Bike the Bridge Coalition - Revision history

Ccarlsson at 20:40, 20 October 2022

2022-10-20T20:40:02Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:40, 20 October 2022
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	<font size=4>Introduction</font><br />		<font size=4>Introduction</font><br />
	The pathway which would become the biggest bike-related expenditure in the history of the Bay Area was not expected to happen. In 1989, the Loma Prieta earthquake had damaged the eastern span of the Bay Bridge, and seven years later, the decision had finally been made to demolish the old bridge. The cost of replacing the span had already quadrupled from initial estimates, and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) had voted 22-0 against including a bike path in the project. But a small band of activists willing to put their bodies on the line found a way to change the conversation through direct action.		The pathway which would become the biggest bike-related expenditure in the history of the Bay Area was not expected to happen. In 1989, the [[Loma Prieta Earthquake, 1989\|Loma Prieta earthquake]] had damaged the eastern span of the [[Bay Bridge Artery\|Bay Bridge]], and seven years later, the decision had finally been made to demolish the old bridge. The cost of replacing the span had already quadrupled from initial estimates, and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) had voted 22-0 against including a bike path in the project. But a small band of activists willing to put their bodies on the line found a way to change the conversation through direct action.

	<font size=4>Background</font><br />		<font size=4>Background</font><br />
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	Meggs and others passed out flyers advertising BTBC at Critical Mass rides, set up a web site for the group, and began publishing a zine, the ''Bike the Bridge Bugle'', to document their efforts. CalTrans and the CHP largely allowed these demonstrations to go on as long as they didn’t get on the bridge itself, although Eisen led a quiet Sunday morning ride from the Richmond side which successfully made the crossing, resulting in possibly the first-ever bike crossing of the North Bay. In February 1997, nine other cyclists entered the Richmond Bridge from the San Rafael side, making it almost to Richmond before being stopped by the CHP and forced to ride back to San Rafael, receiving 18 citations. A protest ride in March 1997 to “free the Richmond 9,” documented in the Bike the Bridge Bugle zine, successfully crossed the entire length of the bridge.[2]<br />		Meggs and others passed out flyers advertising BTBC at Critical Mass rides, set up a web site for the group, and began publishing a zine, the ''Bike the Bridge Bugle'', to document their efforts. CalTrans and the CHP largely allowed these demonstrations to go on as long as they didn’t get on the bridge itself, although Eisen led a quiet Sunday morning ride from the Richmond side which successfully made the crossing, resulting in possibly the first-ever bike crossing of the North Bay. In February 1997, nine other cyclists entered the Richmond Bridge from the San Rafael side, making it almost to Richmond before being stopped by the CHP and forced to ride back to San Rafael, receiving 18 citations. A protest ride in March 1997 to “free the Richmond 9,” documented in the Bike the Bridge Bugle zine, successfully crossed the entire length of the bridge.[2]<br />

	At the same time, Critical Mass was starting to explode. Tensions between bikes, drivers and the city kept rising, until on July 25, 1997, 5000 cyclists defied Mayor Willie ~~Brown’s~~ plan to have an orderly, police-escorted ride, and instead scattered all over the city. Brown, desperate to appear as taking positive action after the debacle, asked Dave Snyder, then head of the SF Bike Coalition, “what do these people want?”[3] A month later, the first San Francisco Bike Plan was approved by the city, and bike advocacy was on its way from marginal to mainstream in the Bay Area.		At the same time, [[Critical Mass\|Critical Mass]] was starting to explode. Tensions between bikes, drivers and the city kept rising, until on July 25, 1997, 5000 cyclists defied [[Mayor Willie Brown\|Mayor Willie Brown]]’s plan to have an orderly, police-escorted ride, and instead scattered all over the city. Brown, desperate to appear as taking positive action after the debacle, asked Dave Snyder, then head of the SF Bike Coalition, “what do these people want?”[3] A month later, the first San Francisco Bike Plan was approved by the city, and bike advocacy was on its way from marginal to mainstream in the Bay Area.

