Dumb, Dumber, Dumbest- traffic through Twin Pines
Council authorized a study of traffic conditions to propose solutions on Ralston Avenue in Belmont last year. The Ralston Corridor Study has put together $9M of solutions one of which is to route bicycle traffic through Twin Pines park.
There are a number of problems with this suggestion:
Dumb- Parks have different rules and enforcement from streets that are designed to used 24/7/365. Twin Pines like other parks around the area has signs informing users that it will close at sundown. With day light savings time, that closure would occur during the commute period. How can the Public Works Department justify spending regional transportation funds when the access is unclear?
Dumber- The park is very narrow in this section so any new right of way will come at the expense of large established trees that determine both the appearance of Ralston Ave, as well the park atmosphere within Twin Pines. Placing the path by the street in effect is a widening of the street, but the purpose, diverting bicycle traffic, has no observed success rate in an urban setting.
Dumbest- Jane Jacobs admonition to observe, observe, and observe is completely ignored by the study- the park on the westerly side is used primarily by toddlers and young children. Do you want your little children to be dodging bike traffic trying to get places? Children also need to get to Nesbit Elementary School. Yet the study recommends preserving all the dangers for safe routes to school on Ralston between El Camino and 101.