Marc Hedlund

#Berkeley’s 2017 Bicycle Plan recommended seven improvements to the Russell St. #BicycleBoulevard. Five years later, the very first of these to be implemented, in part, is finally going in: an #RRFB at Russell & Claremont. As it turns out, there was a car vs. bike collision at this intersection two weeks ago.

I really hate RRFBs (which I think drivers ignore, unlike traffic lights or stop signs), but I’m glad anything at all is happening to make this treacherous crossing safer.

#RoadSafety

Dec 9, 2022 at 12:49amWeb
Show threadMarc HedlundDec 9, 2022

I realize I am complaining a lot about something that is progress in some form. That said: this change is happening at the wealthiest end of the Russell Bike Boulevard, across the street from the Claremont Hotel. We need to make all of these changes (or better changes, like no RRFBs and more traffic signals) but starting in the wealthy neighborhood where traffic diverters are ubiquitous is inequitable.

#BikeTooter #equity

Show threadMarc HedlundDec 9, 2022
Here’s some history of this neighborhood. The photo at the top of this article is literally at Claremont & Russell, where the RRFB is now being installed. We should be working to undo this legacy, not further it. https://www.kqed.org/news/11840548/the-racist-history-of-single-family-home-zoning
The Racist History of Single-Family Home Zoning | KQED

When single-family zoning got its start, it was about more than separating homes from apartments, it was about separating white families from everyone else.

Show threadMarc HedlundDec 9, 2022
I’m glad for any lives saved and injuries avoided because of this work, I truly am. But, the people who live around San Pablo and Sacramento deserve the same protection, or better, to make up for more than a century of inequitable treatment.
Show threadEastbaynianDec 9, 2022
@marcprecipice I
They really do their planning one project at a time? It seems like having a master bike design standard and just doing th e projects as funds become available would be a better approach. Like this is a bike street so we do X,Y, and Z on those. Then the discussion could be just on which streets are bike streets and how much do we spend rather than wasting time arguing about these little details.
Show threadMarc HedlundDec 9, 2022
@eastbaynian I’m not actually sure how they roll out plans. I didn’t know this was coming and I try to stay up on these things.