The Sunnyvale Sun

News

Close encounters of the fatal kind

By JASON GOLDMAN-HALL

To encourage bicycling around Sunnyvale and make roadways safer for people who do pedal around, the city council on Aug. 8 unanimously approved the 2006 Bicycle Plan.

The plan will be used as a guide for future Sunnyvale projects that may include removing street parking to make way for bike lanes and new signage to alert riders to routes that can get them where they want to go efficiently and safely.

Although the plan has full approval from the council and support from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, there are still some in the community with concerns.

Ted Roush, president of the Ames Bicycle Club at the NASA Ames facilities north of Sunnyvale, said the list of priorities for the project concerns him because he does not want to see the city waste time or money on less-feasible projects with high prices. Roush said he rides a bike from his home in Santa Clara to his offices at NASA Ames as often as possible, and the ride usually takes about 45 minutes each way.

The highest priority--according to the plan--is the $440,000 restructuring of El Camino Real in Sunnyvale to be more bike-friendly. That could include slowing traffic, removing street parking or limiting the number of parking lot driveways. Currently the street has wider outside lanes to give bikers room, but the project would add bike lanes and some repainting of lane lines.

But because El Camino Real is technically a state highway, Caltrans has a stake in it as well, so the agency would need to work with the city on any improvement projects.

"It just disturbs me that the highest item on the city's priority list is a project that the city doesn't fully control," Roush said.

But BPAC member Kevin Jackson--who has been following or participating on the committee since 1992--said although El Camino Real is the top priority, the other projects will not be put off.

"The priority list is not in order of when things will get done. It's about how valuable the streets that need improvement are, and El Camino Real is very important," Jackson said.

As the major east-west corridor in Sunnyvale, El Camino has high car, bike and foot traffic.

"We want the same things motorists want," Jackson said. "We want a route that is direct and continuous and requiring the fewest stops."

But the same location that makes it appealing to riders also makes it hazardous. At rush hour, deep lines of cars form at major intersections, and the numerous car dealerships, fast food restaurants and shopping centers mean cars are frequently pulling in and out of traffic.

Removing street parking and limiting speed or driveways would solve some of that problem, but present a new set of problems to the businesses along El Camino that want easy access for patrons.

Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzi Blackman said the business community--although concerned--is not opposed to the idea.

"We want to be a bike-friendly city, but the question is 'How will the business community be included in the discussions?' because it is obviously a big impact on us," she said.