Richmond Bridge Bike Lane Needs to be Removed
In a Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Jan. 30, 2025, Ron McRobbie, San Rafael wrote, “Extending the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge bike lane pilot project two more years beyond the four-year pilot project “to collect more data” is a waste of taxpayer money (“Richmond-San Rafael Bridge managers make arguments for modified path,” Jan. 22).
Doing so extends very visible, negative environmental and safety impacts caused by the bike lane. While the Bay Trail Plan to provide bike access to shorelines is admirable, application of this policy, in this case, violates state mandates to mitigate negative impacts to the environment.
At the Jan. 16 Bay Conservation and Development Commission meeting, very little discussion was focused on the negative environmental impacts caused by the bike lane. Bike-lane proponents need to account for carbon emissions from stacked westbound traffic every day, “lost” worker hours sitting in traffic, compromised emergency response ability and personal stress, as well as possible health impacts to the Point Richmond community.
I think the proposed share plan compromises emergency responders’ efficiency, which should be an everyday essential public safety need. Additionally, the movable barrier plan requires vehicular equipment, labor, maintenance and sweeping costs, is time-consuming and likely reduces westbound traffic to a single lane.
Neither the small number of cyclists using the lane, nor the numerous negative impacts on vehicle traffic will change with further study. Yes, biking is wonderful, but biking should not drive irresponsible shortsighted decisions. Our elected leaders seem to reflect a disproportionate political bias toward bike advocates, while disregarding the impacts of climate change.
Perhaps existing bike lane contracts need to be audited. Honest synthesis of the positive and negative trade-offs lead to a clear decision: Remove the existing bike lane barrier ASAP. Any future studies should be based upon where to go from there.”
— Ron McRobbie, San Rafael