	<font size=4>The Bay Bridge</font><br />		<font size=4>The Bay Bridge</font><br />
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	A much less expensive option would be to fit the bike lane on the existing roadway. The Bay Bridge road deck is 58’ wide, only 4’ narrower than the six-lane Golden Gate, and the Bay Bridge upper deck handled six lanes of auto traffic when it opened. A bike path could take eight feet of the existing space, leave 10’ lanes for cars, and save hundreds of millions of dollars, though that design may be problematic for pedestrian and wheelchair access.[9] <br />		A much less expensive option would be to fit the bike lane on the existing roadway. The Bay Bridge road deck is 58’ wide, only 4’ narrower than the six-lane Golden Gate, and the Bay Bridge upper deck handled six lanes of auto traffic when it opened. A bike path could take eight feet of the existing space, leave 10’ lanes for cars, and save hundreds of millions of dollars, though that design may be problematic for pedestrian and wheelchair access.[9] <br />

	[[~~File~~:~~BTBC~~-~~richmond~~-bridge-~~design~~.jpg]]		[[Image:San-Rafael-bridge-bike-lane 20210317 002454043.jpg]]
	'''~~Conceptual design for~~ Richmond Bridge bike path with movable barrier''' <br />		'''Richmond Bridge bike path with movable barrier, 2021.''' <br />
	''Photo: ~~Bike East Bay~~''		''Photo: Chris Carlsson''

	On BTBC’s original target, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, a design with a moveable barrier providing a two-way bike lane on the road deck is slated for installation by 2018.[11] Before long, there will be connectivity through most of the Bay for bikes for the first time ever, all because of a strong and slightly crazy coalition of planners, advocates, and activists.		On BTBC’s original target, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, a design with a moveable barrier providing a two-way bike lane on the road deck is slated for installation by 2018.[11] Before long, there will be connectivity through most of the Bay for bikes for the first time ever, all because of a strong and slightly crazy coalition of planners, advocates, and activists.

	~~'''~~Notes:~~'''~~		<font size=4>Notes:</font size>

	[1] Interview with Robert Raburn by author, November 22, 2016. <br />		[1] Interview with Robert Raburn by author, November 22, 2016. <br />

Ccarlsson: Reverted edits by Ccarlsson (talk) to last revision by Lisaruth

2022-10-20T20:35:25Z

Reverted edits by Ccarlsson (talk) to last revision by Lisaruth

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:35, 20 October 2022
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	{\| style="color: black; background-color: #F5DA81;"		{\| style="color: black; background-color: #F5DA81;"
	\| colspan="2" \| '''After seven years of debate, the decision had been made to replace the [[Bay Bridge ~~Artery\|Bay Bridge]]~~ which had been damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) had voted 22-0 against including a bike path in the project, but a small band of people willing to put their bodies on the line by riding the bridges found a way to change the conversation. A coalition of activists (“door bangers”) and advocates (“hand shakers”) led MTC to reverse their decision, and provide bikes and pedestrians with their first-ever access across the bay.'''		\| colspan="2" \| '''After seven years of debate, the decision had been made to replace the Bay Bridge which had been damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) had voted 22-0 against including a bike path in the project, but a small band of people willing to put their bodies on the line by riding the bridges found a way to change the conversation. A coalition of activists (“door bangers”) and advocates (“hand shakers”) led MTC to reverse their decision, and provide bikes and pedestrians with their first-ever access across the bay.'''
	\|}		\|}
	<br>		<br>
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	Meggs and others passed out flyers advertising BTBC at Critical Mass rides, set up a web site for the group, and began publishing a zine, the ''Bike the Bridge Bugle'', to document their efforts. CalTrans and the CHP largely allowed these demonstrations to go on as long as they didn’t get on the bridge itself, although Eisen led a quiet Sunday morning ride from the Richmond side which successfully made the crossing, resulting in possibly the first-ever bike crossing of the North Bay. In February 1997, nine other cyclists entered the Richmond Bridge from the San Rafael side, making it almost to Richmond before being stopped by the CHP and forced to ride back to San Rafael, receiving 18 citations. A protest ride in March 1997 to “free the Richmond 9,” documented in the Bike the Bridge Bugle zine, successfully crossed the entire length of the bridge.[2]<br />		Meggs and others passed out flyers advertising BTBC at Critical Mass rides, set up a web site for the group, and began publishing a zine, the ''Bike the Bridge Bugle'', to document their efforts. CalTrans and the CHP largely allowed these demonstrations to go on as long as they didn’t get on the bridge itself, although Eisen led a quiet Sunday morning ride from the Richmond side which successfully made the crossing, resulting in possibly the first-ever bike crossing of the North Bay. In February 1997, nine other cyclists entered the Richmond Bridge from the San Rafael side, making it almost to Richmond before being stopped by the CHP and forced to ride back to San Rafael, receiving 18 citations. A protest ride in March 1997 to “free the Richmond 9,” documented in the Bike the Bridge Bugle zine, successfully crossed the entire length of the bridge.[2]<br />

