Walking & Biking News & Ideas
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We hope you are staying healthy!
We hope your holiday plans are going well! With the recent rain--so desperately needed here--we know it's been hard to get out walking and biking, but it's wonderful when we do. This month, we have great articles on the new Lawrence-Mitty Park on the east side of Cupertino, a change to the traffic lights at the intersections of Bubb and McClellan, results of a nationwide study on street designs that make biking safer (or makes it less safe, see below!), a Homestead Lanes update, a recap on our Advisory Board, and much more. We wish you the happiest of New Years for 2023!
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Lawrence Mitty Park Plan moves ahead
BPC weighs in on concept going to Council in early 2023
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At the November 2022 Cupertino Bicycle Pedestrian Commission (BPC) meeting, three proposals on the new Lawrence-Mitty Park (LMP) were brought for review by Commissioners. The new park is located on the extreme eastern edge of Cupertino, adjacent to Lawrence Expressway. A final plan with the option most preferred by both residents, the BPC, and other commissions has been created by City Staff and will be brought to the Cupertino City Council in early 2023.
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Options for the Park
Three design options--all with bike and pedestrian trail access--were brought to the commission by Susan Michael, Cupertino CIP manager.
- "Wheel Fun", with a BMX pump track, a new restroom, and fitness stations.
- "Story Trail", which is the most wild, least developed option. It includes a deck overlook near the creek.
- "Play it up" concept, which features a playground and picnic area.
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Cllick on the picture above to see more about the Story Trail concept. |
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Final Concept Direction
Based on the extensive feedback to the three proposals, the City Staff have developed a final plan direction, which includes aspects from all three main concepts but is primarily based on the "Story Trail" and its nature aspects. It will also include play features, a restroom, additional connectivity, and social spaces from other concepts. Read more...
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"Pedestrian Scramble" has potential to
reduce congestion at Bubb/McClellan
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The City of Cupertino is trying something new to address congestion at the Bubb and McClellan intersection in the mornings: a “pedestrian scramble”.
This change will allow either all car traffic, or all pedestrian traffic, to cross during a light cycle phase instead of both cars and pedestrians trying to cross and turn at the same time.
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As this intersection is the primary crossing for many residents heading to Lincoln, Monta Vista, or Kennedy—the tri-school area—it sees a huge amount of car and pedestrian traffic during peak school drop off and pickup times. This change should improve the situation without other more expensive infrastructure changes. Read more...
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Why will this change help congestion? |
The intersection faces these current challenges:
- no right-turns-on-red in most directions
- a high enough volume of pedestrians that cars cannot turn right even on a green light
- a single lane of traffic, causing cars behind the turning vehicles to be "trapped" behind
By separating the phases of the light so that cars are not competing with pedestrians for road space, throughput of vehicles should improve. Pedestrian and cyclist safety should also improve, as frustration levels of drivers will decrease.
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Exhaustive study confirms:
Only separated bike lanes provide safety
Painted bike markings found to be worse than nothing at all
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by Jennifer Shearin
WBC has discussed many times that “Class III Bike Infrastructure”-- those with painted symbols and a sign–-are not as safe for cyclists compared to separated bike lanes and trails. (See my posts here from 2019 and here from 2020).
Now, a new 13-year study by the University of Colorado Denver and the University of New Mexico brings new data that separated bike lanes or trails significantly reduce fatalities and injuries, painted stripe bike lanes have no effect, and painting the bike symbol in a shared lane decreases safety.
The study was focused on whether physically separated bike lanes improve safety. The data showed they clearly do. After analyzing traffic crash data over a 13-year period with various biking architecture, it was found that having a protected bike facility results in 44 percent fewer deaths and 50 percent fewer serous injuries. Read more...
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The study shows that painted bike symbols in a shared lane (as shown above on Vista Drive) are less safe than having no bike markings at all. |
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Sunnyvale considers whether to make Homestead bike lanes full time |
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Homestead Road is a key east-west transportation corridor at the far northern edge of Cupertino, connecting Los Altos in the west to San Jose in the east.
