Dear Council,
I'm writing to advocate for an expanded Safe Routes program that willincrease and upgrade the bike lane infrastructure to
encouragecommuters who live nearby (within) 5 miles of either work or school toride confidently and safely.
Research at Portland State and U South Florida Urban Transportation Centers shows that "interested but concerned" commuters are
willing to commute in bike laneswhen they feel safe. Class IV / protected lanes with a physical separation from carsmakes the
difference. We need to upgrade to Class IV lanes ASAP to get commuters to switch.
Safe Routes to Work would entail getting employers to map their nearby employees and the gaps in bike lane infrastructure on the
Safe Routes needed to make the commute safe. It's time Menlo Park was a leader in Green House Gas emissions reduction.
A public partnership program to encourage employers to fund the expanded and upgraded bike infrastructure would lighten the city's
financial burden. Please expand the Safe Routes program to include Safe Routes to Work in cooperation with employers.
We have the perfect climate and flat topology to encourage bike lane commuting.
If we build Safe Routes, commuters will switch.
Ken KershnerCEO, Trio& Resident678 College AvMenlo Park, CA 94025
