San Pablo Avenue: The road to salvation?

Auto-oriented arterials like San Pablo Avenue will not drive us to our social and environmental doom; they may be our salvation. In a recent essay, visionary urban planner Peter Calthorpe wrote, "The underutilized commercial land lining the Inner Bay Area’s 700 miles of arterials total 15,400 acres. This land could provide up to 1.3 million new houses with 260,000 affordable units close to jobs and existing services. When compared to the impacts of an average Bay Area house, these ‘Grand Boulevard’ dwellings would generate 55% fewer auto miles; cost 53% less in utilities and transportation; consume 39% less energy; demand 62% less water; and produce 50% less greenhouse gas emissions."


Calthorpe also adds that corridor development will benefit local public goods, "without disrupting stable neighborhoods or displacing existing housing . . . Increased property values will provide a tax windfall for state school funding as well as local public investments in transit, parks, affordable housing, and services. While not invading stable residential areas . . . this strip commercial land will be rebuilt with mixed-use structures, keeping retail businesses on the ground floor while adding condos and apartments above."


A key to making this miracle happen is ensuring that residents on a corridor can safely access the retail and service assets that exist nearby. That means moving up and down the corridor by multiple means—walking and crossing the street safely, transit, bikes, scooters, and wheelchairs—and not just by car. — Steve Price


San Pablo Ave vision.jpg

An imaginative vision of San Pablo Avenue (photo-sim by Steve Price) 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CalWalks-SafeTREC report promotes safer streets for El Cerrito and Richmond Annex

Image
A new report from California Walks and the University of California Safe Transportation and Education Center (SafeTREC) highlights strategies to promote safer streets in El Cerrito and Richmond Annex, especially for slowing down traffic and making pedestrian- and bike-friendly improvements on San Pablo Avenue, Central Avenue, Carlson Avenue, and Cutting Boulevard. “ El Cerrito and Richmond Annex Summary and Recommendations Report ” is the culmination of a workshop convened on July 25 by the Community Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program (CPBST), a project of California Walks and SafeTREC. After a 2-month planning process, about 35 participants met virtually, including residents, and representatives from the El Cerrito Strollers & Rollers, Richmond Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committees, the cities of El Cerrito and Richmond, West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee, El Cerrito Trail Trekkers, and others.   The goals of the CPBST workshop were to improve walking and
Read more

OUT IN THE WORLD WITHOUT A CAR: The Spring Ride

Image
By Laura Lent Since 2002 I have been part of an informal group of friends who go on an annual bike tour we call the "Spring Ride."  We've bike camped our way from the Antioch BART station to Yosemite and various Sierra foothill destinations, we've gone north and south along the coast, and we've taken AMTRAK to Bakersfield and ridden north through Carrizo Plain. We've stayed at a dozen different campgrounds in the "reservoir belt" of the Sierra foothills.   Laura Lent at this year’s Spring Ride. Photo: Joel Pomerantz We generally carry our own gear in panniers, but are often joined by and sometimes partially sagged (support provided and gear carried) by friends in vehicles. A core group rides the entire time, while others join as they can.  While we delight in searching out bucolic backroads, canalside trails, and creative shortcuts, it's always necessary to ride on some busy roads as well. The Spring Ride is not about getting there quickly, but a
Read more

HURRAH FOR USABLE BIKE RACKS! El Cerrito Natural Foods

Image
What is an essential destination for daily living, a place that sustains basic metabolic life? A grocery store! How should you get there if you can't afford a car? You should be able to walk, take a bus, or ride a bicycle. El Cerrito Natural Grocery Company is accessible by all three modes. It is a short walk for nearby residents of El Cerrito and the Richmond Annex—from El Cerrito, crosswalks on San Pablo Avenue deliver you to its front door; it is also on one of the busiest bus routes in the Bay Area—AC Transit’s 72 bus; and it welcomes bicycle riders with visible bicycle racks right near its front entrance. Its inverted-U racks make it easy to lean and lock a bike without the bicycle tipping over. El Cerrito Natural Grocery Company is a role model for providing access to an essential destination for everyone, even if you're car-free. Good bicycle racks help make it so. Wouldn't it be great if every business was this accessible?!
Read more