coastal Cleanup Day.

June 5, 2010 Cleanup Day

From left to right: 
Mark MacMillan, Rod Blouin, Carolyn Lenert, John Rojas and David Crowne.  

Photographer: Ray Lorber

From Left to Right: 
Mark MacMillan, Rod Blouin, Carolyn Lenert, David Crowne and Ray Lorber.

Photographer: John Rojas

Hauling the main trunk of a tree that had come down during a recent storm.  It was blocking the dirt path and forcing pedestrians to walk on the pavement along Lucas Valley Road.  

From left to right: Ray Lorber, David Crowne, John Rojas and Mark MacMillan.

The volunteer work crew is taking a brief respite and chatting with CHP Officer Eric Egide.  The morning was very hot for this time of year.

From left to right:  Mark MacMillan, John Rojas, Rod Blouin, Carolyn Lenert and CHP officer Eric Egide.

Carolyn Lenert and Officer Eric Egide listening to Mark MacMillan describing his experience of being hit by a van while walking along Lucas Valley Road.

MCBC acknowledges the work of Safe Passage

Marin Voice: Unveiling the Northgate promenade

Staff Report

Posted: 04/30/2010 12:09:28 AM PDT

KIM BAENISCH

MAY 1 marks a momentous occasion in the history of Marin's shopping malls, as Macerich, owner of the Northgate shopping mall, is hosting a celebration of its innovative bicycle and pedestrian promenade that frames the mall on its north and east sides.

The promenade offers the opportunity for shoppers from the local community to walk, roll and stroll their way to the stores, and encourages the elimination of vehicle trips for nearby residents considering a meal or a purchase at Northgate. The public can test the new facility at 11 a.m., and enjoy the fun family activities and bike parking being provided until 3 p.m.

The Marin County Bicycle Coalition applauds Macerich and members of the San Rafael City Council for implementing a unique idea used primarily in Europe - a two-way bicycle lane adjacent to a pedestrian sidewalk, both completely separated by a curb from vehicular traffic on Los Ranchitos Road. Now, in conjunction with the mall's location on the North-South Greenway (the north to south primary bike route through Marin), shopping, dining and movie entertainment at one of Marin's recently renovated malls has become even more accessible for residents and commuters along this popular route.

To make trips by bicycle convenient, the mall provided circle-shaped racks that can lock two bikes at one time.

But it's also important to acknowledge the persistence and good work of community members who worked with San Rafael City Council members to use these opportunities to create safe passageways throughout the community. Shirley Fischer in Terra Linda led the charge with other neighbors a decade ago to create the vision for a promenade connecting Scotty's Market to the Civic Center. The mall is an important piece of this long-term vision.

Kel Harris, Carolyn Lenert and Ray Lorber continue to work with the North San Rafael Community to expand the Safe Passages program and develop key community connectors and safe pathways along the North-South Greenway.

Supervisor Susan Adams has lent her support to this work in her district.

What better way to launch May as National Bike Month, but with this acknowledgment of the value of walking and bicycling to our well-loved destinations?

At the National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C. last month, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood closed the summit by declaring himself a "full partner" with bicycle advocates. Two days later, LaHood issued a new "Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation Regulations and Recommendations" and called for full equality for non-motorized transportation modes within federal transportation programs.

Marin County has been an early leader in this effort, through our participation in the federal $20 million Non-motorized Transportation Pilot Program to complete our bike/ped network. Los Ranchitos has been completed and Puerto Suello Hill-to- Central San Rafael and the Cal Park Tunnel are almost complete.

This new federal policy underscores the benefits of walking and bicycling.

If bicycling is new to you, I invite you to give it a try on Thursday, May 13, for Bike to Work Day.

Join thousands around the Bay Area in celebrating bicycling as a fun healthy way to make your local trips - to work, school, the store, library or movie.

MCBC will host 18 energizer stations around the county that day to support new and veteran riders on their spring morning bicycle commute.

Biking is a healthy way to reduce traffic congestion and improve the environment. In just one hour, the average person can save 52 cents per mile on gas, reduce carbon emissions by 15 pounds and burn 450 calories.

With all these obvious benefits, I hope to see you on your bike on May 13.

Kim Baenisch is executive director of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition.

Life before they had safe and separate pathways

104 YEAR OLD FILM CLIP

"you are there" for a cable car ride in San Francisco"

This  film was "lost" for many years.  It was the first 35mm film ever.

It was taken by camera mounted on the front  of a cable car.
The number of automobiles is staggering for 1906. Absolutely
amazing! The clock tower at the end of Market Street at the
Embarcadero wharf is still there.  

How many "street  cleaning" people were employed
to  pick up after the horses? Talk about going  green!

