Features

Bicyclists cheer commission decision 

on bridge bike lanes 

Bicycle advocates are cheering a recent resolution that makes it all but certain that bike lanes will one day be built on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. 

The members of the influential San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission threw their support behind the bike lane project on Thursday and passed a resolution asking Caltrans to build the lanes after the bridge's seismic retrofit is finished. 

The next step, according to bike advocates, is for Caltrans to set aside money for the project with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the agency responsible for funding projects on the bridge. 

“This is a huge leap forward for the project,” said Deb Hubsmith, executive director of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition. “(Bike lanes) will provide a needed alternative to the automobile while also providing for a healthy commute with stunning views of the Bay.” 

The commission resolution came after several California state legislators lobbied for the lanes along with the Marin County Board of Supervisors.