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Alameda County officials are currently soliciting feedback from residents about bicycle and pedestrian improvements on key roadways in the county’s jurisdiction, including unincorporated Pleasanton.

In the Pleasanton area, the Alameda County Public Works Agency is looking for input on major streets such as Foothill Road, Castlewood Drive, Vallecitos Road, Pleasanton-Sunol Road, Vineyard Avenue and Stanley Boulevard, in addition to any other unincorporated roadway, according to senior transportation planner Paul Keener.

The community outreach, which includes public workshops in the days ahead, is part of the agency’s effort to update the county’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan for Unincorporated Areas.

“The plan will develop strategies to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety; increase access to work, school, shopping, recreation, and transit; and facilitate more walking and biking in the Alameda County unincorporated areas,” Keener said in a statement.

“The Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan will include goals and policies, bicycle and pedestrian networks, safety and education programs, and funding/implementation strategies to provide more opportunities to walk and bike in the Alameda County unincorporated areas,” he added.

The first series of community workshops begins Wednesday in the Dublin Public Library, 200 Civic Plaza. The event will run from 6:30-8:30 p.m., with a formal presentation at 7 p.m.

Another workshop is set for 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Castro Valley Library, 3600 Norbridge Ave.

The workshops will be focused on receiving citizen input on existing conditions and potential improvements related to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, according to Keener. More community meetings will be scheduled in the months ahead, he said.

County officials hope to have the draft master plan update completed and released to the public by the spring, with the goal of having the final plan adopted by next June, Keener said. The citizen input will be incorporated into the drafting process.

For those who cannot attend the public workshops, feedback can be sent to Keener via email at paulk@acpwa.org or by filling out the comment box on the master plan update webpage.

Suggestions for specific areas can also be shared via Wikimapping available through the agency’s website.

Jeremy Walsh is the editorial director of Embarcadero Media Foundation's East Bay Division, including the Pleasanton Weekly, LivermoreVine.com and DanvilleSanRamon.com. He joined the organization in late...

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4 Comments

  1. Bike riders need to follow stop lights as well as stop signs and stay in the bike lanes and not try to ride side by side when there is not enough room. So many times they are in the street meant for cars………

  2. Foothill road all the way from Stoneridge to Sunol.

    And bikers need to ride single file until a bike lane gets added. The really stupid ones ride in pairs.

  3. I’m liking what alameda county officials are doing by asking for feedback from actual citizens instead of following Pleasanton’s lead and just going out and hiring consultants to do their job for them and continually reaching into our pockets for more money. Do bicyclists drive their vehicles with the same “get out of my way” attitude as they do when on their bikes??

  4. Not one dollar spent for cyclists until the PD agrees to enforce every single violation. They need to learn to obey the rules if they want more and safer ways to ride. Cyclists are their own worst enemies.

  5. It’s well said that patience is the key. When I see a cyclist on foothill road, I slow down and then pass him/her carefully and give them enough space. When I bike on foothill road, I move close to the side of the road as safety allows when I see a car is approaching behind. We all share the same road, please be patient with all users.

  6. Those who regularly drive on Vineyard toward Ruby Hill and 84 probably have seen this on a regular basis, the bike lanes that way are about as wide as the car lane and I still frequently see cyclists insisting on riding on the solid line or when more than one, ride side by side and at least one cyclist taking up part of the motor vehicle lane. In either case the cars have to ride the yellow-and-black line or cross it to maintain a 3 foot space.

    Some of the cyclists are way too entitled. But hey, no license plate or identifiers, good luck waiting for a PPD patrol car to ride out that way.

  7. FrequentWalker Miles,
    I understand your frustration and can answer part of your question as it relates to riding toward striped line on many roads (just did it on Isabel and 84 near Ruby Hill yesterday). There was lots of glass particles and some debris on shoulder which forced me to ride more to left near cars. I am an avid cyclist and ALWAYS ride on far right /mid section of shoulder away from cars when it is safe. it is a win/win for everyone. As a driver, and even as a cyclist, one cannot see the small particles of glass until they are almost on top of them.

  8. To add to Nancy’s comment -it’s not just glass, it’s potholes, gravel, car parts, screws, nails, etc. Once bike lanes are built, they need basic upkeep and that clearly doesn’t happen with the regularity required.

  9. where does one sign up to add to this input. I ride my bike around pleasanton,not often but enough . I follow the rules, stay in the bike lane and if no lane available I try to stay out of the way of cars. My biggest gripe is with the cyclists that think because they are a cyclist they ALWAYS have the right of way to the detriment of others on the roadways. Common sense and a little bit of respect goes a long way. Not all cars can see you, especially when you are coming up behind them in their blind spot.No roads are big enough for you to ride 2,3 or 4 in a row out in front of cars traveling in excess of 35 mph.. this is directed largely at you ( RUBY HILLERS) . You are putting yourselves as well as others at risk of harm. If you insist on riding in the streets with cars then follow the same rules as the cars do..Don’t blow through red lights and stop signs, Signal cars behind you when you are making left turn from a right side of the road position. Don’t ever cuss us out or kick our vehicles when you are in the wrong.. If you cannot share the roads with a little bit of common sense and respect for everyone then time to hang up your bike and take up a different hobby!!! Thanks, a very aggravated commuter!

  10. As with Auto and Truck traffic, Bicycle riders have certain ‘rules’ to follow…And as with Auto and Truck drivers, All do not necessarily follow ALL those Rules….When one or the other doesn’t, more patience is necessary to keep accidents from happening.
    When roadways are narrow, as in Foothill Road, this becomes all the more hazardous. Even more patience is required…the Bicycle rider is the immediate loser in collisions….but the community suffers in the aftermath. Memorials on Foothill are not something we would like to see added….’
    Patience please…

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