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Bypass Update

By Dave Stoeffler

Last months newsletter described two problems with the Highway 4 Bypass affecting bicyclists. The first problem was the bicycle tire eating storm sewer grates. The second problem was that bicycles might not be allowed on the bypass at all.

Both The Delta Pedalers and the East Bay Bicycle Coalition have decided that this is a cause worth fighting for. In mid August a suggested letter to elected officials and managers was e-mailed to everyone in the club, with an e-mail address, with hopes that public pressure would help to convince them to rectify this situation. If you have yet to mail a letter please do so now. Members of the Bypass board are Brad Nix (Oakley), Federal Glover (County), Don Freitas (Antioch) and Wade Gomes (Brentwood). The Bypass Construction Manager is Lowell Tunison and the address is Contra Costa Co. Public Works Dept., 255 Glacier Dr., Martinez CA 94553. If you need more information contact me.

On August 9th myself along with Ole Ohlson, Dick VrMeer and Robert Rayburn of the EBBC attended The Bypass Authority meeting. Both our club and the Bicycle Coalition submitted letters regarding the above problems. We were also prepared to make statements but the authority board decided to put the issues on the agenda for the next meeting in September. We consider this a positive move and urge all members to attend that meeting and voice their views. The meeting usually lasts less than an hour so it should not be a great imposition on anyone. Ride your bike for a show of 2 wheel force!

STATE ROUTE 4 BYPASS AUTHORITY BOARD MEETING
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 - 6:30PM
TRI-DELTA TRANSIT MEETING ROOM
801 WILBUR AVE. ANTIOCH CA

Please remember that there is presently no safe bicycle route between Antioch and Brentwood. The only safe route was Old Sand Creek and Heidorn Ranch Roads that were severed by the bypass. Lone Tree Way, in Brentwood is unsafe and will soon be under heavy construction. For safety sake it is imperative that the bypass between Lone Tree Way and Balfour Road be open to cyclists! Again, please contact the Bypass Authority members and come to the meeting on Sept. 13th.

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Contacts and upcoming events

By Bruce "Ole" Ohlson

Bicycle Projects in the East County:

* * The ballot campaign to re-authorize Measure "C," the 1/2 cent sales tax that funds some of the transportation infrastructure improvements in Contra Costa County, is being prepared by the Contra Costa County Transportation Authority. Cyclists have joined with environmentalists and the Transportation and Land Use Coalition fo ensure that the project list accommodates the needs of our non-motorized citizens. For information about how you can join the campaign call or e-mail Sita at TALC: [email protected] or (510)740-3150.

* * The Sand Creek Development Plan (also called FUA 1) is working its way through the halls of Antioch Government. At the first City Council meeting of the new year, staff announced that over 400 pages of public comment had been received on the draft EIR. The Council directed staff to change the document from "project" level to "program" level. Call or e-mail Eli Buchen of the Greenbelt Alliance for additional information. [email protected] (925)932-1773.

* * Contra Costa County, Bay Point, and Pittsburg are working on the Pittsburg/Bay Point BART Area Specific Plan. Call or e-mail Noel Ibalio, City of Pittsburg, for more information. [email protected] (925)252-4968.

* * Both Brentwood and Pittsburg have applied to the League of American Bicyclists to be certified as Bicycle Communities.

* * The Brentwood Bicycle Advisory Committee meets at 4 P.M. on the 4th Monday of the month in the City Council chambers. Call or e-mail Janet Hansen if you'd like to become involved. [email protected] (925)516-5369.

* * The sub-committee has completed the update of the Antioch General Plan. Next, the consultant will write the Environmental Impact Report. The Planning Commission will hold hearings and receive public in-put to the Draft General Plan sometime during the late spring or early summer. The planning commission will then forward these documents to the City Council for adoption. A General plan is important because it defines how the City will grow over the next 20 years. The document, as it is currently written, contains bicycle-friendly sentiments and directs the Engineering Department to accommodate bicycles on Antioch's streets. As cyclists, we need to 1) make sure that the Planning Commission and the City Council do not delete the bicycle specific language, and 2) once the General Plan is adopted, we need to monitor projects and remind staff to follow the General Plan. I'll keep you posted regarding future meetings.

