Now is the time to help working people by fixing the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge!

BCDC will soon hear public comment about removing the bike lane from Sunday nights to mid-day Thursdays to ease morning traffic.

Send your letter below to the BCDC commissioners to help us make a final, loud statement about the future of the bridge!

This is the last hurdle to remove the bike lane during the morning commute.

Dear [Lawmaker],

Please support the unanimous decision by MTC to share the bridge and remove the bike lane on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge during weekdays, Monday through mid-day Thursday, to alleviate traffic congestion and safety risks for commuters and  working people! Our community has been stressing the urgent need to make this change for years. Now is the time for BCDC to act - please vote to support this common sense move to balance the needs of thousands of  working people and a handful of bicyclists!

The implementation of the bike lane has disproportionately impacted commuters from the East Bay, and it’s why I’m one of thousands calling for change. As you know, on average, only 21 bikers use the bike lane on the westbound portion of the bridge during the morning commute, whereas 40,000 trips are made daily by car. These car commuters have no other alternative to get to and from work each day, and due to the traffic on the bridge, they’re forced to navigate increasingly long commute times that cause further strain on their lives.

This data shows that this is a clear equity issue. Over 82% of bridge commuters have a household income less than $100K, and more than two-thirds make less than $75k. These workers and their families are already struggling with the rising costs of living and increasingly fewer residential options. They shouldn’t also have to navigate onerous travel times and additional neighborhood traffic, all in the name of a few daily cyclists.

We urgently need to address this issue. Approving the permit amendment would not only offer a strong start to permanently resolving the inequities of the traffic issue on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, but also offer an example to the rest of the Bay Area and the state that our government agencies have the capacity to address some of the biggest challenges facing our communities.

While it is clear that there are loud voices in opposition to this proposal, please remember that the vast majority of Richmond residents support it: Eighty percent (80%) of Richmond voters support opening the third lane!

You have the power to make an essential common sense decision that will go a long way towards addressing inequity in the community and restoring faith in our local leadership.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.

Sincerely,
______

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