	At the same time, [[Critical Mass~~\|Critical Mass]]~~ was starting to explode. Tensions between bikes, drivers and the city kept rising, until on July 25, 1997, 5000 cyclists defied ~~[[Mayor Willie Brown\|~~Mayor Willie ~~Brown]]’s~~ plan to have an orderly, police-escorted ride, and instead scattered all over the city. Brown, desperate to appear as taking positive action after the debacle, asked Dave Snyder, then head of the SF Bike Coalition, “what do these people want?”[3] A month later, the first San Francisco Bike Plan was approved by the city, and bike advocacy was on its way from marginal to mainstream in the Bay Area.		At the same time, Critical Mass was starting to explode. Tensions between bikes, drivers and the city kept rising, until on July 25, 1997, 5000 cyclists defied Mayor Willie Brown’s plan to have an orderly, police-escorted ride, and instead scattered all over the city. Brown, desperate to appear as taking positive action after the debacle, asked Dave Snyder, then head of the SF Bike Coalition, “what do these people want?”[3] A month later, the first San Francisco Bike Plan was approved by the city, and bike advocacy was on its way from marginal to mainstream in the Bay Area.

	<font size=4>The Bay Bridge</font><br />		<font size=4>The Bay Bridge</font><br />
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	Campbell said, “BTBC made all the difference. MTC voted 22-0 against the path at one point, and then 22-0 for it.” Raburn opines, “Jason and Chris (Carlsson, co-founder of Critical Mass) was essential in giving a voice to so many people who weren’t lycra riders. That became a lot of political clout--the ‘heroistic’ aspect of bicycling. They were good players to work with; they created a whole structure without a structure. Mutual respect, and one common goal.” [1] <br />		Campbell said, “BTBC made all the difference. MTC voted 22-0 against the path at one point, and then 22-0 for it.” Raburn opines, “Jason and Chris (Carlsson, co-founder of Critical Mass) was essential in giving a voice to so many people who weren’t lycra riders. That became a lot of political clout--the ‘heroistic’ aspect of bicycling. They were good players to work with; they created a whole structure without a structure. Mutual respect, and one common goal.” [1] <br />

	~~<iframe src="https://archive.org/embed/bikethebridge199799dresswedding" width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" allowfullscreen></iframe>~~

	~~'''Dress Wedding was an original participant in the three years of Bike the Bridge actions. Here he reminisces about his experiences.'''~~

	~~''Video: Shaping San Francisco''~~

	[[File:BTBC-bay-bridge-path.jpg]]		[[File:BTBC-bay-bridge-path.jpg]]
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	The east span Bay Bridge project itself saw years of delays and cost overruns (eventually costing over $6 billion), and the bike path took even longer. A partial path was opened in 2015, but removal of the old bridge, and other construction concerns kept it from being connected to Yerba Buena Island for some time. Finally, in October 2016, just over 20 years after the foundation of BTBC, the Alex Zuckerman Bike Path opened, and for the first time it became possible to legally ride a bridge from the East Bay towards San Francisco. The hours are still limited by construction, and there is no (legal) way to ride to San Francisco from Treasure Island, but BTBC is still at work. In February 2010, State Senator Loni Hancock introduced a bill to allow the Bay Area Toll Authority to use toll revenues to pay for a path on the western span.[10]		The east span Bay Bridge project itself saw years of delays and cost overruns (eventually costing over $6 billion), and the bike path took even longer. A partial path was opened in 2015, but removal of the old bridge, and other construction concerns kept it from being connected to Yerba Buena Island for some time. Finally, in October 2016, just over 20 years after the foundation of BTBC, the Alex Zuckerman Bike Path opened, and for the first time it became possible to legally ride a bridge from the East Bay towards San Francisco. The hours are still limited by construction, and there is no (legal) way to ride to San Francisco from Treasure Island, but BTBC is still at work. In February 2010, State Senator Loni Hancock introduced a bill to allow the Bay Area Toll Authority to use toll revenues to pay for a path on the western span.[10]

