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WOBO works to improve neighborhood quality of life in Oakland by making walking and bicycling safe, accessible, easy and fun.

  Word on the Street title
November 2008
Speak Out on MacArthur Construction!

In This Issue:

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  • You care about Oakland, right?  WOBO does too!  Let's make it even more fantastic.
  • Help us do more by making a tax-deductible donation today!

Next WOBO Membership Meeting: Tues, Dec. 2nd at Vo's – 6:30pm-8:30pm

Join us for WOBO's final membership meeting of 2008 at Vo's Vietnamese Restaurant in Downtown Oakland (59 Grand Avenue). The meeting is designed to be an orientation for new volunteers. We'll be working on our membership mailing and need your help! Also, come and help us plan our next party, scheduled for January.

Vo's is just 5 blocks from the 19th Street Oakland BART station.

Action Alert: MacArthur Blvd Construction Project Removes Bike & Pedestrian Access

Oakland is inserting closed medians on MacArthur Blvd — along the stretch from Webster to Broadway and Macarthur at Richmond — which will will make this key route a less bicycle-friendly area. The lack of cut-throughs will prevent cyclists and pedestrians from crossing, entering and exiting MacArthur Blvd, and this will essentially turn the stretch into a freeway.

Ask those responsible at the city to cease construction until changes can be made to the design to make it more bike-friendly (such as using bollards instead of a closed median). This message will go to Jane Brunner (Councilmember), Gus Amirzheni (Principle Civil Engineer, Department of Public Works) and Wlad Wlassowsky (Transportation Services).

WOBO Secures Boost to Bike & Pedestrian City Staff

On Monday, November 3, the Oakland City Council voted to add a dedicated staff engineer to the bicycle and pedestrian unit. It sounds modest — and it is, but without this addition countless bike projects would be missed and bike and pedestrian needs would be under-served. The position should be filled early in 2009.

WOBO has been working on this issue for over two years, and securing $100,000 annually to fund this position boosts the city's capacity to implement the bicycle and pedestrian plans! To send a message of thanks to the City Council click here.

Send Your Comments: Lake Merritt Construction

Please send comments on the City's plans for pedestrian and transit improvements around Lake Merritt and the I-580 overcrossing. The City is proposing a number of improvements which should help calm traffic and improve pedestrian circulation. See the pictures and comment here at their online survey site. Ask them to provide bike access in addition to these pedestrian improvements!!!

Safe Cycling at Night (by Chris H.)

Cycling at night can feel intimidating, but if you can see where you're going and be seen, riding at night can be enjoyable. According to the California Vehicle Code [CVC 21201(d)] you're responsible for having:

  1. A white headlight visible for 300 feet
  2. A red rear reflector
  3. Pedal or shoe reflectors, and
  4. Front and back side reflectors (wheel reflectors)
For information on how to get free front and rear lights (courtesy of SFBC), tips on inexpensive ways to be visible at night, and the complete CVC guidelines for lights & reflectors at night, visit the WOBO Blog.

Riding on the Sidewalk

A recent East Bay Express article highlighted the plight of Oakland's migrant population in Fruitvale, who are being victimized by police enforcement of quality-of-life crimes. One of those crimes: riding a bicycle on the sidewalk! On the other side of town, 45 cyclists were ticked for riding on the sidewalk along College Ave in August.

What's worse? That it's a crime to ride a bike on public property (sec. 10.16.150) or that there's nowhere safe to ride because the city has been so slow to develop its bike network? Given the need to make the sidewalks safe for pedestrians of all kinds, bikes have to stay off the sidewalk. But can the city really force folks onto unsafe roads? Do they understand that doing so will get folks off their bikes and back into their cars? Another reminder why we have to engage in our neighborhoods and at City Hall!

Video: Halloween Scraper Bike Ride

Oaklandish sponsored the 2nd Annual Halloween Scraper Bike Ride this year, outfitting all the riders involved in exclusive Oaklandish original Scraper Bikes t-shirts. Feel what it was like to ride along that night with the video below:

Other Upcoming Events:

Bike to the Movies Night – Thursday, November 27th

Join Speakeasy Theaters in making Oakland the coolest place to bike! On the last Thursday of every month, for the first 2 shows The Parkway will valet park your bike for free and give you a voucher for a discounted admission ticket. The Parkway Speakeasy Theater is located at 1834 Park Blvd. For more information visit speakeasytheaters.com.

WOBO General Membership Meeting – Tues, Dec. 2nd from 6:30-8:30pm

Come join us for our next meeting. We'll be working on our membership mailing and planning our next party! It happens at Vo's in Downtown Oakland (at the corner of Grand and Webster).

First Friday Critical Mass and Art Murmur – Fri, Dec. 5th at 6pm

Get out for a ride with your friends, then head up Telegraph Ave for some art and beverages. The ride starts at 14th and Broadway at 6pm.

Fun Link: Bring Your Own Big Wheel (BYOBW)

Growing up has it's advantages, but one disadvantage is not being able to ride a Big Wheel anymore. Or is it?

Every Easter Sunday, a dedicated group of men and women prove that you're never too old to rock a set of plastic wheels... with the assistance of gravity. It's called Bring Your Own Big Wheel and you can get a taste of what it's like below.

Want to Get More Involved with WOBO?

WOBO is always looking for more folks to get involved with our all-volunteer crew!  Here's how you can help:  

Like what you see? We'd like to grow the WOBO membership – forward this message to a friend!

 Walk Oakland Bike Oakland  |  (510) 269-4034  |  PO Box 10945 |  Oakland, CA 94610