Bridges

Bay Bridge

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STATUS:  No bicycle or pedestrian access on the West Span. Access on the East Span is expected upon completion of the replacement bridge (after 2011 at the earliest).  

 

While the new East Span structure of the Bay Bridge has been designed to have a 15.5-foot-wide bicycle, pedestrian, and maintenance pathway that will run along the eastbound deck, no funding has been set aside for West Span bicycle/pedestrian access. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, the East Bay Bicycle Coalition, and the Bay Area Bicycle Coalition together have been working to gain support for funding of a pathway on the West span that will enable non-motorized traffic to conveniently cross the Bay between San Francisco and Oakland. 

 

As a result of these efforts, in February 2010, State Senator Loni Hancock (D - Oakland) introduced Senate Bill 1061 which will be voted on after March of this year. If approved it will give the Metropolitan Transportation Commission the authority to use bridge tolls to fund a Bay Bridge West Span bike and pedestrian pathway.

 

For more information:

 

SF Chronicle article Our Own Bridge to Nowhere

SF Streetsblog article Hancock Introduces Bill to Allow Toll Funds for Bay Bridge Bike Path

SF Bicycle Coalition's Bay Bridge info page 

East Bay Bicycle Coalition's Bay Bridge info page

Our own bridge to nowhere (SF Chronicle)

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Imagine you live in Oakland. It's a beautiful day and you have plans to do something with a friend who lives in San Francisco. You hop on your bike and ride over the new Bay Bridge: The 7-mile trip is easy, and offers beautiful views of the bay. Except that your bike lane ends suddenly at Yerba Buena Island, leaving you no choice but to turn around, go home and take BART — for $7 — or pay a $5 toll and add your car to the traffic grinding across the bridge. That's because there's no cash on hand to pay for a bike lane on the western span, even though it would cost less than 5 percent of eastern span's cost overruns alone. Read more...

Petaluma River Bridge on Hwy. 37 at Marin/Sonoma county line

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STATUS:  Open to bikes, but no shoulder.

 

Contact Christine Culver at chrisc AT bikesonoma DOT org for more information.

  

 

 

 

Southern Crossing over the Napa River on route 29 & 12 (George F. Butler Bridge)

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STATUS:  Closed to cyclists.

 

It is mentioned in the Napa County Bike Plan as a potential project. Contact Lou Penning at loupenning AT yahoo DOT com for more information on these and other Napa County Bike issues.

 

 


San Mateo-Hayward Bridge

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STATUS:  No bicycle or pedestrian access.

 

Carrying State Route 92 between San Mateo and Alameda counties, the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge does not provide access to non-motorized traffic.  The bridge was opened in October of 1967 and then widened in 2003 from four to six lanes of traffic, yet a pathway was not added as part of this project.  Public transportation was, however, made more convenient to cyclists with the AC transit Line M that carries up to six bikes.  While Line M was federally funded by a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant, and represents bicycle-friendly improvements, providing unlimited non-motorized direct access on the bridge is the only way to provide equal access, not to mention reduce congestion and improve air quality. Contact Robert Raburn, Executive Director of the East Bay Bicycle Coalition to support these efforts: robertraburn AT ebbc DOT com

Benicia-Martinez Bridge

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STATUS: In August 2009 the bridge was open to bicycle and pedestrian transportation.

 

The existing Benicia-Martinez Bridge provides Interstate 680 access across the Carquinez Strait between Contra Costa and Solano counties.

 

The new Benicia-Martinez pedestrian/bicycle lane on the Senator George Miller, Jr. Memorial Bridge closes a gap in the San Francisco Bay and Ridge Trails. This lane also serves as a link in the Carquinez Strait Scenic Loop Trail, which is a 50-mile trail that crosses both the Benicia-Martinez Bridge and Al Zampa Bridge spans over the Carquinez Strait. Bicyclists and pedestrians using this new path are treated to stunning views of the Suisun Bay, as well as the Carquinez Bridge and the Mothball Fleet.

Carquinez Bridge

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STATUS:  Bicycle and pedestrian access on a path separated from the roadway by a barrier from 6am-9pm only. 

 

The new bike and pedestrian pathway on the Carquinez Bridge opened on May 16, 2004.  The 12-foot-wide path is located on the western side of the suspension bridge connecting Solano and Contra Costa counties along Interstate 80. The pathway, however, was opened with a Dawn to Dusk regulation, and the bridge is not accessible to non-motorized traffic after nightfall.  This is apparently due to terrorism concerns, even though truck traffic continues to cross the span un-inspected.  To find out more on access to this bridge, contact robertraburn AT ebbc DOT org.

 

 

Dumbarton Bridge

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STATUS:  Unlimited non-motorized access on path separated from the roadway by a barrier.

 

The original structure of this bridge was built in January of 1927, and then rebuilt in December of 1984 for safety and traffic congestion reasons.  This 1984 replacement span was constructed with a bicycle and pedestrian pathway and is open 24 hours a day.  The Dumbarton Bridge connects State Route 84 between San Mateo and Alameda Counties near Newark and East Palo Alto.

Antioch Bridge

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Antioch Bridge

 

STATUS:  Unlimited non-motorized access on a bike lane adjacent to the vehicle travel lane.

 

The original structure was completed in January of 1926, and then replaced in 1978; the new structure offering cyclists access to both of the five-foot shoulders.  Connecting State Route 160 between Antioch in Contra Costa County, and Sherman Island in Sacramento County, the Antioch Bridge provides unlimited non-motorized access.

  

 

Richmond-San Rafael Bridge

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STATUS:  No bicycle or pedestrian access.

 

Connecting Interstate 580 between Contra Costa and Marin Counties, the 5.5 mile long bridge is not accessible to bicyclists or pedestrians.  Since its completion in 1956, the Richmond San Rafael Bridge has been an important route for North Bay travelers, but direct access has been denied to non-motorized traffic.  Bicycle advocates have struggled for the past 50 years to obtain access on this bridge.  Two Statewide studies indicate direct access would be reasonably safe, feasible, and affordable, and a third study has been underway since 2003.  Bicyclists had previously proposed use of the 12 foot shoulder for public access, but Caltrans is currently studying the possibility of using that shoulder as a third lane for automobile access.  Caltrans has also determined that any public access must be provided with a solid barrier. 

 

It is expected that proposal for public access will come before MTC and BCDC at the end of 2007 or early in 2008.  For the latest news on bike access, go to the Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC) website or contact Deb Hubsmith, MCBC Advocacy Director, to support current actions for bridge access:  deb AT marinbike DOT org or call at 415-454-7430.

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