	[[~~Image~~:~~San~~-~~Rafael~~-~~bridge~~-~~bike-lane 20210317 002454043~~.jpg]]		[[File:BTBC-west-span-concept.jpg]]
			'''Conceptual design for western span bike path ramp'''<br />
	'''~~The moveable~~ bike ~~lane now firmly established on the San Rafael/Richmond Bridge, 2021.~~'''		''Photo: San Francisco Bike Coalition''

	''Photo: ~~Chris Carlsson~~''

	MTC is evaluating the options, which face a number of engineering challenges, especially with the touchdown on the San Francisco side, where the bridge is over 160’ above ground at landfall. Spiralling ramps down to the waterfront are projected to cost in the hundreds of millions of dollars. But Eisen believes that there is enough momentum that the west span path “is just a matter of time.”[9] As Campbell puts it, “That’s a $1 bridge toll for 3 years. Can you sit here with your grandchildren and tell them it was a bad idea to spend that money?”[7]<br />		MTC is evaluating the options, which face a number of engineering challenges, especially with the touchdown on the San Francisco side, where the bridge is over 160’ above ground at landfall. Spiralling ramps down to the waterfront are projected to cost in the hundreds of millions of dollars. But Eisen believes that there is enough momentum that the west span path “is just a matter of time.”[9] As Campbell puts it, “That’s a $1 bridge toll for 3 years. Can you sit here with your grandchildren and tell them it was a bad idea to spend that money?”[7]<br />

	A much less expensive option would be to ~~[[Bay Bridge for Everyone\|~~fit the bike lane on the existing roadway]]. The Bay Bridge road deck is 58’ wide, only 4’ narrower than the six-lane Golden Gate, and the Bay Bridge upper deck handled six lanes of auto traffic when it opened. A bike path could take eight feet of the existing space, leave 10’ lanes for cars, and save hundreds of millions of dollars, though that design may be problematic for pedestrian and wheelchair access.[9] <br />		A much less expensive option would be to fit the bike lane on the existing roadway. The Bay Bridge road deck is 58’ wide, only 4’ narrower than the six-lane Golden Gate, and the Bay Bridge upper deck handled six lanes of auto traffic when it opened. A bike path could take eight feet of the existing space, leave 10’ lanes for cars, and save hundreds of millions of dollars, though that design may be problematic for pedestrian and wheelchair access.[9] <br />

	[[File:BTBC-richmond-bridge-design.jpg]]		[[File:BTBC-richmond-bridge-design.jpg]]
Line 92:		Line 84:
	On BTBC’s original target, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, a design with a moveable barrier providing a two-way bike lane on the road deck is slated for installation by 2018.[11] Before long, there will be connectivity through most of the Bay for bikes for the first time ever, all because of a strong and slightly crazy coalition of planners, advocates, and activists.		On BTBC’s original target, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, a design with a moveable barrier providing a two-way bike lane on the road deck is slated for installation by 2018.[11] Before long, there will be connectivity through most of the Bay for bikes for the first time ever, all because of a strong and slightly crazy coalition of planners, advocates, and activists.

	~~<font size=4>~~Notes:~~</font size>~~		'''Notes:'''

	[1] Interview with Robert Raburn by author, November 22, 2016. <br />		[1] Interview with Robert Raburn by author, November 22, 2016. <br />
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	[11] Metropolitan Transportation Commission, “[http://mtc.ca.gov/our-work/plans-projects/bicycle-pedestrian-planning/richmond-san-rafael-bridge-bike-pedestrian-path Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Bike/Pedestrian Path Project]”, MTC, accessed February 20, 2017.		[11] Metropolitan Transportation Commission, “[http://mtc.ca.gov/our-work/plans-projects/bicycle-pedestrian-planning/richmond-san-rafael-bridge-bike-pedestrian-path Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Bike/Pedestrian Path Project]”, MTC, accessed February 20, 2017.

	[[category:1990s]] [[category:2010s]] [[category:Bicycling]] [[category:Dissent~~]] [[category:Transit~~]]		[[category:1990s]] [[category:2010s]] [[category:Bicycling]] [[category:Dissent]]

Ccarlsson at 20:34, 20 October 2022

2022-10-20T20:34:00Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:34, 20 October 2022
Line 107:		Line 107:
	[11] Metropolitan Transportation Commission, “[http://mtc.ca.gov/our-work/plans-projects/bicycle-pedestrian-planning/richmond-san-rafael-bridge-bike-pedestrian-path Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Bike/Pedestrian Path Project]”, MTC, accessed February 20, 2017.		[11] Metropolitan Transportation Commission, “[http://mtc.ca.gov/our-work/plans-projects/bicycle-pedestrian-planning/richmond-san-rafael-bridge-bike-pedestrian-path Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Bike/Pedestrian Path Project]”, MTC, accessed February 20, 2017.

