SUPER-FUN HOLIDAY PARTY: Sun., Dec. 15, 5–7 p.m., on Yosemite Avenue in El Cerrito between Lassen Street and Creekside Park, west side of the street (look for a sign and people partying!). Party is outdoors, so wear warm clothes as needed and bring something (drinks, snacks, or treats) to share! Family-friendly party – walk-ers & rollers of all ages welcome! Write to info@ecrawalkroll.org for more info.

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

Top, consultant’s proposal for Richmond Street bike lanes north of Moeser Lane; above, ECRA proposes bike safety improvements.

Take ACTION on Richmond Street Complete Streets project!

El Cerrito is redesigning Richmond Street as a Complete Street and needs community support for safer cycling infrastructure! El Cerrito/Richmond Annex Walk & Roll advocated for bike lanes to be included in the Complete Streets plan, which now includes bike lanes north of Moeser Lane to Hill Street.

However, the proposed bike lanes don't meet basic safety standards for a street with 6,000+ cars per day. Research shows that adding bike lanes to busy streets dramatically improves safety for ALL users: cyclists, walkers, AND drivers.

You can help make Richmond Street safer by:

1. Signing our community letter advocating for protected bike lanes and other safety improvements
   

2. Taking the city's survey to share your support for these features; if you have additional feedback about the project email RichmondStreetComplete@gmail.com. Some suggested comments include:

   • “We need physically barriers for bike lanes on Richmond Street because 8,400 cars per day is too dangerous for cyclists and cars to share the road.”

   • “Please extend the protected bike lanes south of Moeser Lane to Waldo Avenue so families can safely bike to schools and the Greenway.”

   • “Design safer intersections at Moeser Lane — this busy crossing needs dedicated bike signals and turn boxes to prevent collisions.”

   • “Keep the design flexible for future safety improvements south of Moeser so we can build a connected network of safe bike routes across El Cerrito.”

PLEASE TAKE ACTION BY FRI., DEC. 13! We will submit our letter at the Tues., Dec. 17, El Cerrito city council meeting during public comment period.

Questions? Write to us at info@ecrawalkroll.org

Did you know: Requiring cyclists to make a complete stop at stop signs is actually less safe

By Carrie Schulman

Yielding instead of stopping helps cyclists maintain momentum, which can make navigating intersections safer and more efficient. It also increases their visibility to drivers.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, allowing cyclists to treat stop signs as yields reduces the risk of collisions and improves overall safety:

• After Idaho implemented a law allowing cy, bicyclist injuries from traffic crashes decreased by 14.5%.

• Delaware saw a 23% reduction in traffic crashes involving bicyclists at stop sign intersections after adopting this law.

Biking not only replaces carbon emissions with exercise, but it reduces traffic and increases parking availability for everyone. Not everyone can or wants to ride a bike, but everyone can help create a more positive biking environment.

E-BIKE INCENTIVES FOR INCOME-ELIGIBLE CALIFORNIANS: California is launching a new incentive on Dec. 18 to provide income-eligible Californians up to $2,000 toward the purchase of a new e-bike. Phase 1 of the California E-bike Incentive Program includes $3 million for 1,500 e-bikes. Once approved, income-eligible individuals can redeem the voucher from retailers at the point of purchase. The program will start to accept applications on the website at 6 p.m. on Dec. 18 and will be processed in the order received until vouchers are exhausted.

511 CONTRA COSTA PROVIDES $150-$300 REBATES FOR NEW E-BIKES: Contra Costa residents (ages 18+) are eligible for a $150 rebate on the purchase of any new e-bike, and those with low household incomes can receive a rebate of $300. Only class 1, 2, and 3 e-bikes and e-bike conversion kits are eligible for this rebate. There is a limit of one rebate per person and per household. For more information, visit the 511 Contra Costa E-Bike Rebate website.

RICHMOND MOVES SHUTTLE SERVICE: Made possible through grant from California Climate Investments, Richmond Moves expands access to efficient, equitable, and sustainable intra-city transportation in the Richmond community, particularly for neighborhoods that are underserved by other mobility options and have been long challenged by polluted air. The service enables residents to easily connect with key transit hubs in the region — such as Amtrak stations, BART stations, and the Richmond Ferry Terminal — without a private car, and much of the service area (below) skirts San Pablo Avenue. The fleet includes all plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to reduce energy consumption. Download the app to book shared rides from your phone. Individual rides are $2, and students and seniors ride free. The service hours are Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and wheelchair accessible vehicles are available.