We can't afford NOT to invest in our bicycle infrastructure. It more than pays for itself in decreased healthcare costs. (It turns out, riding a bicycle is much healthier for you than sitting in a car!)
We NEED to make it safer and easier for people to bicycle. Almost universally, increasing bicycle safety and access has INCREASED revenue for local businesses. Which makes sense; Way more people notice and stop by when on a bicycle, whereas a car would just drive past the 2 already-taken parking spots in front of a business and not even notice what's there.

The best place for an east-west bike trail through Mountain View, from Castro Street to the Palo Alto border, is along the north side of CalTrain. There is plenty of room for a path that is not in motor-vehicle traffic, and once the Rengstorff underpass is constructed, there will be no interfering intersections or curb cuts. On the east side of Castro, the path should probably be placed along Evelyn. There will a crossing under the tracks at Castro.

Even with bike lanes, El Camino, with all the turns and cross traffic, would be an inferior bike "highway."

A recent comprehensive Danish study found that society saves more than $2/mile for every biked mile Web Link

Bicycle traffic is increasing but is being held back because of our bike unfriendly infrastructure. Any cosmetic El Camino facelift will be useless - much like the recent improvements along Foothill and El Monte/San Antonio. As an avid utility biker, I avoid El Camino, or when forced to, will ride on its sidewalks. Go for real improvements where we can have protected bike lanes.

I would also recommend that if you are a decision maker, get on your bike, and experience yourself the danger we daily face.

Would it not make more sense to explore turning Central Expressway to a biking highway? El Camino is home to so many businesses that depend on access.

Where is the actual study that this article refers to?

Shouldn't Atherton and Los Altos be involved in this planning effort? Also, the study was for a bikeway not a highway (or a super highway) -a term that implies no of few stops-. If the goal was to build a bike highway, then following the Caltrain track would be the best path. As a bikeway, El Camino provides far more connectivity.

One more thing to consider; ebikes with their larger range are quickly becoming popular. Because of their higher speed, studies show, they share a larger proportion of traffic accidents. If we have (protected) interconnected bike highways, they could offer serious viable commute alternatives. A "Siegel" path, or perhaps reduce El Camino from 3 to 2 lanes while dedicating a highway in a new median both seems reasonable.

Bikes would not be able to use El Camino even if parking along El Camino was converted to bike lanes today because of obstructions and closures due to building construction along El Camino. Construction along El Camino has been continuous for years and will continue for years to come.

It's virtually impossible to get Cities to do *anything* for bicycles. I tried for several decades,
including a stint on the MV BPAC. The problems are many fold, from planners and engineers who
*still* are largely uneducated about bicycle issues, to *money*. Anyone driving in the area will note
that freeway construction, and new parking garages for cars continue to be built, while
projects like San Antonio over 101 take *decades*.

Fully agree with Christopher's comment. The time is ready for radical steps! Close the Central Expressway for cars and use it for public transportation and bikes only. Cars can take 101 or El Camino.

This would make the area bike friendly quickly.