	[[category:1990s]] [[category:2010s]] [[category:Bicycling]] [[category:Dissent]]		[[category:1990s]] [[category:2010s]] [[category:Bicycling]] [[category:Dissent]] [[category:Transit]]

Ccarlsson: swapped in photo

2022-10-20T20:33:33Z

swapped in photo

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:33, 20 October 2022
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	The east span Bay Bridge project itself saw years of delays and cost overruns (eventually costing over $6 billion), and the bike path took even longer. A partial path was opened in 2015, but removal of the old bridge, and other construction concerns kept it from being connected to Yerba Buena Island for some time. Finally, in October 2016, just over 20 years after the foundation of BTBC, the Alex Zuckerman Bike Path opened, and for the first time it became possible to legally ride a bridge from the East Bay towards San Francisco. The hours are still limited by construction, and there is no (legal) way to ride to San Francisco from Treasure Island, but BTBC is still at work. In February 2010, State Senator Loni Hancock introduced a bill to allow the Bay Area Toll Authority to use toll revenues to pay for a path on the western span.[10]		The east span Bay Bridge project itself saw years of delays and cost overruns (eventually costing over $6 billion), and the bike path took even longer. A partial path was opened in 2015, but removal of the old bridge, and other construction concerns kept it from being connected to Yerba Buena Island for some time. Finally, in October 2016, just over 20 years after the foundation of BTBC, the Alex Zuckerman Bike Path opened, and for the first time it became possible to legally ride a bridge from the East Bay towards San Francisco. The hours are still limited by construction, and there is no (legal) way to ride to San Francisco from Treasure Island, but BTBC is still at work. In February 2010, State Senator Loni Hancock introduced a bill to allow the Bay Area Toll Authority to use toll revenues to pay for a path on the western span.[10]

	[[~~File~~:~~BTBC~~-~~west~~-~~span~~-~~concept~~.jpg]]		[[Image:San-Rafael-bridge-bike-lane 20210317 002454043.jpg]]
	'''~~Conceptual design for western span~~ bike ~~path ramp~~'''~~<br />~~
	''Photo: ~~San Francisco Bike Coalition~~''		'''The moveable bike lane now firmly established on the San Rafael/Richmond Bridge, 2021.'''

			''Photo: Chris Carlsson''

	MTC is evaluating the options, which face a number of engineering challenges, especially with the touchdown on the San Francisco side, where the bridge is over 160’ above ground at landfall. Spiralling ramps down to the waterfront are projected to cost in the hundreds of millions of dollars. But Eisen believes that there is enough momentum that the west span path “is just a matter of time.”[9] As Campbell puts it, “That’s a $1 bridge toll for 3 years. Can you sit here with your grandchildren and tell them it was a bad idea to spend that money?”[7]<br />		MTC is evaluating the options, which face a number of engineering challenges, especially with the touchdown on the San Francisco side, where the bridge is over 160’ above ground at landfall. Spiralling ramps down to the waterfront are projected to cost in the hundreds of millions of dollars. But Eisen believes that there is enough momentum that the west span path “is just a matter of time.”[9] As Campbell puts it, “That’s a $1 bridge toll for 3 years. Can you sit here with your grandchildren and tell them it was a bad idea to spend that money?”[7]<br />

