Members of the City Council
Comment on Agenda Item 10-1: Active Transportation Plan, specifically the uphill bikeway proposed for a portion of Solano Avenue.
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For a project of this magnitude and cost, it seems worthwhile to ask about the big picture:
- What is the goal of the Solano bikeway?
- Would it accomplish that goal?
Is the goal to reduce GHG emissions?
Suppose that narrowing Solano Avenue to accommodate the bikeway reduces Vehicle Miles Traveled by 15%, consisting of a 20% decrease on Solano and an increase on nearby streets. Would that reduce GHG emissions? Perhaps not. The bikeway would reduce traffic speed, which reduces fuel economy. Measurements on some vehicles suggest an increase of about 15% in gasoline consumption at the lower traffic speed. [1] Intuitively, this makes sense. Consider the gasoline wasted by vehicles idling behind someone attempting to parallel park along the proposed Solano bikeway, compared to the diagonal parking that exists today.
Is the goal to push Albany residents to use bikes more often?
Many of us are perhaps a bit too old to start cycling? In the 2020 census, 38% of us were 45 or older, including 15% who were 65 or older. [2]
Is the goal to push Albany residents to walk more?
I frequently stroll along Solano Avenue, chatting with family or friends. The prospect of a 50-lb e-bike zipping up from behind might not cause me to walk more often.
Is the goal to reduce VMT from all vehicles, regardless of type?
If it is, why is that an appropriate goal? With each passing year, more of the vehicles in Albany are Electric Vehicles, with zero direct GHG or smog emissions. The indirect emissions, from generating electricity to charge EVs, are shrinking as California gets an ever-increasing amount of electricity from non-fossil resources, particularly solar. Perhaps the focus should be on reducing Gasoline VMT by encouraging EVs, not penalizing all drivers?
Is the goal to degrade the quality of life in Albany?
Of course not, but I think this project would degrade our quality of life by increasing traffic congestion on Solano and adjoining streets.
Bottom line: Even if the cost of this project were negligible, I am skeptical that the proposed Solano bikeway would provide net benefits for climate change or for we residents of Albany.
Respectfully,
Mark Meldgin
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[1] Relevant data for newer gasoline-powered vehicles were not readily available. Data for some mid-1990s vehicles are presented here: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Fuel_economy_vs_speed_1997.png
Additional data, from the Transportation Energy Data Book by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, are shown in Figure 4-7 (p. 4-43) at the following link:
https://tedb.ornl.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/TEDB_Ed_40.pdf
[2] Results of the 2020 census for Albany are presented in the Demographics section at this link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albany,_California
]3] Total in-state electric generation by source type is shown at the link below. CA Natural Gas generation decreased from 121,783 GWh in 2012 to 86,479 GWh in 2024. The data understate the increase in solar generation because they include only “system” generation that is exported to the grid, and omit generation from rooftop solar that is used on-site.