NEW INFO:

The draft Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan is available for public comment. You can read it on the Contra Costa Transportation Authority web site at www.ccta.net. You can ask for a paper copy from Brad Beck, the staff member in charge, at [email protected]. Or you can call the CCTA office at (925) 407-0121. The MTC required the CCTA to make this plan. Heretofor, Contra Costa County was the only county in the Bay Area without a bike plan.

The annual bike ride up Mount Diablo will occur on New Year's Day. Three years ago we had over 500 individual cyclists on the mountain on a beautiful sunny winter day. Because the park requires a permit for clubs rides on the mountain, everyone biking the mountain on New Year's will be there as an individual. There is no particular time or certain route. Enjoy.

The City of Oakley is rushing through the final work of the preparation of its first general plan. The City Council will deliberate at several public hearing during December before adopting the final version. Call the City of Oakley (925) 625-7000 for the meeting schedule. A general plan is the city's constitution for development and will be in effect over the next 20 years. It directs staff in the day to day planning for and direction of growth. It is usually fairly easy to get bicycle friendly language into these documents. Once adopted, a general plan is difficult to change. Energy invested into getting bicycle friendly language into Oakley's general plan will be well rewarded. Aanyone who lives in or bicycles through Oakley is eligible to suggest how the City should proceed.

The East Bay Bicycle Coalition received a grant to put on three League of American Bicyclists' "Road I" safety education and cycling skills classes. The lecture is on Thursday evening and the practical is on Saturday. These classes are open to all cyclists in Contra Costa County at no cost.

John Ciccarelli, the instructor, knows his stuff and gets it across. Contact Dave Campbell for more information and to register. [email protected] or (510) 549-7433. Note: during March, 2003, the EBBC will offer the League Certified Instructor course. (Completion of Road I is prerequisite).

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

Although 9th Street in Antioch is designated by the East Contra Costa Bikeway Plan as the north-of-the-freeway trunkway route in the East County, and though it is on the East Bay Bicycle Coalition's map as a recommended route, 9th Street is not designated as a bicycle facility by the City of Antioch. That is about to change. The Delta Pedalers have been invited to give in-put to the City of Antioch regarding the designation of 9th Street as a bicycle route. This is preliminary to securing on-street lanes for both directions when 9th and 10th Streets are changed to a pair of one-way thoroughfares. Ed Franzen, the City's senior traffic engineer would like the Delta Pedalers input into this plan and suggestions as to how to cross L, G and A Streets. He would also like a letter of support that he can include in the grant application to Caltrans. Please ride, walk, or drive 9th Street at your earliest convenience. We will discuss this project at the November meeting.

The City of Antioch is moving ahead with the update of its General Plan. Cyclists are needed to attend the meetings when the Traffic and Circulation Chapter is discussed. 6:00 P.M. at the Police Station's Community Room, 300 "L" Street, on November 14, the third Thursday. It is possible that we will also meet on the November 21, the fourth Thursday, but that will be determined. Call Community Development (779-7035) for the latest information and to be added to the e-mail notification list.

The City of Antioch is creating a Residential Development Allocation Ranking Criteria. How the developer scores on this points system will determine whether he can build his proposed development. The City Council will hold a special workshop during November to work through and fine tune the plan. Points in several of the sub-sections: Open Space and Parks, Culture and Recreation, and Transportation have the potential to benefit cyclists, but we need to make the request and give the in-put. Call the City Clerk (779-7009) to find out when the meeting is scheduled.

The Greenbelt Alliance is leading the charge to resist the building of 5,000 additional houses in South East Antioch. More houses means more traffic on our already overcrowded existing streets which, in turn, means reduced space on the road for and safety for cyclists. Call Eli Buchen (925) 932-1773 for more information.

The East Bay Bicycle Coalition has obtained a grant and is offering the League of American Bicyclists' Road I cycling skills and education course at no cost (a $100 value) to cyclists in the East Bay. The location is yet to be determined but it will probably be in Berkeley or Oakland. The format will be a Thursday evening and a Saturday all day. You must attend both to successfully complete the course. Call the East Bay Bicycle Coalition (510) 433-7433 for additional information.

The City Council of Oakely is meeting on November 12, 18, 19, 25, and December 2, 3, and 9 to rush through their new General Plan. My inputs have been rebuffed as a carpet bagger. We need LOCAL cyclists to protest the luke warm mentions of bicycling. So far, we are relegated to the Recreation Chapter. The vastly more important Transportation Chapter virtually ignores the safety and access needs of the non-motorized public. Call 625-7000 for more information regarding the meetings and e-mail your bicycle comments to the consultant, Paul Junkers, at [email protected]

MEETINGS THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR CYCLING ENVIRONMENT

Two important meetings will be taking place in September. Please mark you calendar. We need cyclists to attend these meetings and advocate for a bicycle friendly infrastructure.