Ccarlsson at 20:28, 20 October 2022

2022-10-20T20:28:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:28, 20 October 2022
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	Meggs and others passed out flyers advertising BTBC at Critical Mass rides, set up a web site for the group, and began publishing a zine, the ''Bike the Bridge Bugle'', to document their efforts. CalTrans and the CHP largely allowed these demonstrations to go on as long as they didn’t get on the bridge itself, although Eisen led a quiet Sunday morning ride from the Richmond side which successfully made the crossing, resulting in possibly the first-ever bike crossing of the North Bay. In February 1997, nine other cyclists entered the Richmond Bridge from the San Rafael side, making it almost to Richmond before being stopped by the CHP and forced to ride back to San Rafael, receiving 18 citations. A protest ride in March 1997 to “free the Richmond 9,” documented in the Bike the Bridge Bugle zine, successfully crossed the entire length of the bridge.[2]<br />		Meggs and others passed out flyers advertising BTBC at Critical Mass rides, set up a web site for the group, and began publishing a zine, the ''Bike the Bridge Bugle'', to document their efforts. CalTrans and the CHP largely allowed these demonstrations to go on as long as they didn’t get on the bridge itself, although Eisen led a quiet Sunday morning ride from the Richmond side which successfully made the crossing, resulting in possibly the first-ever bike crossing of the North Bay. In February 1997, nine other cyclists entered the Richmond Bridge from the San Rafael side, making it almost to Richmond before being stopped by the CHP and forced to ride back to San Rafael, receiving 18 citations. A protest ride in March 1997 to “free the Richmond 9,” documented in the Bike the Bridge Bugle zine, successfully crossed the entire length of the bridge.[2]<br />

	At the same time, Critical Mass was starting to explode. Tensions between bikes, drivers and the city kept rising, until on July 25, 1997, 5000 cyclists defied Mayor Willie ~~Brown’s~~ plan to have an orderly, police-escorted ride, and instead scattered all over the city. Brown, desperate to appear as taking positive action after the debacle, asked Dave Snyder, then head of the SF Bike Coalition, “what do these people want?”[3] A month later, the first San Francisco Bike Plan was approved by the city, and bike advocacy was on its way from marginal to mainstream in the Bay Area.		At the same time, [[Critical Mass\|Critical Mass]] was starting to explode. Tensions between bikes, drivers and the city kept rising, until on July 25, 1997, 5000 cyclists defied [[Mayor Willie Brown\|Mayor Willie Brown]]’s plan to have an orderly, police-escorted ride, and instead scattered all over the city. Brown, desperate to appear as taking positive action after the debacle, asked Dave Snyder, then head of the SF Bike Coalition, “what do these people want?”[3] A month later, the first San Francisco Bike Plan was approved by the city, and bike advocacy was on its way from marginal to mainstream in the Bay Area.

	<font size=4>The Bay Bridge</font><br />		<font size=4>The Bay Bridge</font><br />
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	MTC is evaluating the options, which face a number of engineering challenges, especially with the touchdown on the San Francisco side, where the bridge is over 160’ above ground at landfall. Spiralling ramps down to the waterfront are projected to cost in the hundreds of millions of dollars. But Eisen believes that there is enough momentum that the west span path “is just a matter of time.”[9] As Campbell puts it, “That’s a $1 bridge toll for 3 years. Can you sit here with your grandchildren and tell them it was a bad idea to spend that money?”[7]<br />		MTC is evaluating the options, which face a number of engineering challenges, especially with the touchdown on the San Francisco side, where the bridge is over 160’ above ground at landfall. Spiralling ramps down to the waterfront are projected to cost in the hundreds of millions of dollars. But Eisen believes that there is enough momentum that the west span path “is just a matter of time.”[9] As Campbell puts it, “That’s a $1 bridge toll for 3 years. Can you sit here with your grandchildren and tell them it was a bad idea to spend that money?”[7]<br />

	A much less expensive option would be to fit the bike lane on the existing roadway. The Bay Bridge road deck is 58’ wide, only 4’ narrower than the six-lane Golden Gate, and the Bay Bridge upper deck handled six lanes of auto traffic when it opened. A bike path could take eight feet of the existing space, leave 10’ lanes for cars, and save hundreds of millions of dollars, though that design may be problematic for pedestrian and wheelchair access.[9] <br />		A much less expensive option would be to [[Bay Bridge for Everyone\|fit the bike lane on the existing roadway]]. The Bay Bridge road deck is 58’ wide, only 4’ narrower than the six-lane Golden Gate, and the Bay Bridge upper deck handled six lanes of auto traffic when it opened. A bike path could take eight feet of the existing space, leave 10’ lanes for cars, and save hundreds of millions of dollars, though that design may be problematic for pedestrian and wheelchair access.[9] <br />

	[[File:BTBC-richmond-bridge-design.jpg]]		[[File:BTBC-richmond-bridge-design.jpg]]
Line 90:		Line 90:
	On BTBC’s original target, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, a design with a moveable barrier providing a two-way bike lane on the road deck is slated for installation by 2018.[11] Before long, there will be connectivity through most of the Bay for bikes for the first time ever, all because of a strong and slightly crazy coalition of planners, advocates, and activists.		On BTBC’s original target, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, a design with a moveable barrier providing a two-way bike lane on the road deck is slated for installation by 2018.[11] Before long, there will be connectivity through most of the Bay for bikes for the first time ever, all because of a strong and slightly crazy coalition of planners, advocates, and activists.

