NOVEMBER 2024

EVENTS AND ACTIONS

2024 ECRA WALK & ROLL SCHEDULE

Happy Hour: Wed., Nov. 20, 5–7 p.m., Banter Wine, 10368 San Pablo Ave. @ Stockton

Super-Fun Holiday Party: Sun., Dec. 15, 5–7 p.m., on Yosemite Avenue; write to info@ecrawalkroll.org to RSVP and receive address. Bring something (drinks, snacks, or treats) to share!

Business meeting: Dec. 18, 7–8:30 p.m., on Zoom. Agenda includes 2025 planning and work plan review.

RUBY BRIDGES WALK TO (HARDING) SCHOOL DAY, NOV. 14: Parents and teachers have inaugurated the first Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day at Harding School. Six-year-old Ruby Bridges stepped into the history books in 1960 when she integrated William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, becoming a national icon for the civil rights movement; today her story continues to inspire the next generation of leaders to end racism together one step at a time. The walk starts at El Cerrito Plaza BART (northeast parking lot) at 8 a.m. on Thurs., Nov. 14, and ends at Harding School (7320 Fairmont) at 8:20 a.m. Wear purple and cheer the kids on along the route (see map above)!

ADVANCING HEALTH THROUGH ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION POLICY ROUNDTABLE, NOV. 15: California Walks is hosting the Advancing Health Through Active Transportation Policy Roundtable on Fri., Nov. 15, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., 2121 Berkeley Way (UC Berkeley School of Public Health) in Berkeley. This free event provides the opportunity for community-based organizations that focus on active transportation, bicycle and pedestrian safety, and related areas to come together, share insights, and collaborate on addressing legislative and administrative policy concerns that stall progress toward improved active transportation across the state. Hybrid attendance options are available, and breakfast, lunch, and refreshments will be provided. Register by Nov. 13 at this link. Contact Kevin Shin at kevin@calwalks.org for more information.

RICHMOND–SAN RAFAEL BRIDGE RIDE, NOV. 16: Rich City Rides and Bike East Bay are hosting a ride on Sat., Nov. 16 celebrating the 5th anniversary of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Trail. Caltrans and the Bay Area Toll Authority have proposed closing the trail 4 days each week to make space for a car breakdown shoulder. Join the fight to keep it open 24/7! Sign the petition at BikeEastBay.org/RSR to receive further details about the anniversary ride and learn more ways to get involved with saving the bridge path. On Nov. 16, meet at the Richmond BART station (bus terminal side) at 10 a.m., with a 10:30 a.m. rollout.

MULTIMOBILITY PRESENTATION TO EL CERRITO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, NOV. 18: EC/RA Walk & Roll’s Steve Price will give a presentation, “Multimodal mobility and economic development in El Cerrito,” to the El Cerrito Economic Development Committee on Mon., Nov. 18, 7 p.m., at City Council chambers, 10890 San Pablo Ave. Steve will discuss the evolving landscape of micromobility, safe access to commercial destinations on San Pablo Avenue and the El Cerrito Plaza Shopping Center, the need for bike racks, the wealth-generating capacity of walkable destinations, and the role micromobility will play in fighting climate change while delivering more customers to local businesses. The public is welcome to attend.

RICHMOND STREET COMPLETE STREETS WORKSHOP, NOV. 21: The second community workshop for the Richmond Street Complete Streets Improvement Project will be Nov. 21, 6–7:30 p.m., in City Council chambers, 10890 San Pablo Ave. Please plan on attending to advocate for dedicated bike facilities on Richmond Street, or fill in the survey online. More information and the survey link, live on Nov. 21, are at the project website.

NEWS AND VIEWS

Above, on this map of the Plaza the green circles show where bike racks are now, but most are not close to business entrances, represented by the black dots.

More bike racks needed at the El Cerrito Plaza Shopping Center

El Cerrito Plaza Shopping Center needs more bike racks. According to Essentials of Bike Parking, bike parking standards published by the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, “Short-term bike parking should be visible from and close to the entrance it serves — 50’ or less is a good benchmark.” The Plaza has over 75 businesses and just four meet that standard. The good news is that El Cerrito and ECRA Walk & Roll have been working with Regency, the company that owns and manages the Plaza, to add lots more bike racks. Jarrett Mullen, El Cerrito’s sustainable transportation program manager, working with Coire Reilly, transportation demand management (TDM) program manager at the West Contra Costa Transportation Commission, has worked up a plan to provide the Plaza with racks and drawings to show where to put them. Early next year we should see some new racks. — Steve Price

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

TAKE THE 50+ CYCLING SURVEY: Consultants dblTilde CORE, in partnership with the Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University, is conducting its 5th Annual National 50+ Cycling Survey to better understand thoughts and preferences about cycling of older adults. The survey takes about 20 minutes and is anonymous and voluntary. To participate in the 5th Annual 50+ Cycling Survey, CLICK HERE.  Responses of people aged 50 and older are requested no matter how much or little you cycle, or whether you cycle at all. Results from 50+ Cycling Survey, Year 4 of more than 5,000 older cyclists in North America are now available. 

A second survey seeks people 50+ who ride a bike and take the bus or train as part of their cycling trips. These survey results will be shared with transit agencies so they can consider how to make it easier for older cyclists to combine a biking trip with transit. 

For more information about the 50+ bike surveys, contact Carol Kachadoorian at carol@dblTildeCORE.org.

EAST BAY PUBLIC TRANSIT BEER TRAIL: The East Bay foodie blog Nosh has launched the East Bay Public Transit Beer Trail, from San Leandro (Drakes Brewing Company) to Richmond (Armistice Brewing Company), including a map with all of the breweries along the way. “Break out your Clipper Card, gather up some friends, or even some strangers. It’s time to ride, to drink beer, to bond.” Indeed!

DONATIONS WELCOME!

Support our efforts to create a safer, more joyful, multimodal future for El Cerrito and Richmond Annex by making a tax-free contribution!

El Cerrito/Richmond Annex Walk & Roll

El Cerrito/Richmond Annex Walk & Roll promotes walking, bicycling, and other low-carbon multimodal transportation alternatives and builds community for safer, more joyful, and inclusive streets for all.

To join, visit our website at ecrawalkroll.org or write to us at info@ECRAWalkRoll.org.

Please submit traffic safety requests to El Cerrito’s online traffic improvement request form.

Newsletter edited by Janet Byron