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Robert Prinz

@prinzrob.bsky.social

1.6K followers 320 following 8.5K posts

Advocacy Director at BikeEastBay. See me for bicycle culture & transportation infrastructure news on the sunny side of the Bay. My posts are my own.

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Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · Nov 18

I will always like your sunset photos. Always.

Reposted by Robert Prinz

George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 30m

Somewhat late notice, but if you’re in Oakland and want to attend, my friend Anwar Baroudi is leading a walking tour to inform the General Plan Update team on disability access issues. Starts at OPL Main Branch. Knowing Anwar, it will be great!

www.oaklandca.gov/Event-Calend...

Mayor's Commission on People with Disabilities Walking Tour

Lake Merritt neighborhood walking tour open to the general public as part of the General Plan Update

www.oaklandca.gov

Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · 21m

Here in the East Bay most major trails are regulated by East Bay Parks. So in the blog post I defaulted to the parks rules for Class 1 & 2 ebikes, but w a footnote that local rules wrt trails might be different.

Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · 23m

Sort of. The only regulatory differences btwn Class 1 & 2 are if local jurisdictions allow or prohibit them on multi-use trails. The city by city rules become very difficult to explain & educate on, similar to sidewalk cycling rules.

Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · 1h

Winky Dinky Dogs sign going up at the former Kasper’s at Shattuck/Telegraph in Oakland. Opening soon!

Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · 1h

As an example WRT “big tent” inclinations, most bike advocacy orgs have by now called out & distanced themselves from the “vehicular cyclist” folks. And by doing so they’ve opened up avenues for collaboration w a much more diverse set of partners.

Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · 1h

Enforcement on the other hand isn’t an “easy” solution, it’s no solution. It has no lasting impact, is often applied w bias, takes resources & attention away from more effective options, & risks discouraging bike ridership altogether.

Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · 1h

Right the solutions aren’t easy, but if it’s an issue we actually care about we have to embrace the complexity & do the hard work. I’ve laid out seven steps local jurisdictions can take in my post here:

bikeeastbay.org/active-trans...

Active Transformation : Youth Cyclists and E-Bikes - Bike East Bay

Youth e-bike riders and safety concerns are in the news a lot recently. Find out more on the issue and what we're doing about it.

bikeeastbay.org

Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · 2h

That’s an interesting theory though at least wrt police budgets I doubt it. IME the amount a community spends on police seems to be entirely uncorrelated w outcomes.

Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · 3h

Also I don’t know if some folks realize this, but policing & infrastructure needs are inherently at odds.

In many communities, exploding police budgets are the main reason why we don’t spend general fund revenue, the most flexible local funding, on transportation investments anymore.

Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · 4h

IME the fast e-device concerns are very overblown. They are getting undue attention b/c it’s mostly an issue in high income communities where parents are buying them for their kids, & those same communities are over-represented in the media.

Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · 4h

I hear a great many excuses from people to avoid building all ages/abilities bike infrastructure, but I have yet to hear that one.

Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · 4h

One of the reasons why I’ll never call myself an “urbanist” is b/c of the tendency of many in that niche to endorse the police, so long as they are on the same side of an issue.

Same thing wrt “YIMBY” & libertarians.

Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · 4h

The popularity of extra fast e-devices is a reaction to our failure to provide networks of safe facilities for smaller, slower things.

What we actually need is a vast increase in facilities development. Prioritizing enforcement as a response is the wrong approach w many negative externalities.

Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · 4h

Better solutions involve:
1) Crack down on manufacturers/retailers building/selling devices.
2) Provide more all ages/abilities facilities to alleviate crowding on limited trail networks, & so people are less compelled to speed & “keep up” w car traffic.

More here:
bikeeastbay.org/active-trans...

Active Transformation : Youth Cyclists and E-Bikes - Bike East Bay

Youth e-bike riders and safety concerns are in the news a lot recently. Find out more on the issue and what we're doing about it.

bikeeastbay.org

Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · 4h

Using words like “menace” or “scourge” is hyperbole and unhelpful. Are illegal e-devices a concern? Yes, absolutely. Have they been the cause of any significant number of the fatal & severe crashes I continue to respond to on a weekly basis here in the East Bay? Absolutely not.

Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · 4h

Encouraging police enforcement w/o checks (and there are almost never checks) also leads to biased outcomes. Police *will* abuse this authority resulting in biased pretextual stops. It also takes resources away from relatively greater threats all related to dangerous car drivers.

Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · 4h

Those devices are already illegal. “Enforcement” means ticketing kids & delivery workers. It’s a waste of time since these user groups are largely reacting to outside influences.

Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · 5h

I’m getting in touch w electeds & WCPD to find out more, and to encourage a more nuanced approach to e-device safety issues as laid out here:

bikeeastbay.org/active-trans...

Active Transformation : Youth Cyclists and E-Bikes - Bike East Bay

Youth e-bike riders and safety concerns are in the news a lot recently. Find out more on the issue and what we're doing about it.

bikeeastbay.org

Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · 5h

Thanks. I haven’t been able to confirm whether tickets were written, but there was a joint operation btwn Walnut Creek PD & East Bay Parks “regarding electric/motorized motorcycles on the trails, sidewalks, and streets of WC”. This included a focus on the Iron Horse Trail.

Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · 1d

And yet Caltrans still went along with MTC’s trail closure plan. One of the Caltrans staffers who managed the bike plan update project wrote in to BCDC in their personal capacity to remind the group of the Caltrans recommendation & in support of keeping the trail open. BCDC didn’t listen.

Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · 1d

And the brand new Caltrans Bay Area bike plan calls for permanent, 24/7 bike access on the RSR Bridge, as a Tier 1 priority & among the top ten needs for Marin County. It also recommends fixing other bike connectivity issues on the Marin side.

(1 of 1)
Highway Segment Improvements - Bicycle
ID
CCMa-580-C01
County
Route
Contra Costa, Marin
580
City
Improvement
Type
Location
Richmond, San Rafael
Corridor Improvement-Class I
Description
Tier
Safety Score
Equity Score
Best Practices
Mobility Score 2
Western Ave - Main St
Provide permanent bicycle access on Richmond-San Rafael Bridge
Tier 1
1
3

(1 of 1)
New Separated Crossings - Bicycle
Mar-580-NX01
County
Marin
Route
580
City
Type
Location
Unincorporated
New separated crossing
Andersen Dr/ Sir Francis Drake
Description Construct new separated crossing or similar bike
crossing to facilitate a low stress connection from Sir Francis Drake Blvd to Richmond San Rafael Bridge
Path
Tier 1
0
Tier
Safety Score
Equity Score
Mobility
Score
3
2.00

Marin County Top Tier Project Highlights

ID Route
City
Improvement Type
Location
Description
Mar-580-
X01
580
San Rafael
Interchange
improvements - ClassI or IV
Bellam Blvd
Install bicycle interchange improvements, such as square up ramps, install Class I or IV bikeways, add signage and striping to mark bicycle conflict points and remove free right turns.
Mar-101-
X06
101
San Rafael
Interchange
improvements - Class
4th St
Explore Class IV facilities on 4th Street with improved intersections on Heatherton (Caltrans jurisdiction) and Irwin (City of San Rafael jurisdiction) as described in the San Rafael Bike Ped Master Plan
Mar-580-
CO1
580
San Rafael
Corridor Improvement-
Class IV
2nd St - Main St
Install Class IV bikeway on Francisco Blvd E parallel to I-580 to provide connectivity through Canal Neighborhood. To connect Grand Ave bridge, SF Bay Trail and Richmond San Rafael Bridge Path.
CCMa-
580-C01
580
Richmond, San Rafael
Corridor Improvement-
ClassI
Western Ave -
Main St
Provide 24/7 bicycle access on the Richmond San Rafael Bridge
Mar 131-
131
Tiburon
corridor Improvement.
US 101 - Blacke's
Pasture
Provide Class IV along Hwy 131
Mar-101-
X07
101
San Rafael
Interchange
improvements - Class I
N San Pedro Rd
Install bicycle interchange improvements, such as square up ramps, install Class I bikeways, add signage and striping to mark bicycle conflict points and remove free right turns.
Mar-580-NX01
580
Unincorporated
New Separated
Crossing
Andersen Dr/ Sir
Francis Drake
Install new separated crossing or other low stress crossing to help cyclists cross Sir
Francis Drake and navigate to the Richmond San Rafael Bridge.
Mar-131-
CO1
131
Strawberry, Tiburon
Corridor Improvement-
Class I
E Strawberry Dr-Greenwood Cove
Dr
Proposed Class I Path on the eastbound side of Tiburon Boulevard between E
Strawberry Drive and Greenwood Cove Drive. Project proposed in the Town of Tiburon Bay Trail Gap Study. Cyclists currently travel in the opposite direction on this short stretch.