	~~'''~~Notes:~~'''~~		<font size=4>Notes:</font size>

	[1] Interview with Robert Raburn by author, November 22, 2016. <br />		[1] Interview with Robert Raburn by author, November 22, 2016. <br />

Ccarlsson: added link

2022-10-20T20:22:58Z

added link

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:22, 20 October 2022
Line 10:		Line 10:

	{\| style="color: black; background-color: #F5DA81;"		{\| style="color: black; background-color: #F5DA81;"
	\| colspan="2" \| '''After seven years of debate, the decision had been made to replace the Bay Bridge which had been damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) had voted 22-0 against including a bike path in the project, but a small band of people willing to put their bodies on the line by riding the bridges found a way to change the conversation. A coalition of activists (“door bangers”) and advocates (“hand shakers”) led MTC to reverse their decision, and provide bikes and pedestrians with their first-ever access across the bay.'''		\| colspan="2" \| '''After seven years of debate, the decision had been made to replace the [[Bay Bridge Artery\|Bay Bridge]] which had been damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) had voted 22-0 against including a bike path in the project, but a small band of people willing to put their bodies on the line by riding the bridges found a way to change the conversation. A coalition of activists (“door bangers”) and advocates (“hand shakers”) led MTC to reverse their decision, and provide bikes and pedestrians with their first-ever access across the bay.'''
	\|}		\|}
	<br>		<br>

Ccarlsson: added new video of Dress

2019-09-14T02:03:25Z

added new video of Dress

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:03, 13 September 2019
Line 61:		Line 61:

	Campbell said, “BTBC made all the difference. MTC voted 22-0 against the path at one point, and then 22-0 for it.” Raburn opines, “Jason and Chris (Carlsson, co-founder of Critical Mass) was essential in giving a voice to so many people who weren’t lycra riders. That became a lot of political clout--the ‘heroistic’ aspect of bicycling. They were good players to work with; they created a whole structure without a structure. Mutual respect, and one common goal.” [1] <br />		Campbell said, “BTBC made all the difference. MTC voted 22-0 against the path at one point, and then 22-0 for it.” Raburn opines, “Jason and Chris (Carlsson, co-founder of Critical Mass) was essential in giving a voice to so many people who weren’t lycra riders. That became a lot of political clout--the ‘heroistic’ aspect of bicycling. They were good players to work with; they created a whole structure without a structure. Mutual respect, and one common goal.” [1] <br />

			<iframe src="https://archive.org/embed/bikethebridge199799dresswedding" width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" allowfullscreen></iframe>

			'''Dress Wedding was an original participant in the three years of Bike the Bridge actions. Here he reminisces about his experiences.'''

			''Video: Shaping San Francisco''

	[[File:BTBC-bay-bridge-path.jpg]]		[[File:BTBC-bay-bridge-path.jpg]]

Lisaruth: Protected "Bike the Bridge Coalition" ([Edit=Allow only administrators] (indefinite))

2017-07-08T00:13:15Z

Protected "Bike the Bridge Coalition" ([Edit=Allow only administrators] (indefinite))

← Older revision	Revision as of 17:13, 7 July 2017
(No difference)

Tomholub at 06:59, 10 May 2017

2017-05-10T06:59:37Z

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	In 1996 Jason Meggs, a [[Critical Mass]] participant and founder of the Bicycle-Friendly Berkeley Coalition, organized a ride up to the eastern toll plaza of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge which included over 100 cyclists. The Richmond Bridge includes a breakdown lane along its entire length, so could easily accommodate a bike lane without significant additional infrastructure; it seemed like a more feasible target than the Bay Bridge.<br />		In 1996 Jason Meggs, a [[Critical Mass]] participant and founder of the Bicycle-Friendly Berkeley Coalition, organized a ride up to the eastern toll plaza of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge which included over 100 cyclists. The Richmond Bridge includes a breakdown lane along its entire length, so could easily accommodate a bike lane without significant additional infrastructure; it seemed like a more feasible target than the Bay Bridge.<br />

