Walk Bike Cupertino (WBC) recently celebrated its 10 years of existence. Such an anniversary is an opportunity to look at the projects, both completed and those to come, that make Cupertino a safer and more convenient place for pedestrians and cyclists. The WBC board decided to create its first ever WBC awards to celebrate the most dramatic improvements made over the past decade and the past year. Read on for the projects of the last decade and the last year, and the projects of the future decade and 2025!
Project of the Past Year (2024): The McClellan/De Anza Intersection
This year only a small number of projects were completed to make walking and biking safer and more convenient and WBC would like to recognize one of them. The DeAnza/McClellan intersection is the third phase of the McClellan bike lanes, a larger effort of the City of Cupertino to protect cyclists and pedestrians. The intersection improvements particularly help students at DeAnza College, Monta Vista High School and Lincoln Elementary.
Read all about changes to the intersection here, including the drawings.
Project of the Past Decade (2014-2024): The Regnart Creek Trail
Walk Bike Cupertino put a tremendous amount of effort into this project, advocating for six years, gathering support from numerous local organizations. The deciding vote at City Council in 2019 had over 75 speakers lining up to speak in favor of the trail including dozens of children of all ages. The vote finally took place at 4:30am.
Despite the initial reservation of some local residents, the success of this project has been astonishing. Hundreds of residents use the trail everyday, including families, recreational walkers and joggers, and those using it as a safe and enjoyable walking and biking route to important locations in the life of Cupertino residents, such as the Cupertino Library, Wilson Park and Creekside Park. It is quite literally a pedestrian highway of parents and children going to Eaton elementary every morning.
This project would not have happened were it not for the tireless activism of Walk Bike Cupertino’s members and supporters, including support for keeping and enhancing trail access points at the library and at Lozano Lane (the path to Rodrigues).
Project of the Next Year (2025): Cupertino’s Active Transportation Plan
A new Active Transportation Plan allows Cupertino to envision what it wants to be for pedestrians, cyclists, scooter riders, dog walkers, kids on their way to school, e-bike lovers, joggers, unicyclists, people in wheelchairs–in short, for everyone living in Cupertino. Cupertino has begun that process, after the previous council included a new ATP in the City’s Work Program. A grant funded it, and a consultant (Alta Design) has been chosen.
This project can define an ambitious network, prioritizing projects to make active transportation safe, convenient and attractive. It can be as aspirational as we, the community members, ask for it to be.
Read here about Cupertino’s Active Transportation Plan, and what should be in it.
Project of the Next Five Years (2025-2030): The Carmen Bridge
Carmen Road at Stevens Creek Boulevard, on the west side of Cupertino, has been divided in two since the 1960’s with no way for pedestrians and cyclists to cross the road without traveling 1/2 mile in either direction. The Carmen Bridge project will allow easy access for hundreds of children and families to walk and bike to and from school. It will connect residential parts of our City that are divided by a high traffic road; will measurably reduce car traffic on Stevens Creek Boulevard by allowing more school commutes by walking and biking; and will help seniors at Sunnyview enjoy better walks.
In short, it has the potential to positively impact the residents as the Regnart Creek Trail did. Best of all, the City has everything it needs (including the land) to make it happen!
We’ve accomplished a lot together with you over the past 10 years. Let’s look forward to the next 10 years of increasing and improving our active transportation in Cupertino and beyond.
The information in this article is solely the opinion of the author and Walk-Bike Cupertino and does not reflect the opinions of any other organization or entity. For more information, contact WBC at info@walkbikecupertino.org.