Dear City Councilmembers and Senior Staff,
I am a resident of Menlo Park and I am writing today today in memory and honor of Dylan Taylor and all those who commute by bike.
The story of Dylan Taylors death hit very close to home to me for a variety of reasons, in part because it literally happened very close to my home which is only an 8 minute bike ride away from the collision site. But also because I am a substitute teacher at Menlo Atherton High School and I bike to work. I chose to be a sub with Sequoia Union High School District and to focus primarily on Menlo Atherton High School in part because it is a less than 10 minute bike ride from my home. I absolutely love being able to bike to work everyday. I get to enjoy exercise, fresh air, and make a sustainable transit choice. During my morning commute, I am often behind a pack of students biking to school as well. It brings me joy, especially as someone who grew up in an environment where biking was not an option, to see young people enjoying the autonomy that comes with biking. It’s not only empowering for them, but also offers important health benefits.
Biking is also a more affordable and accessible form of transit. A bike is much cheaper than a car to buy and maintain. It doesn’t require a license, and it empowers teenagers to get around without relying on parents for rides. However, as a biker, I often face significant obstacles: a lack of protected bike lanes, debris in bike lanes, pedestrians and strollers in bike lanes, cars parked in bike lanes, and bike lanes that abruptly end, forcing me into car lanes. But the worst obstacle is the constant fear of being struck by a car, which could result in serious injuries, long-term consequences (not only for myself but also for my loved ones and the greater community), or death.
This morning when I left for work, my partner asked me to please be careful and to arrive safely — and alive. My bike to work felt different this morning, as it does anytime a biker is killed by a car.
We need immediate commitment and investment in long-term, gold-standard bike infrastructure that is protected, connected, and built for safety. But we cannot wait years to make our streets safer—short-term fixes like temporary protected bike lanes and daylighting at intersections must be implemented as soon as possible to prevent further loss of life. These interim solutions are not a substitute for lasting infrastructure, but they are a critical step toward saving lives now. I also urge you to collaborate with neighboring cities like Atherton and Palo Alto to ensure safe, continuous routes between our communities. After all, Middlefield Road—where Dylan Taylor was killed—is a major connector between our cities. We may live on different sides of city lines, but we are one community, and our safety depends on working together.
With care and urgency,
Francesca
