El Cerrito/Richmond Annex Walk & Roll blog

This fall El Cerrito welcomed Jarrett Mullen as the city’s new sustainable transportation program manager, a new position that reports to Melanie Mintz, El Cerrito’s community development director. Previously, Mullen worked as a senior Transportation Planner for Fehr & Peers consultants and the City of Palo Alto. A native of Fremont, Mullen attended San Jose State University with degrees in sociology and urban Studies. El Cerrito Strollers & Rollers asked Mullen a few questions. — Janet Byron EC S&R: Tell us a little bit about yourself.  JM: I’m a lifelong Bay Area resident who grew up in Fremont and currently lives in San Francisco. I love spending time outside, whether backpacking, hiking, or bicycling. When I’m not outside, you can probably find me at a music venue listening to a psychedelic rock act or trying a new restaurant. I'm looking forward to resuming traveling again once the pandemic risks and restrictions ease. EC S&R: How did you become interested in ...

El Cerrito has hills. So does the Richmond Annex for that matter. Even Albany.  But E-bikes are topography killers. Most dealers brag about how far and how fast they go. Around here we should also ask, how high? Depending on how much torque an e-bike has, e-bikes can take you higher into the hills with less effort. For many who live in the hills, an e-bike could let you access local retail and BART without depending on a car. Tom Lent in Berkeley has a website that answers lots of questions about e-bikes including about torque. — Steve Price Climate Action Center PHOTO: RAD POWER BIKES

Not everyone is able-bodied enough to ride a bicycle, stand on an electric scooter, or even walk. Separated bike lanes, like many of us hope for San Pablo Avenue, should really be thought of as non-automobile mobility lanes. In other parts of the world, they give hope to people in wheelchairs and mobility scooters. This video from the steve Netherlands shows the freedom that separated bike lanes give to people with disabilities and the very old. — Steve Price

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,...

El Cerrito, Richmond Annex, and Albany are uniquely situated geographically; we live in the narrowest part of the East Bay hourglass. In the inner East Bay, we are where the Bay and the East Bay hills come closest together. North and south of us are broad coastal plains, but here nothing is far from anything else. Nearby the Bay Trail is to the west and hilly parkland is to the east, with all the goods and services that San Pablo Avenue offers going down the middle (with some smaller neighborhood centers and the Plaza nearby). In the United States during 2021, 52% of all trips—using all modes of transportation—were for less than 3 miles, which easily encompasses this area. If you want to wean yourself off of car dependency for local errands, our area is a good place to do it. — Steve Price

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 ...

Discussion about the future of the El Cerrito BART property raises the question of how local BART users in El Cerrito and Richmond Annex can get to BART if car parking is reduced to make way for housing. The above map shows non-automobile access points to the El Cerrito Plaza BART from different parts of town; the pink areas are particularly difficult or unsafe. For motorists, some BART car parking will remain. In addition, on-street parking on surrounding streets will be managed to improve BART access. For those blessed with easy access to the Ohlone Greenway, walking or bicycling to the El Cerrito Plaza BART station is much easier and safer than for those off the Ohlone Greenway corridor. Residents west of San Pablo Avenue on most streets arrive at the Avenue at T-intersections that prevent crossing and continuing. For those in the hills, non-auto travel to and from BART may need the assist of an electric motor: e-bike, e-moped, neighborhood electric vehicle, or electric shuttle. Suc...