Reposted by Robert Prinz

Bike East Bay @bikeeastbay.bsky.social · 3d

A satisfying before/after photo....

Our Advocacy Director @prinzrob.bsky.social was biking to teach a "Hazard Reporting" workshop in Hayward, and stopped to mark/report this pothole.

3 days later, the City of Hayward had it filled. Awesome.

A residential road in Hayward, with a major pothole circled in neon green spray chalk. A few filled potholes surround it.

The same road, but now the circled pothole has been filled!

Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · 3d

We need to stop approaching this as a transportation issue as a opposed to a land use & housing issue. Marin has caused the problem for themselves by pricing out lower income workers. Enabling more traffic will only exacerbate the inequities.

bsky.app/profile/prin...

Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · Aug 8

@mtcbata.bsky.social An HOV lane on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge isn't going to fix this. At best it's ineffective at addressing the issue, & at worst it exacerbates the problem by taking attention away from real solutions.

You had an opportunity to be responsible and truthful, and you failed.

"Population Loss
Analysis: More people are leaving Marin County than moving in
Figure 1. Net Migration Rate for Marin County - 2010 to 2023
Overall net migration (in- versus out-moves per 1,000 households) and net migration by household income for those making above and below 50% AMI (~$75k).
20
5.2 0-2.34
-5.6
-20
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
More than 50% AMI
4.7
Overall
-18.4
Less than 50% AMI
-33.5
Above zero = more people moving in. Below zero = more people moving out. Chart: Tim Thomas.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates."

"The population is notably aging.
There is a deficit of working-age adults (25-44 years) and young families who cannot afford to live in Marin, leading to workforce shortages that require 64% of workers to commute from outside the county. Continued declines in this age group lead to declining school enrollment and closures that further deters families and working age adults from moving to Marin."

"18.4 per 1,000 households left Marin County between 2010 and 2023, with more lower-income households leaving than higher-income households (33.5 per 1,000 households). The data suggests that:

‍More economically vulnerable residents from Marin are forced to leave, while wealthier households can still move into and remain in the county.
‍Marin experienced a loss of local labor, requiring many local workers to commute long distances from outside the county."

Reposted by Robert Prinz

Prof. Ian Walker @ianwalker.bsky.social · 4d

"The single most important behaviour, design or regulation for creating streets conducive to walking and cycling, was physical separation between the modes"

We've got a new study out, learning from a broad mixture of street users, planners and designers

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Highlights
For marginalised street users mode separation is the key to human-scale movement.
Streets conducive to walking and cycling have functional, safe and accessible design.
Professionals must approach street design, regulation and user behaviour holistically.
Combinations of influencing factors persuade people to either use or avoid a street.
There are no easy fixes to the public realm that will work for all non-drivers.

Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · 4d

Yikes, thanks for the heads up. Shattuck is so wide, meaning more exposure during crossings and higher car speeds.

I'm excited about the quick-build road diet & separated bikeway coming to Adeline in Berkeley soon. The city should expand this to Shattuck ASAP.