West Berkeley Bowl & the 9th Street Bicycle Boulevard

Background

The BFBC has not yet taken a position on the proposed West Berkeley Bowl Supermarket or EIR.  However, the site at 920 Heinz Avenue is important for cyclists regardless of what size or type of development is proposed.  The site sits at the end of the incomplete 9th Street Bicycle Boulevard.

Bicycle Boulevard MapThe foundation of the City's plan to accommodate bicycles is a series of seven "Bicycle Boulevards".  These streets provide cyclists an alternative to riding on the main arterial streets.  The boulevard network is very popular, allowing many cyclists to ride completely out of view of the places most people drive.

However, the 9th Street Boulevard is incomplete.  At Hienz cyclists must jog to San Pablo or 7th Street.  The connection from Heinz to Russell is weak as well, requiring an awkward merge across all 4 lanes of San Pablo.  These alternative routes are uncomfortable even for many experienced cyclists.


Existing Conditions (as of January 2005)

[Parcel Map]

The main part of 9th street dead-ends at the abandoned railroad.

The other half of 9th street is in view, but locked by the AHA and Berkeley Bowl parcels.

A brand new light has just been constructed at 9th and Ashby, after many years of process.


Nearby, the City of Emeryville is nearing completion of the Emeryville Greenway, which is converting part of the abandoned railroad into a series of parks, paths, and calm Bicycle-Boulevard style streets.  Emeryville's first Bicycle Boulevard, on Horton, will be installed Summer 2005.

As most people are aware, Berkeley Bowl  is a major destination for cyclists (the bike racks at the current bowl are always full).  Emeryville has many new dwelling units within easy walk of the new bowl.  With a good connection, some of  those people may choose to walk rather than drive when shopping.

The map shows parcel ownership map for Berkeley California, to help you understand the options.  Also available is the same area from the air, and from the USGS topographic maps.


Berkeley Bowl's Ground Level Development Plans (best known data as of January 2005)

[West Berkeley Bowl Ground Level Plan]
See also 05-Nov-2004 Kava Massiah Plans.

Major Options for completing the 9th Street connection

Plans are not yet finalized.  The major options are:
  1. Build a bike path to connect the two halves of the 9th Street Bicycle Boulevard.  Cyclists will cross Ashby at the 9th Street light.  This is the Bowl's current plan.  This option is less attractive for bicycle commuters.

  2. Aquire and clean up the railroad land, and build a bike path from the end of 9th Street, over Ashby, to connect with Emeryville.  This requires constructing a new light on Ashby, and possibly significant toxic cleanup. This the city's current long range plan. This is a very expensive option.

  3. Connect the two halves of 9th Street as a continuous Bicycle Boulevard.  This is probably the best solution for commuter cyclists.  With this option, the city must purchase only the southern 1/3 of the railroad property (from Murray to the Emeryville border).
Other options include consolidating the OSH mall exit, which is very difficult for motorists, into a single exit at 9th street.

Please note that different types of cycling facilities serve different needs.  Bike paths are not necessarily the favorite of all cyclists.  Transitions between paths and streets are awkward for both cyclists and motorists.  Cyclists must travel much slower on paths, compared to streets or Bicycle Boulevards. Sharp 90 degree turns don't work well for bikes.   So a short bike path is not likely to attract cyclists.

A short bike path will create several points of conflict between motor vehicles and bicycles -- it would be safer just to keep cyclists in the flow of traffic.

Resources

CCS Car Rental Berkeley.