Great  historical film!  Watch the scampering
as Joe Public race away from autos, horses, cable cars and bicycles. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=NINOxRxze9k

This  film, originally thought to be from 1905 until David Kiehn
with the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum figured out exactly
when it was shot. From New York trade papers  announcing
the film showing to the wet streets from recent heavy rainfall &
shadows indicating time of year &  actual weather and conditions
on historical record, even when the cars were registered
(he even knows who owned them and when the plates were issued!)..

It was filmed only four days before the Great California Earthquake of
April 18th 1906  and shipped by train to NY for processing.

 Amazing, but true!***

$600,000 Federal Grant awarded

Supervisor Susan Adams announced that a

Federal Grant for $650,000 has been awarded 

to the County of Marin.  The grant was provided to construct a safe and separate pathway along Lucas Valley  Road from Las Gallinas Avenue to Los Gamos Drive.

Transportation's bicycle policy hits potholes

MSNBC.com

Transportation's bicycle policy hits potholes

By JOAN LOWY

Associated Press Writer

The Associated Press

updated 5:18 a.m. PT, Wed., April 14, 2010

WASHINGTON - Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a weekend bicyclist, might consider keeping his head down and his helmet on. A backlash is brewing over his new bicycling policy.

LaHood says the government is going to give bicycling — and walking, too — the same importance as automobiles in transportation planning and the selection of projects for federal money. The former Republican congressman quietly announced the "sea change" in transportation policy last month.

"This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized," he wrote in his government blog.

Not so fast, say some conservatives and industries dependent on trucking. A manufacturers' blog called the policy "nonsensical." One congressman suggested LaHood was on drugs.

The new policy is an extension of the Obama administration's livability initiative, which regards the creation of alternatives to driving — buses, streetcars, trolleys and trains, as well as biking and walking — as central to solving the nation's transportation woes.

LaHood's blog was accompanied by a DOT policy statement urging states and transportation agencies to treat "walking and bicycling as equals with other transportation modes." It recommends, among other things, including biking and walking lanes on bridges and clearing snow from bike paths.

Transportation secretary is normally a quiet post, a Cabinet backwater. But LaHood has been the administration's point man on an array of high-profile issues, from high-speed trains and distracted drivers to runaway Toyotas.

The new policy has vaulted LaHood to superstar status in the bicycling world. Bike blogs are bubbling with praise. A post on Ridemonkey.com calls him "cycling's man of the century." The Adventure Cycling Association's Web site calls LaHood "our hero."

"LaHood went out on a limb for cyclists," Joe Lindsey wrote on Bicycling.com. "He said stuff no Transportation secretary's ever said, and is backing it up with action."

Word of the policy change is still filtering out beyond the bicycling and transportation planning communities, but the initial reaction from conservatives and industry has been hostile.

The National Association of Manufacturers' blog, Shopfloor.org, called the policy "dumb and irresponsible."

"LaHood's pedal parity is nonsensical for a modern industrial nation," said the blog. "We don't call it sacrilege, but radical is a fair description. It is indeed a sea change in federal transportation policy that could have profound implications for the U.S. economy and the 80 percent of freight that moves by truck."

LaHood said he has been surprised by the response.

"It didn't seem that controversial to me," he wrote in a second blog item. "After all, I didn't say they should have the only voice. Just a voice."

At a recent House hearing, Rep. Steve LaTourette, R-Ohio, suggested jokingly to a Transportation Department official that one explanation for the new policy is that the secretary's thinking has been clouded by drugs.

"Is that a typo?" LaTourette asked. "If it's not a typo, is there still mandatory drug testing at the department?"

The new policy is not a regulation and, therefore, not mandatory, Transportation undersecretary for policy Roy Kienitz responded to LaTourette.

But it's LaHood's view "that the federal government should not take the position that roads and trains are real transportation and walking and biking is not," Kienitz said. "His view is it's all real transportation, and we should consider it based on what benefits it can bring for the amount of money we spend."

That didn't satisfy LaTourette.

"So is it his thought that perhaps we're going to have, like, rickshaws carrying cargo from state to state, or people with backpacks?" asked the congressman.

Bicycling advocates have been blasting LaTourette. Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists, with 300,000 affiliated members, called his comments "a little childish."

LaTourette said in an interview that he thinks bike paths, bike lanes and projects that make communities more walkable are fine but shouldn't be funded with money raised by a gasoline tax paid by motorists. The federal gas tax pays for most highway and transit aid, although lately general Treasury funds have been used to supplement the programs.

LaHood noted that LaTourette supports federal funds for a bike path in his district.

"The point is, on his Web site he's bragging about the fact that he got some money for a bike path," LaHood said. "He knows people in his district like them."

LaHood, 64, said he and his wife have biked on weekends for years. Three days before his announcement of the new policy, LaHood stood on a table to speak to a gathering of hundreds of bike enthusiasts in Washington. He drew cheers when he vowed the Obama administration will put affordable housing next to walking and biking paths.

