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Protected Bike Lanes: Coming to Telegraph!
Thank you for your support in pushing for improvements to Telegraph, the real work starts now!
The repaving is done, and the striping is coming soon. But most importantly, we need your help ensuring a smooth rollout of Oakland's first protected bike lanes!
Sign up to volunteer as a Telegraph Bike Ambassador. We need volunteers to help us out on Telegraph with the following tasks:
- Handing out good parking awards to drivers who park correctly in the new spaces
- Directing bicyclists into the new curbside bike lanes
- Gathering feedback from pedestrians who will be experiencing a much safer street
- Talking with local business owners to ensure they are happy with the street redesign
The grand opening date is still tbd in the next several weeks, but we’re gathering volunteer availability now so you can hit the ground before the paint is dry. We’ll be in touch when this happens!
Sign up as a Telegraph Bike Ambassador
Photos courtesy of Bike East Bay
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Do These Extra Lanes Make Me Look Fat?
If recent events & current planning projects are any indication, Oakland streets are in for some serious dieting in the near future (the good kind)
But just like contestants from "The Biggest Loser” TV series who need loud, high-energy instructors for personal motivation, so too does the City of Oakland need WOBO and our members continuing to push for commitments to shed that extra motor vehicle lane baggage. With enough determination, you too can have a slimmer, healthier neighborhood street (which as we know, helps get to a healthier you)!
Grand Avenue Road Diet
On October 20, City Council finally approved a road diet - or “right-sizing” - of Grand Avenue in order to provide dedicated bike lanes and safer, easier crossings for pedestrians. Although we did not get all that we were asking for, WOBO’s campaign to inform, engage, and empower area residents and businesses was a key factor the project is moving forward, despite a highly-vocal minority opposed to change (as seen below).
How do we know we made a difference? The City project’s final public survey results showed the strongest support for back-in angled parking, an extension of the road diet (south from Elwood to MacArthur to provide continuous bike lanes on Grand Ave), and parking-protected bikeway designs: the three items we were advocating for based on your input. Although these were ultimately not included in this project phase, the City is now on record committing to a follow-up “Phase 2” study for Grand Avenue and a back-in angled parking pilot project.
Stay tuned as we push for more details on these efforts, and thanks to everyone involved with the Grand Avenue campaign!
Insane enthusiasm didn't stop council from approving the road diet
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Winter Wonderland is coming!
Thursday, December 3rd from 6pm to 9pm at the Starline Social Club
Our biggest fundraiser and party is a month away and you don't want to miss the excitement. In addition to raffle prizes and silent auction, we will honor a few WOBO superstars who did amazing work in 2015. We've also recruited a couple of talented youth to showcase their video projects.
Starline will offer a great lineup of wine, beer, signature cocktail and tasty dinner. With all that and live music by West Grand Brass Band, the evening will leave you very full! Get your tickets now.
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SATURDAY November 14th: Oakland Urban Paths Water & Change
Join Oakland Urban Paths for a walk exploring the estuary and Lake Merritt channel, the 5th Avenue Marina, and observing the changes that have been made and are coming to the area. The walk will be guided by Ruth Miller.
Walk meets up at 10am near Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon, dogs are welcome. Find out more here.
SUNDAY November 15th: Join us on a BART + Brews ride!
Join us Sunday November 15th as we explore a few local watering holes and the Oakland Waterfront by bike! We'll meet up at West Oakland BART at 12, ride rolls at 12:30. We'll be making a few stops on the way to Fruitvale BART.
All ages are welcome, suggested $10 donation, information and RSVP can be found here.
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Get In The Giving Mood!
Your Donations Equal More Smiles, Fewer Boo Boos!
This year after you stuff yourself with turkey and cranberry sauce, instead of shopping till you're dropping consider donating some of that dough to a really great cause, More Smiles, Fewer Boo Boos.
Here at WOBO we have grand plans to help make Oakland's streets a fun, safe place for walking in biking and we need your help to make that happen!
So far in 2015 WOBO has hosted 3 huge community street events, 10 OUP walks, 1 Bike To Work Day celebration and a handful of group bike rides and workshops. We've successfully pressured the big wigs to make safer planning decisions to improve Peralta St., Grand Ave., and Telegraph Ave. Our work is improving neighborhood livability, vitality and sustainability throughout Oakland.
Giving Tuesday is officially on December 1st, but you can donate anytime, how about right now? Here's the Global Giving link! |
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#PlanDowntown's Bold Vision for Oakland
Thanks to everyone for their participation, lets keep the pressure on!
For ten days, Walk Oakland Bike Oakland members provided miles of good ideas for improving walking and bicycling in Downtown Oakland, and the team on nationally recognized consultants on board for the Downtown Specific Plan likes what they are hearing. A bold vision is emerging with wider sidewalks, protected bike lanes, placemaking, and a Broadway main street everyone can be proud of.
Join the conversation and take a short online survey.
Many WOBO members stopped by the open house design studio on Broadway to contribute firsthand knowledge and new idea. More opportunities are coming. Thanks everyone for your participation!
Check out our website for more updates as the planning process rolls on!
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Couldn't have done it without you!
We are throwing you a Volunteer Appreciation BBQ this November 8th!
WOBO has been super busy in 2015 decorating bikes, gawking at local murals and throwing awesome street parties and we couldn't have done it without our amazing volunteers!
We absolutely love our volunteers! They are some of the coolest and most dedicated folks out there and they make it all possible. We know its hard to give up your Sunday to stand at an intersection directing traffic or go door to door explaining traffic will be faster with less driving lanes. It's a tough job and you do it with a smile!
To show our volunteers how much we love them WOBO is throwing a Volunteer Appreciation BBQ on November 8th in Union Point Park from 3pm - 6pm. Please join us and receive your pat on the back. You deserve it!
Tell us you're coming!: Volunteer BBQ Facebook
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Downtown Oakland Comprehensive Circulation Study
A number of downtown planning efforts are underway, but none perhaps as critical to the future of right-sizing downtown’s many bloated streets and defining the next generation of protected bikeways as this effort.
The “CCS,” as it called for short, is a coordinated effort between the City of Oakland, the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) and City of Alameda to update the assessment of local and regional circulation needs in the study area, which includes areas of Uptown, Chinatown, Jack London Square and Lake Merritt.
The CCS project is planning to hold a public design charrette (collaborative working session) on Thursday, November 19th, from 9am to 4pm, followed by a community report-out meeting from 7pm-9pm. Mark your calendars, look for upcoming WOBO blog posts to help prepare and bring your ideas to share!
More information can be found on our website and the City of Oakland's webpage
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