Around the island: Slow down and use caution as kids go back to school
Published on August 22, 2022
Originally published in the Alameda Journal
This week, most of Alameda’s young people are returning to school. With COVID numbers declining and vaccines readily available to everyone six months and older, it feels safer than it has been for some time.
But please, take extra caution when driving, especially on your morning commute.
In 2019, seven children walking or biking to and from school in Alameda were hit by drivers in the first few months of the school year. The City’s crash data underscores that 63% of crashes involving young people occurred within a quarter mile of a school, while only 38% of Alameda’s streets are within a quarter mile of a school.
Commit to leaving a little early and slowing down, be mindful of the bright sun, and be extra careful approaching and driving in crosswalks – especially near school sites. Don’t double park or park at red curbs – that can block visibility of children in crosswalks. Don’t pass a car stopped for a pedestrian. Watch for bicyclists and pedestrians coming from driveways. And look out for bicyclists before opening your car door.
Last week I met someone who had just moved to Alameda, and they were surprised to find out there are no school buses on the island! Here in Alameda, walking, bicycling, taking transit, and carpooling are all great ways to get to school in a healthy and sustainable way. For example, my 15-year-old daughter takes AC Transit to Alameda High, and my 12-year-old son bikes to Lincoln Middle.
Alameda has 51 total miles of bikeways to enjoy, including 2.5 miles added last year on Otis Drive, Clement Avenue, and Ferry Point. In the next two years, more bike lanes will be added on Encinal between Sherman/Central and Broadway (thank you Caltrans!), on Clement between Willow and Broadway, on Central between Main/Pacific and Sherman/Encinal, and on Clement/Tilden between Broadway and the Miller-Sweeney (Fruitvale) Bridge. And more bike lanes are coming to Alameda Point as it is redeveloped.
Alameda is proud to be a Vision Zero city, with a vision of zero fatalities and severe injuries for all road users. In 2020 and 2021, four people died each year on Alameda streets. Traffic deaths are preventable and we have to do better.
Public safety is the City’s highest priority when designing and managing our streets and roads. Recently, the City completed its High Injury Corridor Daylighting project – red curbs were painted at intersections along nine corridors to improve visibility for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
In the next few weeks, Caltrans will complete the installation and activation of flashing beacons at crosswalks at six Alameda intersections, including Encinal/Park Avenue, Encinal/Benton, Central/Page, Broadway/Calhoun, Broadway/San Jose, and Otis/Versailles.
You’ve probably noticed that Caltrans is also beginning construction on Encinal Avenue, which is being repaved and is going from four lanes to two lanes plus a center turn lane and bike lanes.
And there is more to come that we hope you will engage on.
Next month, we’ll be releasing the Active Transportation Plan for public input. This plan includes an all-ages and abilities bicycle network connecting schools and pedestrian improvements near schools.
This fall, the City will do a second round of outreach on the Lincoln/Marshall/Pacific project, improving safety for Edison Elementary, Encinal Junior & Senior High, Love Elementary, Paden Elementary, Maya Lin Elementary, Nea Community Learning Center, Alameda Community learning Center (ACLC), and the Academy of Alameda; and the Clement/Tilden project near Edison school.
The City's Safe Routes to School Infrastructure project will be completed next year and is planning improvements around eight schools (with more underway).
Next year we'll see massive Central Avenue improvements that will increase safety going to Encinal Junior & Senior High, Paden Elementary, and Maya Lin Elementary. And the Grand Street project concept will be finalized this fall and will increase safety going to Wood Middle and Franklin Elementary.
Please continue to help the City make Alameda’s streets safer by sharing your concerns online at www.alamedaca.gov/streetsafetyreport. Learn more about all of these efforts at www.alamedaca.gov/transportation and www.alamedaca.gov/saferstreets.