	It was possible to ride all the way to the base of the Richmond Bridge on both shorelines, so the rides were doable for bike advocates like Alex Zuckerman, Victoria Eisen, and Robert ~~Rayburn~~ who didn’t much want to get arrested, as well as the more activist riders like Jason Meggs and Dave Cohen. The CHP attempted to block the first ride, but the group stayed entirely on bike-legal roads and pathways, and the CHP eventually let them through. Their success led Meggs to form the Bike the Bridge Coalition (BTBC), which would hold these “feasibility rides” every month to advocate for bike access to the bridge. [1]<br />		It was possible to ride all the way to the base of the Richmond Bridge on both shorelines, so the rides were doable for bike advocates like Alex Zuckerman, Victoria Eisen, and Robert Raburn who didn’t much want to get arrested, as well as the more activist riders like Jason Meggs and Dave Cohen. The CHP attempted to block the first ride, but the group stayed entirely on bike-legal roads and pathways, and the CHP eventually let them through. Their success led Meggs to form the Bike the Bridge Coalition (BTBC), which would hold these “feasibility rides” every month to advocate for bike access to the bridge. [1]<br />

	[[File:BTBC-richmond-cop.jpg]]		[[File:BTBC-richmond-cop.jpg]]

Tomholub at 18:54, 4 May 2017

2017-05-04T18:54:36Z

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	''Photo: Jason Meggs, Bike the Bridge Coalition''		''Photo: Jason Meggs, Bike the Bridge Coalition''

	The first publicized bridge ride came on September 10, 1997, coinciding with a BART strike that snarled commutes all over the Bay Area. A group of six riders, led by Meggs, found a way to access an old bus entry to the bridge on Burma Road. Burma Road lacked any signage prohibiting bikes or pedestrians, so their entry to the bridge was technically legal. The group triumphantly made it all the way across, though one rider got her front wheel stuck in the expansion joints between bridge sections. They were arrested and charged with ~~trespassing~~, though the charges later were dropped. Dave Campbell, now advocacy director for Bike East Bay, said that the group came to the next BFBC meeting in their orange prison jumpsuits, giddy over the success.[7]<br />		The first publicized bridge ride came on September 10, 1997, coinciding with a BART strike that snarled commutes all over the Bay Area. A group of six riders, led by Meggs, found a way to access an old bus entry to the bridge on Burma Road. Burma Road lacked any signage prohibiting bikes or pedestrians, so their entry to the bridge was technically legal. The group triumphantly made it all the way across, though one rider got her front wheel stuck in the expansion joints between bridge sections. They were arrested and charged with "conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor of crossing the bridge illegally, or with unauthorized vehicles," though the charges later were dropped. Dave Campbell, now advocacy director for Bike East Bay, said that the group came to the next BFBC meeting in their orange prison jumpsuits, giddy over the success.[7]<br />

	Possibly because of the evolving status of bike advocacy in the Bay Area, the press surrounding the ride was mostly positive, which energized the movement. The mix of activists and advocates went to work. Meggs said “I was the door-banger; Alex [Zuckerman] was the hand-shaker.”[6] Campbell told Meggs, “I’ll get a bike path to the bridge--you get a bike path on the bridge.”[7] Zuckerman, Raburn, Campbell, and Eisen worked their inside connections with MTC and CalTrans, while Meggs continued to agitate through direct action. Raburn notes, “The word ‘Coalition’ really meant something; it brought together Critical Mass, bike advocates, and lycra riders” to push for a single goal. “It’s on the agenda...let’s go fill out some more speaker cards.” [1] <br />		Possibly because of the evolving status of bike advocacy in the Bay Area, the press surrounding the ride was mostly positive, which energized the movement. The mix of activists and advocates went to work. Meggs said “I was the door-banger; Alex [Zuckerman] was the hand-shaker.”[6] Campbell told Meggs, “I’ll get a bike path to the bridge--you get a bike path on the bridge.”[7] Zuckerman, Raburn, Campbell, and Eisen worked their inside connections with MTC and CalTrans, while Meggs continued to agitate through direct action. Raburn notes, “The word ‘Coalition’ really meant something; it brought together Critical Mass, bike advocates, and lycra riders” to push for a single goal. “It’s on the agenda...let’s go fill out some more speaker cards.” [1] <br />