New rules for bike and pedestrian safety

Beginning January 1, 2024, bikes are allowed on most of the escalators throughout the BART system to help make it easier for people to bring their bikes on board the train. This change was approved by the BART Board of Directors at the request of Director Rebecca Saltzman, an El Cerrito resident. The vote authorizes further changes to BART’s bike rules, including allowing bikes on all train cars except the first car (bikes were previously banned from the first three cars during commute times), and allowing bicyclists to secure bikes on the train using the bike lean bar and straps, instead of holding them. Bikes will remain banned from BART’s 10 narrow escalators located at the 19th Street Oakland, Antioch, and Oakland Airport Connector stations. A video with safety tips for bringing bikes on escalators and the updated Bikes on BART rules are here. Bonus! Check out BART’s Elevator Dimension Guide for assistance with navigating BART elevators.

Several new laws also went into effect in California on January 1 that will make California streets safer for walkers and bikers.

They include:

  • Restricting drivers from parking within 20 feet of most street corners or midblock crosswalks. 
  • Allowing bike riders to cross an intersection whenever the pedestrian walk signal phase is on, even if the traffic signal is red for cars; this includes when a signal is programmed to provide a pedestrian “head start” (also called a “pedestrian leading interval” or LPI).
  • Permits tenants to store and recharge up to one micromobility device such as a bike, e-bike, or scooter per person inside their apartment; importantly, batteries for e-devices must be UL-certified (UL 2849 for e-bikes or UL-2272 for e-scooters) to improve  fire safety.
  • Allowing parking enforcement officials to write and mail tickets for vehicles blocking bicycle lanes based on footage from cameras mounted on their vehicles.
  • Launching a pilot program in several California cities to try out automated, camera-based speed enforcement on city streets and study the results.
  • Establishing a new state chief advisor on bicycling and active transportation (aka “bike czar”) at the state level, appointed by the Caltrans director.”

Read more on the Bike East Bay website.


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