Cross Alameda Trail Safety Improvements: FAQ

1. What is a two-way cycle track?

A two-way cycle track is a low-stress bikeway where bicycles are physically separated from vehicular traffic, meaning people biking have more separation from moving vehicles than they would in a standard bike lane. Two-way cycle tracks are consistent with the City’s Active Transportation Plan. While a two-way cycle track is part of a low-stress network, special considerations are needed where a cycle track intersects with a roadway.

2. What are the new bicycle signals along the Cross Alameda Trail?

Bicycle signals make crossing intersections safer for bicyclists by providing a dedicated phase when the bicyclist should enter an intersection and reducing the instances of bicycle and vehicle interactions. Bicycle signals look like regular traffic lights with traditional three-lens signal heads, but contain green, yellow, and red bicycle outlines (example shown at right). 

Bicycle signals were installed along Clement Avenue at Park Street and along Ralph Appezzato Memorial Parkway/Atlantic Avenue at Wilma Chan Way, Webster Street, and Main Street. These new bike signals are expected to go live by early November. In the interim, please watch for bicyclists crossing with traffic at these locations! There is an active bike signal along Sherman Street at Clement Avenue/Atlantic Avenue. Be on the lookout for future bike signals around Alameda.

3. How are bicycle signals used?

Bicyclists may cross an intersection when the bicycle signal (the bike symbol) is green, and should always wait when the bicycle signal (the bike symbol) is red. Simply wait on the painted bicycle symbol on the ground (shown at left) to be automatically detected by the signal. You will know you have been detected if you see the "Bicycle Detected When Illuminated" sign light up (shown at right). This sign is usually located at eye-level of a waiting bicyclist on the nearest pole. The detection cues the traffic signal system to give the bicyclist a green light. There is no need to press a push button, but you may choose to do so if you prefer to dismount and cross as a pedestrian.

Bicyclists traveling along Ralph Appezzato Memorial Parkway (RAMP) at Third Street and Poggi Street are detected with the technology described in the previous paragraph but may cross the intersection when the pedestrian (walk symbol) indication is active. Bicyclists should cross with caution and watch for vehicles turning from RAMP onto side streets.

4. What happens at a four-way stop when there is a two-way cycle track? 

If two or more vehicles arrive at an intersection at the same time, the vehicle to the right should go first. This is also true for bikes approaching the cycle track, regardless of whether they are heading east or west, or whether they are turning or going straight. Vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians should familiarize themselves with the new layout at Oak Street and take extra caution at this intersection. See figure below for more information.

5. What is the purpose of the new concrete curb and brick red median islands separating the cycle track and the roadway? 

The two-way cycle track is mostly protected by concrete hardscape. Along most of the bikeway, this is a six-inch tall curb with additional vertical posts to delineate the cycle track. At intersection and driveway openings, there is a shorter high-visibility red brick median island so road users can differentiate between the cycle track and the roadway.

6. How will the new brick red mountable floating islands, painted bulb-outs, and red curbs increase safety?

To align with California’s new “daylighting” law (AB 413), the City is working to implement NO PARKING ZONES twenty feet from marked and unmarked crosswalks. This law aims to improve pedestrian and vehicle safety.

The City has installed concrete islands, painted bulb-outs, and red curbs at intersection approaches of Clement Avenue to improve sight distance. This allows people driving, walking, and bicycling to have unobstructed views of oncoming traffic. Another word for this treatment is daylighting. Improving daylighting greatly improves safety at intersections. The figure above shows a car approaching in two scenarios. On the left, cars are parked within twenty feet of the crosswalk. The driver approaching cannot see the pedestrians and the pedestrians cannot see the driver. On the right with red curbs painted, both drivers and pedestrians have a clear view of one another. The twenty foot clearance can make a big difference for street safety at painted and unpainted crosswalks (Source: SFMTA). For more on daylighting around the City of Alameda, see Alameda's High Injury Corridor Daylighting Project. 

7. What accommodations have been made for users who are disabled? 

To align with the legal requirements of the United States Access Board, the Clement Avenue Safety Improvement Project provides new on-street disabled parking near intersections, curb ramp upgrades, and increased sidewalk width. You may notice these around utility poles where the sidewalk width was previously too narrow. Approximately ten curb ramps have been upgraded or installed.

To learn more about ADA improvements, see the City of Alameda’s ADA Transition Plan.

8. What are the new landscaped areas?

Bioretention basins were installed near Elm St and Broadway along Clement Avenue. These are shallow landscaped areas where some stormwater is collected and treated through physical, biological, and chemical processes before entering the storm drain system and eventually draining into the Bay. Their appeal is aesthetic and scientific!

Additional Information:

• Clement Avenue Project Webpage

• Subscribe to project updates

• Direct questions or concerns to Michaela Wood, Assistant Engineer, by phone at 510-747-7935 or by email at mwood@alamedaca.gov. 如需中文协助，请致电 510-747-7972 进行预约。Rú xū zhōngwén xiézhù, qǐng zhìdiàn 510-747-7972 jìnxíng yùyuē. Para obtener asistencia en español, llame al 510-747-7939.

• This corridor improvement project is funded by Measures B/BB, which are Alameda County's transportation sales tax measures, and a federal grant.