2016 Cupertino Community Bike/Ped Highlights:
With You – our community – and our city leaders energized, 2016 came to a close enjoying great momentum for cycling and safety improvements for Cupertino and area residents. Make sure that you thank our elected and appointed officials for their commitment! Their accomplishments include:
The majority of the 2015 bike project plan was completed (with ~$500K in remaining projects carried over);
$2M budgeted for FY2016 by the city council to start work on implementing select phases of the 2016 Bike Plan. (Since late 2014, the council has allocated approximately $3.5M for bike/ped safety improvements).
Launched Safe Routes to School Program (see newsletter) and hired Coordinator;
Planning/study phases started on:
Steven Creek Boulevard: Class IV (separated) bike routes across the city from Foothill to Lawrence Expressway;
Cross-Cupertino East/West Protected Bike Way: McClellan Road route from Foothill Blvd to Tantau Road, tying our schools and library centers together;
Public review/input session scheduled for Wednesday, Jan 25th.
Cupertino Union School District – Safety Training
With the support of Safe Routes Program leadership and Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department – the district leadership launched a formal bike safety training program in all CUSD middle schools with roll-out planned for the balance of CUSD’s elementary schools.
Upcoming Projects in the first half of the New Year:
Develop a formal Pedestrian Improvement and Safety Plan;
Plan the I-280 (adjacent) bike/ped trail from Mary Avenue to Wolfe Road;
Develop the Union-Pacific bike/ped trail plan from Rainbow to Stevens Creek Blvd;
Create city-wide “Way-finder” bike routes signage to make routes friendlier and useful to the cycling community.
Sidewalk ordinance proposed allowing students 12 and under (along with parents) to ride their bicycles on sidewalks. This ordinance has been approved by the Bike/Ped commission and will be presented to the City Council in February 2016.
************************************************************************************
Well said! Much was accomplished in the past year thanks to all the community support and our far-sighted City Council and City Manager.