Measure C, the 1/2 cent sales tax that is dedicated to transprotation, will come before the voters for reauthorization in the fall of 2004.

Our local transportation planning organization, TRANSPLAN will be discussing how to earmark the spending of the money received from this tax at their regular meeting (second Thursday) September 12, 6:30 P.M. at the TriDelta Transit board room, 801 Wilbur Avenue, Antioch. For more information about the meeting, call John Greitzer, staff, at (925) 335-1201.

The County congestion management agency, CONTRA COSTA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, will be collating each of the sub-regions' requests into the final Measure C document at their regular meeting (third Wednesday) September 18, at their Hookston Square Office, 3478 Buskirk Avenue, Pleasant Hill, (about a 10 minute walk from the Pleasant Hill BART station). Call their office (925) 407-0121 for additional information

FREE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN BICYCLISTS BICYCLE SKILLS IN TRAFFIC COURSES OFFERED IN PALO ALTO

Amanda Jones of the City of Palo Alto has obtained a grant that will allow her to offer three "Road 1" classes to cyclists from the Bay Area. This is a $100 value. Each class consists of a Wednesday evening (lecture) and a Saturday (on bike) meeting.

Course Dates and Times:

Contact Amanda Jones (650) 329-2568 for additional information and to register.

(It is good to increase the number of skilled, knowledgeable cyclists on the roads of our communities. Let's get a car load of Delta Pedalers together and attend one of these courses. Let's think about getting one of our own members certified as an instructor so we can put on these types of courses here in the Delta. ~0le Note: I have seen the instructor for this class in action. He is awesome! He knows his stuff and can communicate it. Everyone attending will learn tremendous amounts of useful information.)

Advocacy Calendar: meetings and events that have the possibility of making a difference in the cycling environment.

May 14, 2025, Tuesday, 7:00 P.M. Antioch City Council will proclaim Bike To Work Day and National Bicycle Month. The City Council meets at the Antioch City Hall, 3rd and H streets. Cyclists are welcome to stand up with Mary Engleton and me to receive the proclamation. The proclamation portion of the meeting is FIRST on the agenda. It will happen at 7:00 P.M. sharp.

May 16, 2025, Thursday, Bike to work day. Sign up to participate at www.btwd.org Or call 1-800-755-7665 or 817-1717 (A drawing will be held and prizes will be given to some of those who sign up.) You are eligible for inclusion in the drawing if you ride your bike at least part way to work or school anytime during the week of May 13 to 17.

May 16, Here is a partial listing of some of the Bike to Work Day energizer stations. They are open from roughly 6:30 AM till 9:00 A.M. Pittsburg: BART Station Martinez: Amtrak Station Antioch: 3400 Delta Fair Boulevard (near Kaiser)

May 16, 2025, Thursday, 6:00 P.M. Antioch General Plan Subcommittee meeting at the Police Community Room, 300 "L" Street. It is important to get bicycle friendly language into this document. More information at 925 779-7009 Sandwiches, cookies, and soda pop provided. A general plan is the community's constitution for growth over the next 20 years. It is a statement of where the City wants to go and how it sees itself. Getting bicycle friendly language into the General Plan is, in my opinion, THE most important thing we can do. Everyone is invited to help.

May 19, Sunday, In the evening. Delta Pedalers board of director's meeting. Call the president, John Pasquale for particulars and dirctions (925) 625-9356

May 20, 2025, Monday, 7:00 P.M. The Pittsburg City Council is slated to proclaim Bike To Work Day and National Bicycle Month. The Pittsburg City Council meets on the third floor of the City Hall at 65 Civic Drive, Pittsburg. Cyclists are welcome to stand up with me (0le) to receive the proclamation. The proclamation portion of the meeting is FIRST on the agenda. It will happen at 7:00 P.M. sharp.

May 21, Tuesday, 7:30 P.M. Regular meeting of the East Bay Bicycle Coalition. Meets at the Rockridge Branch of the Oakland Library, 5366 College Avenue, about a 5 minute walk from the Rockridge BART station. Call (510) 433-7433 for more information or visit the web site at www.ebbc.org

June 2, (Sunday) 7:00 P.M. Aladino's Pizza, 1324 Sunset Drive, Antioch. Delta Pedalers regular membership meeting.