"I'm not going to apologize for any of it," he said in the interview. "I think this is what the people want."

___

On the Net:

League of American Bicyclists:

http://www.bikeleague.org/blog/2010/03/lahood-you-have-a-full-partner-in-ray-lahood/

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36492953/ns/politics/

MSN Privacy . Legal

© 2010 MSNBC.com

County of Marin - Public Works Department crew clearing shrubbery

Monday, April 12, 2010 

Rick, Tony and Bruce

 

                              Phil and Bert

March 20, 2010 - Spring cleanup

 

Top Row:  Esther Wanning, Council Member Greg Brockbank, Ruth Whiting, Brian Whiting

Middle Row: Supervisor Susan Adams, Zach Anderson, Carole Landes, Chris Seltzer

Bottom Row: Kel Harris, Marlies Carver, Kim Bromley, Barbara George, Carolyn Lenert, Maynard Willms

Not shown in the photo: Preston McCoy and Ray Lorber 

 

Marlies Carver  pulling up Scotch Broom.

San Rafael City Council Member Greg Brockbank and his wife Esther Wanning attacking the Broom with sincerity.

Carole Landes and Chris Seltzer searching for the most enticing Scotch Broom.

Maynard Willms has found that sitting down on the job is the most effective way to attack Scotch Broom.

Preston McCoy has also decided that sitting down is the least back breaking approach to attacking Scotch Broom.

Ruth Whiting working along side Marlies, Greg and Barbara.  













Barbara George kept us aware of the need to recycle the debris that we collected.

 
Supervisor Susan Adams working with the community to bring awareness of the need for a pedestrian pathway along this busy corridor of Lucas Valley Road.

How can you Help!

How You Can Help?

1. Contribute $10.00 for supplies and expenses

•        Make check payable to "MarinLink"
•        for: Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Project
•        This is a nonprofit corporation under - IRS code 501(c)(3)
•        Mail to: 5 Upper Oak Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903

2. Pick up trash, cuttings, debris

3. Collect signatures/email addresses at postal box drop

4. Get 2 others interested; providing their email to
           our database

5. Add our “signature” to your email

6. Speaking engagements

7. Raise money

8. Donate ream of paper for flyers at Staples
             Staples® 50% Recycled Heavyweight Multipurpose Paper

• 28 lb.
• 96 US / 109 Euro Bright
• Recommended for all copiers, inkjet and laser machines
• FSC certified and endorsed by the Rainforest Alliance
• $10.99 500/Ream

10. Donate some file folders at Staples
           Oxford Design Monogram Two-Pocket Portfolios

• Classic gold foil embossed cover
• Black/gold
• 4/Pack
• Item 883845
• Model 04161
• $6.79 four pack

11. Research traffic safety grants

12. Create our website

13. Attend future Board of Supervisor meeting

First Annual Celebration - January 23, 2010

Following the Lucas Valley Road Cleanup, the Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road campaign held their first Annual Celebration in the 101 Lucas Valley Road conference room.

The first round of applause went to Craig Scheidt who provided the conference room for the Celebration.

John Rojas was honored for his "Generous and expert volunteer efforts on behalf of SAFE PASSAGE ALONG LUCAS VALLEY ROAD."

Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Campaign Co-Presidents Ray Lorber and Carolyn Lenert presented the first Annual Mark MacMillan Public Safety Award to John.

Carolyn Lenert is showing the Annual Mark MacMillan Public Safety Award Plaque that was presented to John for his support in 2009 and John Rojas is showing the Certificate of Recognition that he received.

Supervisor Susan Adams presented the keys for "The Sea Ranch" cottage to Preston McCoy.  Preston won the weekend stay at the cottage contest by answering the most questions correctly in the year long monthly quiz contest and his participation in the quarterly Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road Cleanup projects.  

Lucas Valley Road Cleanup on Saturday, January 23, 2010

Supervisor Susan Adams and accident victim Mark MacMillan

Mark was hit by a delivery trunk on March 23, 2007 while walking along Lucas Valley Road.  After 2 years of rehabilitation he is now working with Safe Passage along Lucas Valley Road to help prevent accidents.

                          Susan Peterson

 

                                                                                                       Rod Blouin and Aref Ahmadia                                   

 Antonio Paez

                            Kim Bromley              

            City Councilman Greg Brockbank

Craig Murray

 

                               David Crowne

 

Supervisor Susan Adams and Craig Scheidt

Top row: Susan Peterson, Aref Ahmadia, Rod Blouin, Preston McCoy, Kim Bromley, Craig Murray, Patrick Seidler, Mark MacMillan  Bottom row: David Crowne, Antonio Paez

Marin County Public Works Department

8:00 a.m. Monday morning removing the pile of debris.