Painting Green Bike Lanes in Oakland

Hopefully Oakland is heading toward a more just and sustainable transportation future...

Are green bike lanes the precursor of safer, better bike infrastructure?

Perhaps, yes.

These green painted portions of the bike lane are only in "conflict zones" in the Adam's Point/Lake Merritt area.  The image above is on Grand Avenue just past the Harrison Street intersection.  There is a wide right turn through lane, where cars barely have to slow down to veer right onto Grand Avenue. This type of cars-first infrastructure is common all over Oakland. This particular area here is a danger zone for both bicyclists and pedestrians. Even though there is a light, which apparently turns red on occasion for drivers, I rarely see it red. I both walk and ride my bike in this area on a daily basis. This can be a tricky area for bicyclists and pedestrians, and we often feel unsafe with cars barreling by us at unsafe (and illegal) speeds.  

Hopefully, this green bike lane paint will be one step (along with many others) to democratize our city streets. Everyone owns our streets. It's time that we all have access to our fair share of the street. People driving vehicles do not have any rights above those on foot or on bike. I hope that we will begin to see real design changes to our community infrastructure that make us ALL safer, happier and healthier. 

Scene: Emeryville Street Art

The other day while I was doing some fieldwork for my job (walking the streets and marking where the City needs to put up the bicycle boulevard signage), I happened upon this great street art piece.  There are lovely little street art pieces around the city.  You just need to have your eyes focused on these little treasures.

Accidents Happen, Gatzby

If you haven't meandered around Emeryville in a while (or ever), I highly recommend a little jaunt around the cute, little off-the-beaten path streets in the heart of the City.  Get off the freeway on those hectic commutes home for a leisurely little walk, or hop on your bike on a lovely sunny Saturday and check it out.  I certainly enjoy my little walks every day, and I often happen upon little street art projects that make me smile.

voting

one of the ways that we can affect change in our local communities (not just federal policies and the prez), is to VOTE!    So, this is my little 2-cents for voting....  it's so easy nowadays.  you can register online, now.  no more going to the post office to pick up a voter registration card.  AND you can vote by mail now.  YAY!   i actually first voted by mail when i lived in portland, oregon in 2002.  it was so easy and i loved being able to study up online on who i was voting for, then fill-in the line, vote, and put it in the mail.  done.  so so easy.  no more worries about "will i have enough time to go vote before work?".  it's amazing.  i love voting.  and i love voting by mail.  i keep wondering if (or when) we'll ever be able to vote online.