June 5, 2025, Wednesday 7:00 P.M. Freedom High School, Oakley. Shaping our Future. A workshop for citizens to discuss where we will put the 225,000 people that are expected to take up residency in Contra Costa County over the next 20 years. Cyclists should attend this meeting to advocate for confining growth to that which is consistent with our values: adequate space on the road for all legitimate users! More information is available at www.shapingourfuture.org OR send your comments to [email protected]

June 6, (Thursday) 7:00 P.M. Pittsburg City Hall, 3rd floor. City of Pittsburg Traffic and Circulation Advisory Committee.

June 11, (Tuesday) 1:30 P.M. 111 Grand Avenue, Oakland. Caltrans Bicycle Advisory Committee Meeting. Call staff, Julian Carroll (510) 286-5598, for more information.

June 13, (Thursday) 3:30 P.M. 708 3rd Street, Brentwood. Brentwood Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting. Call staff, Janet Hansen (925) 516-5369, for more information. Brentwood is doing a wonderful job. I wish every city were as progressive.

June 13, (Thursday) 6:30 P.M. 801 Wilbur Avenue, Antioch. State Highway 4 Bypass Authority, TRANSPLAN, Highway 4 Corridor (East) Transit Study Policy Advisory Committee, East Contra Costa Regional Fee and Finance Authority, and East County Transportation Improvement Authority meetings. These meetings take place one right after the other. These entities consist of elected officials of the cities in the East County. These individuals spend millions of our dollars annually on transportation infrastructure. It is always a good idea to keep an eye on them.

June 18, Tuesday, (approximately) 1:00 P.M. The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors will consider the Bay Point BART Area Specific Plan. There is lots of room for improvement of the bicycle amenities that are slated to be included in the development.

June 19 (4th Wednesday) 6:30 P.M. 3478 Buskirk Avenue, Pleasant Hill. Contra Costa Transportation Authority Citizen Advisory Committee meeting.

Also of interest:

On March 26, President Bush announced that he and Surgeon General-designate Richard Carmona would encourage Americans to bicycle "for the good of their families, for the good of their own health, and for the good of the health of the nation."

GENERAL PLAN DEVELOPMENT: The cities of Antioch and Oakley are working on their general plans. The premise is that growth must make a positive contribution to the community, not just mitigate its impact. Call the City of Antioch Community Development Department (925) 779-7035 to find out when the next meeting is to be held. We will soon be working on the Traffic and Circulation Chapter, the most important chapter from a cyclist's perspective.

CENTURY BOULEVARD: The City of Pittsburg has admitted that it erred in not specifying the construction of bike lanes on the section of Century Boulevard that will be improved as part of the development of the new auto mall portion of Century Plaza Shopping Center. Bike facilities are called for in the 1988 General Plan and in the 2001 General Plan. Planning and eventual construction (without bike lanes) is moving forward.

ANTIOCH BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE: The City of Antioch traffic engineer, Ed Franzen, has indicated a desire to form a bicycle advisory committee. He said that he is running out of projects that will benefit the bicycle community and he needs some more suggestions.

Important Information:

The Contra Costa Transportation Authority, the congestion management agency for Contra Costa County, also publishes a monthly announcement of meetings. Usually it is the agenda for the Agency's regular meeting that is normally held on the third Wednesday of the month, except during August. Check with them to be sure about their meeting plans if the meeting falls on the day before any major holiday. To have your name added to this mailing list, call them (925) 407-0121. The meetings take place at their office at 3478 Buskirk Avenue, Ste 100, Pleasant Hill. (Hookston Square, about three quarters of a mile north of the Pleasant Hill BART station.) The regular monthly meetings start at 6:00 P.M. Their website is www.ccta.net

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is the transportation planning agency for the 9 Bay Area Counties. Every three years they are charged with making/updating a 20 year plan for transportation in the Bay Area. In the current plan they project the spending of 75 Billion dollars over the next 20 years. Staff and consultants have just completed this iteration of the Plan. To obtain a hard copy of the Regional Transportation Plan call the MTC at 510-464-7700 or write to them at MTC Public Information; Joseph P Bort MetroCenter; 101 Eighth Street; Oakland CA 94607. To view the Regional Transportation Plan online, go to MTC's website, www.mtc.ca.gov.

