safe routes to schools respecting the road - Marin County Bicycle ...
safe routes to schools respecting the road - Marin County Bicycle ...
safe routes to schools respecting the road - Marin County Bicycle ...
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MCBC MEMBERS APPRECIATE<br />
NEW BIKE FACILITIES<br />
The Cal Park Tunnel<br />
has opened up more<br />
communities and<br />
everything <strong>the</strong>y<br />
offer <strong>to</strong> my family,<br />
all because <strong>the</strong> route<br />
has been made <strong>safe</strong>r,<br />
flatter and shorter.<br />
Thank you!<br />
– Dan Freeman<br />
Tell us how our work is<br />
benefiting your bicycle<br />
commute! Send your s<strong>to</strong>ry<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>to</strong>m@marinbike.org.<br />
In late September we asked members how<br />
<strong>the</strong> many new bicycle facilities completed in<br />
<strong>the</strong> past few years are changing commute<br />
patterns. Here’s what we heard.<br />
Cheryl Longinotti<br />
I live in Corte Madera.<br />
Before <strong>the</strong> Cal Park Tunnel<br />
opened, <strong>the</strong> available<br />
<strong>routes</strong> were scary<br />
(crossing Sir Francis<br />
Drake <strong>to</strong> reach Andersen),<br />
steep (over Wolfe<br />
Grade) or long (through<br />
San Anselmo). Now I<br />
make at least two or three weekly bicycle trips <strong>to</strong> San<br />
Rafael by that I would not o<strong>the</strong>rwise make by bike. I<br />
ride <strong>to</strong> a weekly Weight Watchers meeting (and add<br />
a China Camp loop if I have time). I use <strong>the</strong> Tunnel and<br />
Lincoln paths <strong>to</strong> reach <strong>the</strong> Farmers’ Market at <strong>the</strong><br />
Civic Center. And I ride <strong>to</strong> Terra Linda High School for<br />
tu<strong>to</strong>ring. The Cal Park Tunnel opened new horizons<br />
for me.<br />
Dan Freeman<br />
MCBC has improved<br />
my life. The new<br />
facility that most<br />
contributes <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
improvement in my<br />
life has been <strong>the</strong> Cal<br />
Park Tunnel. Prior <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> tunnel’s opening,<br />
I could not ride my<br />
kids <strong>to</strong> Corte Madera/Larkspur/Greenbrae from my<br />
home in San Rafael without having <strong>to</strong> a) ride <strong>the</strong>m<br />
down Andersen <strong>to</strong> Sir Francis Drake Blvd. and <strong>the</strong>n<br />
navigate back along Sir Francis Drake Blvd. with rapidly<br />
moving traffic—dangerous and burdensome; or<br />
b) ride away from those <strong>to</strong>wns <strong>to</strong> San Anselmo and<br />
<strong>the</strong>n turn back down <strong>the</strong> ancillary <strong>road</strong>s through Ross<br />
and Kentfield—quite far; or c) ride up and over Irwin<br />
or Martens Blvd or Wolfe Grade and <strong>the</strong>n down. I’m<br />
strong but not that strong.<br />
Using <strong>the</strong> tunnel, we have ridden as a family <strong>to</strong><br />
restaurants in Larkspur Landing, ridden for work <strong>to</strong><br />
Redwood High School, ridden for shopping and dining<br />
in <strong>the</strong> Town Center and The Village, ridden <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
ferry <strong>to</strong> SF <strong>to</strong> catch a Giants game, and ridden <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Larkspur 4th of July Parade. That tunnel has opened<br />
up more communities and everything <strong>the</strong>y offer <strong>to</strong><br />
my family, all because <strong>the</strong> route has been made <strong>safe</strong>r,<br />
flatter and shorter.<br />
Thank you!<br />
Jack Androvich<br />
This is in response <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
request <strong>to</strong> share how<br />
MCBC is helping me with<br />
my commute etc. Here are<br />
a few nuggets:<br />
1. We chose where <strong>to</strong><br />
rent a home in San Rafael<br />
in Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 2011 based on<br />
access <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Larkspur Ferry<br />
through <strong>the</strong> Cal Park tunnel. Formerly I would<br />
have had <strong>to</strong> use Andersen Drive/Sir Francis Drake<br />
or Wolfe Grade, both of which are longer, more<br />
difficult and dangerous.<br />
2. The green bicycle route signs really help me find<br />
and maximize use of <strong>the</strong> <strong>safe</strong>st <strong>routes</strong> in <strong>the</strong> area.<br />
3. I am anxiously awaiting any news about if/when<br />
<strong>the</strong> tunnel between Corte Madera and Mill Valley<br />
might be redone and opened. This will make<br />
that ride a lot more pleasant. Same goes for <strong>the</strong><br />
SMART train and how bikes will benefit.<br />
Also <strong>the</strong> MCBC free valet bike parking at <strong>the</strong> recent<br />
Sausali<strong>to</strong> Art Festival was a nice surprise. We really<br />
enjoyed using <strong>the</strong> parking facility for worry-free s<strong>to</strong>rage<br />
while we perused <strong>the</strong> art.<br />
Janine Marr<br />
I use both <strong>the</strong> Lincoln<br />
Avenue pathway and<br />
<strong>the</strong> Cal Park Tunnel. I<br />
use <strong>the</strong> Cal Park Tunnel<br />
<strong>the</strong> most. I work in San<br />
Rafael and commute by<br />
bike every day from<br />
Corte Madera. The<br />
tunnel is a great addition<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> paths in <strong>Marin</strong>. It makes what was a longer,<br />
more hilly ride around <strong>to</strong> San Rafael a quick, enjoyable<br />
one. The alternate <strong>routes</strong> in<strong>to</strong> San Rafael are mostly<br />
hilly and if you opt for <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn Andersen route<br />
(not using <strong>the</strong> tunnel) you will find that flat tires are a<br />
common event. Mine usually come in sets of three—<br />
go figure!<br />
I find that if I am pressed for time in <strong>the</strong> morning<br />
I still hop on my bike and ride now that <strong>the</strong> tunnel is<br />
open. The bike commute through <strong>the</strong> tunnel is only a<br />
8