The road provides access to several large strip malls, apartment blocks, detached single family housing, Homestead High School, Cupertino Middle School, and Apple's international headquarters at Apple Park.
Despite the high value destinations on the road, it can be daunting to bike on it due to its patchwork of full-time and part-time bike lanes where cars can park between 6pm and 7am. It also suffers from significant congestion and ped/bike/vehicle conflicts around Homestead High School at pickup and dropoff times. Read more...
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Click image below to see where there are full time lanes today (green) and part time (blue) |
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Between 2013 and 2018, there were 7 reported bicycle collisions on Homestead, though many collisions go unreported so there were likely many more. |
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The first Community meeting about a potential bike lane or other changes for Lawson Middle School was held November 10. Unfortunately, NO parents attended the meeting. The overwhelming number of participants were residents living in the neighborhood who were concerned about a potential loss of parking. |
Though we understand the concern about parking, Walk-Bike Cupertino advocates for safe biking and walking.
The students in Cupertino should be safe on their way to school, and be able to get there actively.
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Another meeting, at a time more likely to attract parents and students is planned for after the new year. (The first meeting was held at 3:30pm at Lawson.) This second meeting will also have a Zoom option. |
Student attempting to enter campus from Vista Dr |
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Bicycle Pedestrian Commission Priorities for 2023
This year, due to staff shortages, there will not be any new city work items. The staff liaison, David Stillman, therefore asked the BPC about what their top priorities of the currently approved projects that they would like staff to devote time to.
The following were the areas they would like priorized:
Bollinger Road Improvements
The staff is studying what can be done to make Bollinger Road safer. Currently, Bollinger has class 2 painted bike lanes on a busy four-lane road with deep bends. It has seen several accidents, including fatalities.
Stevens Creek Boulevard separated bike lanes (Class IV)
The BPC would like the staff to continue working on the design and implementation for Phase 3, which is the portion from I-85 to Foothill Expressway. The other portions have completed design (Phases 1 and 2) and construction (Phase 1 only).
Carmen Bridge
The Carmen Bridge had a completed Feasibility Study in 2019, but the project has not progressed since then. Current BPC Chair(termed out in January) Gerhard Eschelbeck wishes to review whether the potential walking path that connects to the Stevens Creek Trail would be a substitute, but WBC is not in favor of this substitution. The new walking
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path will only be for pedestrians, would require students to brave several hills, and presents challenges as a creek would need to be crossed. These are challenges which make it a poor substitute for the bridge, which would also serve the many seniors at Sunnyview Retirement Village.
Lawrence-Mitty Park northern connection (Calvert Drive/intersection)
Currently, the only entrance to the new LMP will be via the pathway next to Sterling-Barnhart Park and then onto the Saratoga Creek Trail and into LMP. A northern connection would allow more residents to enjoy the park, and perhaps allow students to use it as a safe connection to Cupertino High and Hyde Middle on their school commutes.
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How to have fun with great Cupertino friends and also do good for your Community! |
What comes into your mind when asked to get involved in the walking and biking community? You may imagine yourself walking or biking with a group of friends who also love to walk and bike. This is a great start! What about joining a meeting to share your ideas of making walking and biking a better experience for all? This is what our Advisory board members of Walk Bike Cupertino (WBC) do each month around the table...Read More
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We'd love to hear YOUR voice!
Do you know a great walk, ride, run or hike? Want to share an issue about walking, biking, city planning, or interesting idea?
Walk-Bike Cupertino would love to spotlight it in our newsletter and on our website! Articles should be 500 words or less, and should include a picture (at least 3 pictures for hikes). All submissions are subject to approval & editing, and can be used by Walk-Bike Cupertino in future publications. Contact us here.
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Happy Walking and Biking,
Your friends at Walk-Bike Cupertino
Find much more, including maps, safety data, and information on all the city projects at: walkbikecupertino.org
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