East Contra Costa County's Transportation Planning Organization is TRANSPLAN. It makes transportation oriented plans for the area from Willow Pass east along the river. The communities of Pittsburg, Antioch, Oakley, and Brentwood, plus the unincorporated areas of the County between these cities are the jurisdiction of TRANSPLAN. It meets on the second Thursday of the month in the board room of the Tri-Delta Transit building, 801 Wilbur Avenue, Antioch. The meeting usually starts at 6:30 p.m. The public is welcome.

TRANSPLAN has created the East County Bikeway Plan. A copy of it may be obtained by e-mail, [email protected] or by phone, (925) 335-1201. The document is available in either paper form or electronic form.

And on the region-wide horizon, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the transportation planning organization for the 9 Bay Area counties, has adopted the Regional Bike Plan. Check it out on their Web Site, www.mtc.ca.gov

Bruce "Ole" Ohlson (925) 439-5848 E-mail: [email protected]

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Letters

By Jay Klienwaks

To Councilman Arnie Simonsen via email From: Jay Kleinwaks

Re: Lone Tree Restriping-Expanding to 6 Lanes without Shoulders Response to December 27 email

Dear Councilman Simonsen:

In your December 27 email to Ole Ohlson you raise many points, and Ole has asked me to respond. We both thank you for corresponding with us on bike issues in general and the Lone Tree lane expansion plan in particular.

As I want to respond to all of the points you raised in your email, I'm going to note your comments/ questions with (AS), and my put response below.

(AS) I don't know if you are talking about bicycling as an activity or as a mode of transportation for getting to work/shopping.

For Lone Tree Way specifically, having a bike lane on the only east-west thoroughfare in Antioch is meant for both commuting/shopping, and as an activity for any person who wants to cycle a direct route through one of our commercial districts or reach neighboring communities.

(AS)Obviously, if you could document the number of cyclists that commute by bicycle, that will carry the heaviest weight, since Lone Tree Way is considered a major arterial.

Until cycling facilities in Antioch are numerous and up to code, the number of cyclists using our substandard facilities will be artificially low. Any current lack of use reflects more on the poor conditions than general interest-so a better measure is projecting use when good facilities are available. (A study by the Humbolt County Trails Plan reached the same conclusion-"Many potential county cyclists have indicated that they would use bicycles more frequently for both recreation and transportation purposes if riding conditions were improved.")

As a case in point you may be familiar with the Canal Trail that circles Concord-Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill. The trail is relatively flat, the crossings are safe, and the surroundings are pleasant. As a result it is very popular and often crowded with walkers, joggers, roller bladders, parents out with the stroller, and leisurely cyclists. (Ironically, it is a poor cycling trail due to it's popularity.) Now compare this to the substandard trails in Antioch that have sever grade changes, hazardous street crossings, water runoff with scum ponds and glass from a lack of maintenance. Their disuse is not due to a lack of interest, but to the small subset of potential users willing to endure such a hazardous experience.

Lone Tree Way, p.2 January 2, 2026

Similarly on Lone Tree Way North of James Donlon there is a bike lane that disappears in places. Automatically a significant number of people will not use it as this as this disappearing bike lane forces one to ride in traffic. South of Lone Tree Way there are wide shoulders, but to the uninitiated as there isn't bike lane signage usage is kept down. Again, the poor conditions keep usage down.

For a personal example, on Lone Tree Way from Antioch to Brentwood (before new construction) there has been a minimal shoulder which I have ridden east on. However, for whatever reason the shoulder coming back to Antioch is significantly deficient in certain places-so I've tried to avoid it on return trips.

(AS) But, the cyclists also have to obey the DMV code. I quite frequently see the groups of adult cyclists in the late afternoon/early evening blasting through intersections when the light is RED, or not stopping on a RED light to make a right turn (particularly on southbound Lone Tree Way at Davidson Drive). You might want to talk to your group about setting a standard for proper bicycling to garner more public support. Of course, I don't know what group (if an organized one) the bicyclists I have seen ignoring the driving rules are from.

I agree with your sentiments, but don't think it is germane to the issue at hand--any more than the aggressive behavior by turning SUV's that almost roll over my toes when I am walking in a crosswalk, or the pickup truck that sees how close it can come to my bicycle when passing on a wide open country road, would be pertinent to the Highway 4 widening project.

