Dear Mayor Nash, Members of the Menlo Park City Council and Staff,
I am writing in strong support of Agenda Item J2 and the resolution to make
the Coleman Avenue Pilot project permanent (Staff Report #26-151-CC).
As a Menlo Park parent of two school-age children and someone who regularly
travels around our community by bike, safe bicycle infrastructure is very
personal to me. I see firsthand how dramatically the design of a street
affects whether families feel comfortable allowing their children to bike
independently. For many families, the decision to walk or bike to school is
not about distance—it is about whether there is a route that feels safe
enough to use.
Coleman Avenue is an important connection for students and families
traveling to and from school, and making this project permanent is an
important step toward creating a safer, more connected transportation
network in Menlo Park.
Protected bicycle infrastructure and traffic-calming measures provide
benefits far beyond people who already bike. They reduce conflicts between
vehicles and vulnerable road users, make routes more predictable, and allow
children, older adults, and less experienced riders to use our streets with
greater confidence. Protected facilities are particularly important if our
goal is to create a true “all ages and abilities” network rather than
infrastructure that is comfortable only for confident adult cyclists.
Safe Routes to School should be an especially important consideration.
School arrival and dismissal are among the busiest periods on our
neighborhood streets. Every student who can safely bike, walk, or use
another form of micromobility represents one fewer vehicle contributing to
school-related congestion. That benefits everyone—including families who
still need to drive.
There are important community benefits as well: giving children greater
independence, incorporating physical activity into daily life, reducing
traffic and parking demand, providing families with lower-cost
transportation options, and making our streets safer and more pleasant for
everyone.
I strongly encourage the Council to adopt the resolution and make the
Coleman Avenue Pilot permanent. I also hope the City will continue to
prioritize protected bicycle infrastructure and Safe Routes to School so
that walking, biking, and micromobility become genuinely safe and practical
transportation choices for residents of all ages.
Thank you for your consideration and for your continued commitment to
transportation safety in Menlo Park.
Respectfully,
Kevin Rennie
Willows neighborhood
Private citizen
