Another rare mountain bike ride

Well, a mountain bike ride for me, but for Tricia, a chance to try her Salsa Vaya on gravel. Gravel that turned to bumpy dirt and cow pies for a while, but generally gravel. She and her Salsa did well, and looked sharp.

We rode with a Delta Pedalers group who claimed they were roadies just dipping their toes and old mountain bikes into the trails at Contra Loma.

Christmas Lights ride

It's Christmas Eve and really cold, so of course Tricia wanted to go for a bike ride in the dark. So we did. Just far enough to check out the local Christmas lights.

Hillcrest Highway 4 BART onramp improvements

Apparently sometimes a little person can make a difference. In September I posted a video to Facebook and this blog pointing out the dangerous nature of the bike lane and onramp at Highway 4 and Hillcrest.  I had little hope any thing would change, but at a recent meeting of the Contra Costa Transit Authority they showed plans for phase 1 improvements at the on ramp that include new paint, signage and a promise that Antioch will enforce the no-right-turn from the center lane. They told me they'd be painting today if it wasn't too cold for the paint to stick. 

They even say that in a later phase they say they'll move the bike lane to a safer zone as well. Perhaps out from between lanes of auto traffic.

Apparently my video, and help from Bike East Bay, an East Bay Times story, a receptive Transit board and some local official involvement worked together to make this happen. I look forward to seeing it, and more forward for a further improved plan.

I hope they'll do something like what I propose in the video below.