https://n2v.almanacnews.com/blogs/p/print/2019/02/26/new-middle-avenue-bike-lanes-should-make-everyone-happy

Local Blogs

New “Bike Lanes” On The East End Of Middle Should Please Everyone

Installing new bike lanes in Menlo Park is always challenging. The streets where they make the most sense were not designed with them in mind, and they are often too narrow to safely and comfortably accommodate both bicyclists and motorists. This is especially true where on-street parking exists. So almost every new bike lane proposal triggers a contest between motorists who resist giving up their “rights” and bicyclists who demand their “fair share” of our roadways. And the bike lanes usually don’t get built. The new Oak Grove and University bike lanes are rare exceptions where both sides had to accept a significant compromise. It’s noteworthy that the city does not plan to add new bike lanes in the future on any downtown street or main approach.

Fortunately, the new bike facilities currently proposed for Middle Avenue between University and El Camino should please both motorists and bicyclists. This section of Middle is a critical gap in the city bike network, and fixing it will improve bike access to the Safeway Plaza, Middle Plaza and eventually, Alma. The city Complete Streets Commission deserves great credit for developing a creative solution for a street environment that presents a very difficult set of design challenges: a narrow roadway with turn lanes at El Camino, a busy vehicle entrance at the Safeway Plaza, heavy thru traffic and active Shell Station driveways. (Note: This design is far superior to an earlier one that encouraged bicyclists to cross El Camino at Cambridge rather than Middle.)


.... Proposed Middle Avenue bike facilities

The proposed solution employs an innovative combination of bike facilities:

(a) A separate 2-way bike path along the edge of the Safeway Plaza sidewalk
(b) A new bike entrance for the plaza near Peet’s
(c) A 2-way protected bike lane on Middle between the bike entrance and Blake Street
(d) A 2-way bike crossing at Blake
(e) Buffered 1-way bike lanes on both sides of Middle from Blake to University

.... Separate 2-way bike path along the Safeway Plaza



.... Protected bike lanes between plaza bike entrance and Blake Street

Together these new improvements will help bicyclists and motorists navigate the complex traffic patterns on a section of Middle that intersects El Camino. And perhaps, in another five to ten years a 2-way bike and pedestrian path will connect Middle Plaza to Alma.

The Middle Avenue bike plans are still in the concept phase and final design and approval is not guaranteed. Hopefully, the city council will give the go-ahead to a final design this year so construction can be completed before Middle Plaza opens in 2020. Again, “hats off” to the Complete Streets Commission for advancing this important bike project.

NOTE: a set of slides is included in the minutes for the December 4, 2018 city council meeting.