El Cerrito/Richmond Annex Walk & Roll blog

Mobility change is happening worldwide. In a new report , McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, predicts big advances in the micromobility market between now and 2030. E-bikes are leading the way, especially in Europe. The majority of new bicycle sales in Germany and Netherlands are now for e-bikes. The United States as a whole may not be as robust in e-bike sales as Europe, yet our area is outside the norm, as seen around town. The growing number of electric cargo bikes is particularly noticeable. Now is the time to plan for El Cerrito and Richmond Annex's micromobility future. — Steve Price Top image: Micromobility, especially electric bicycles, is growing. Source: McKinsey & Company.

In its Local Road Safety Plan survey , El Cerrito asked participants whether the city should pursue becoming a Vision Zero city. Cities across the world, confronted by increasing fatality rates, are adopting Vision Zero and its Safe Systems Approach , with the ultimate goal of eliminating traffic-related fatalities and injuries on city streets by transforming how they are designed. In 2019, Berkeley became a Vision Zero city and adopted a plan with the goal “to eliminate traffic deaths and severe injuries on our city streets by 2028.” Hoboken, New Jersey , a city of 60,000 people, adopted a Vision Zero policy and hasn't had a traffic death in 4 years. Vision Zero is an international movement to increase street safety by changing how cities approach transportation. Presently our culture seems to believe that death and injury on our streets is just a price we pay for the convenience of automobility; the burden for making our streets safe is on the individual to drive safely, walk wi

Back in September we reported that El Cerrito was initiating work on a Local Road Safety Plan . With the help of transportation consultants Kittelson & Associates, the city achieved enough work on the plan to help with applying for street improvement grants. But recognizing that there is more that can be done, the city is refining the plan by asking locals to complete an El Cerrito Road Safety Questionnaire .  Let the city know about your traffic safety priorities! Question number 10 asks, “Should El Cerrito commit to being a Vision Zero City?” This commitment would help move our community toward safer streets and a multimodal transportation future in which all modes of mobility, no matter what speed, will be viable. And by making possible safe use of micromobility, El Cerrito will be better able to meet its goals of reducing community greenhouse gas emissions as envisioned in the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan .  If you have questions about the Local Road Safety Plan, write to