Additionally, I think most thoughtful cyclists know, just from a self preservation standpoint, that THEY LOSE immediately between any conflict between themselves and motor vehicles.

In terms of safety, and obtaining rational behavior from both motorist and cyclists, bike lanes have a positive effect. Studies such as one from the City of Cambridge, MA conclude that there is a safety benefit of bike lanes, as they "promote an orderly flow of traffic.reduce the chance that motorist will stray into cyclist' path of travel" and "influence positive behavior.cities with good bikeway networks have the highest number of rider and behavior is at the best."

(AS) Another obstacle you will have to overcome is the fact that bicyclists do not generate any gasoline tax revenues to pay for these roads. Their cars or trucks do, but not the bicycles. Costs of bicycle lanes is the same as for vehicles.

On this point I respectfully disagree for a variety of reasons. First, as you allude to most cyclist (not the "cars and trucks") also pay the gas tax--personally I commute by auto 300 miles a week, so I'm well aware of the gas tax.

Lone Tree Way, p.3 January 2, 2026

Second, the roads aren't built and maintained with gas tax money alone, most money comes from general funds. A study by Todd Litman, "Whose Roads?" (2001) shows that in Canada most local road funding originates from general taxes, not vehicle user fees, and that the general public actually subsidizes the wear and tear on the road that motor vehicles don't pay for. This can be seen in the 2001-02 Antioch budget; $1,572,500 is raised from the "gas tax" which is the street repair budget, but TOTAL expenditures for streets is $30,814,120, capital projects for streets is $11,645,000, and operational costs for streets is $5,631,180-the gas tax is a fraction of street expenditures, depending on what total you use.

Third, the wear and tear on the road from cyclists is minimal, with trucks and large vehicles overwhelmingly contributing to road resurfacing and maintenance, and rush hour traffic putting the most burden on the roads.

Fourth, as we've seen in the past, Antioch is not beyond using "gas tax" money for other things when there is a budget shortfall ($500,000 of gas tax money used for Landscape and Lighting from 1999-2002.) The use of the money on bike lanes isn't nearly as far afield as past diversions.

(AS) Last obstacle is: What will serve the most people? A wider road? Or, a narrower road with a bicycle lane? These are the questions that are going to be asked.

I think if we look at the question from a modern planning perspective, what benefits the community at large the answer is clearly narrower roads with bike lanes. Most communities recognize this-for whatever reason Antioch planners seem to be stuck in the 1950's and 1960's, where the goal was to move auto traffic at the expense of everything else. What resulted were dysfunctional suburbs where even the shortest trip necessitates a ride on a crowded street among strip malls-think Hesperian Blvd. in Hayward.

As a resident of a nearby neighborhood, and someone who drives 300 miles a week, the benefits of roads with less lanes and shoulders is both apparent and important beyond cycling considerations

Recently numerous studies and books have detailed how "traffic sewers" (giant roads that all traffic has to be routed on) limits livability and economic growth. In general this is talked about in Phil Langdon's book "A Better Place to Live (1994)," and Dunay/ Zydak's "Suburban Nation (2000)."

Specifically, a paper by Dan Burden, "Road Diets (1999)" gives countless examples of how wider roads are less efficient, and narrower ones "often set the stage for millions of dollars in new commercial and residential development."

Lone Tree Way, p.4 January 2, 2026

A paper by The League of California Cities (The Ahwahnee Principles, Corbett , 1994) indicates that: "Rather than increasing our freedom, auto-oriented land use planning has reduced our options.Narrow streets, rather than wide streets, are recommended because they help slow traffic and make it safer for pedestrians and bicycles. Narrow streets also create more attractive, more people-friendly neighborhoods and shopping districts."

Specific benefits of road shoulder and bike lanes are mentioned in the paper "Reason for Highway Shoulders"(undated) by Mike Ronkin of the Oregon Department of Transportation. (Highway is appropriate as Lone Tree Way/ Expressway will be accommodating traffic driving at speeds approaching Highway 4.) Among the benefits bike lanes and road shoulders provide to the general public include:

-Provide space to make evasive maneuvers.
-Accommodate driver error.
-Provide increased sight distance for through vehicles and for vehicles entering the roadway.
-Greater ease and more opportunities to exit from driveways (thanks to improved sight distance.)
-Greater effective turning radius at corners and driveways, allowing large vehicles to turn into side streets without off-tracking onto curb.
-Contribute to driving ease and reduced driving strain.
-Reduce passing conflicts between motor vehicles and bicyclists and pedestrians.
-Make the crossing pedestrian more visible to motorists,
-Allow for easier existing from travel lanes to side streets and roads.
-Better definition of travel lanes where road is wide (lessens the "sea of asphalt look.)
-An improved buffer to trees, allowing greater planting of green canopies, which also have a traffic claming effect.

The benefit of road shoulders to motorists is apparent everyday by the drivers frightened to go through the Caldacott Tunnel with it's narrow lanes and no shoulders.

The Oregon State study also indicates that for cyclists, road shoulders:

-Reduce passing conflicts between motor vehicles and bicyclists and pedestrians.
-Provide (as bike lanes) greater acceptance of people bicycling on the road, as motorists are reminded that they are not the only roadway user.

Lone Tree Way, p.5 January 2, 2026

For the multitude of benefits, only some which are listed above, many communities now implement Class II Bikeways (bike lanes) on any new major streets or when major streets are restriped. The California Highway Design Manuel Introduction to General Planning Criteria (Section 1002.1) indicates as much:

"On new construction, and major reconstruction projects, adequate width should be provided to permit shared use by motorists and bicycles."

Neighborhoods across the country see the communitywide benefit to providing street shoulders and bicycle lanes. For example, in Waldo, a neighborhood of Kansas City, their 1999 Community Assessment report indicates major anticipated improvements include "street shoulders throughout the residential areas." Rocklin, CA has a transportation enhancement program of providing "bicycle lanes along streets in the older part of the City leading to two neighborhood schools."

Dan Burden, Director of Walkable Communities (formerly of Florida DOT) indicates in "Building Communities With Transportation" the importance of a livable community to be multi-modal, and that streets need to have multiple uses. Specifically, to make sidewalks attractive for pedestrians:

"With higher speed and volume roads, attached sidewalk comfort is achieved with bike lanes, on-street parking, or some other physical barrier."

He also writes:

"For safety and efficient movement of all modes of travel, bike lanes and shoulder are a no-brainier."

Walking on New Years Day on the sidewalk adjacent to the street on Hillcrest, near Davison, with cars speeding along at 50+ mph, I was happy there was a wide bike lane separating me from any driver error.

In conclusion, Antioch has many things going for it, starting with it being located in a geographically beautiful setting. However, our "planning as usual" has led to numerous bad decisions. Even with multiple assessment districts, as noted in the budget statement "Antioch ranks last among the 13 cities (similar to Antioch) in general tax revenues per capita." (Similarly, years ago, during the first landscape and lighting debate, looking at similar cities I was amazed that Antioch ranked near the bottom in total park acreage, and we couldn't even maintain this.) This indicates that something is wrong.

We can either continue to "pave over" and look like Hayward and San Leandro and countless other suburbs-which still doesn't provide businesses a reason to relocate here as we'll just resemble many other congested communities that are closer to the urban core. Or we can plan to increase the livability in the community-more parks (and if

Lone Tree Way, p.6 January 2, 2026

we can't afford it now, retain land as undeveloped open space), more recreational opportunities, better schools, and ways to get around that doesn't necessitate a car trip. We can create a unique identity, like Davis, which gives business and people a reason to relocate here. Planners across the country recognize the importance of these things, and Antioch planners need to recognize this also.

Hope you have a great New Years, and please contact me for any additional information.

I have provided a lot of citations to illustrate to you that there is an acceptable alternative to our engineering departments vision of the "more lanes is better" planning mentality. If you'd like any of the articles cites above, please let me know and I'd be happy to send them to you.

You don't need studies to show the direction our planning should progress. I'm sure you've seen and driven some of the mega boulevards in the Bay Area, and they are not a pretty sight. I was in Fresno recently, and on a visceral level it was pretty disgusting, with mega boulevards in all directions: huge volumes of traffic and strip malls on each side. It is not the type of community I hope Antioch becomes.

Sincerely, Jay Kleinwaks

Below is Simonsen's reply:

Jay,

Thank you for the time you took to respond to concerns that I believe will be raised concerning bicycle lanes on Lone Tree Way and other roads in Antioch. You put a lot of thought and reference study into your letter.

I will thoroughly review your letter and also cross reference to the City Budget you referenced. I'll forward any additional comments I may have to help you and your organization present their views.

Respectfully, Arne Simonsen

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