El Cerrito’s San Pablo Avenue Unveils Curb-Protected Bike Lanes in Streetsblog Sneak Peek

A recent inspection by Streetsblog SF has provided an early glimpse of the newly completed half-mile of concrete curb-protected bike lanes and protected intersections along San Pablo Avenue in El Cerrito, California. The project, situated opposite El Cerrito Del Norte BART station, is set for an official ribbon-cutting ceremony in mid-July, but the street infrastructure is now substantially in place.

The new lanes incorporate several design features aimed at improving cyclist safety and the overall street environment. Wide islands at corners are designed to maintain good sight lines for both drivers and cyclists, encouraging slower speeds through intersections and allowing more time for potential conflicts to be recognised. The inclusion of bioswales along the street adds aesthetic value and helps to mitigate the feeling of the road being solely a “traffic sewer.”

Por que importa

A notable success identified is the integration of concrete bus-boarding islands. These islands are designed to channel cyclists to the right of the bus loading areas, preventing them from needing to merge with buses. This approach is becoming a more common and positive feature in new street designs.

The protected lane infrastructure also extends onto perpendicular streets. On Cutting Boulevard, which provides access to Interstate 80, protected lanes are now present. Streetsblog noted that the protected lane runs alongside the sidewalk and crosses the Interstate 80 ramp at a near 90-degree angle, adjacent to the crosswalk. This configuration treats cyclists as faster pedestrians rather than small vehicles, a departure from typical designs that can create dangerous mixing zones for cyclists and right-turning motorists at freeway ramps. The article expresses curiosity about other cyclists’ experiences with similar ramp configurations.

Contexto

However, the assessment also highlights existing challenges with San Pablo Avenue’s fundamental structure. The avenue is described as a “hugely overbuilt highway” with excessive lanes for fast-moving traffic, suggesting that even robust infrastructure might be insufficient to protect vulnerable road users from severe accidents or impaired drivers.

Evidence of this concern is already apparent, with a new signpost in the bike lane having been broken by an errant driver. The article argues that such installations would benefit from bollards or other physical barriers capable of stopping a vehicle, rather than relying solely on curbs, which prioritize the protection of the car over the safety of people outside it. Some sections are protected only by plastic bollards, and the presence of numerous “beg-buttons” for pedestrians indicates that traffic signal timing still prioritizes vehicular throughput, leading to lengthy wait times to cross the street. The piece suggests a preference for raised crosswalks with signals that remain red for drivers until activated by a vehicle.

The surrounding land use in El Cerrito, particularly near the BART station, is characterised as typical suburban America, with ample space dedicated to driving and parking. However, efforts are underway by the city, BART, and urban planners to address this, including new housing developments around the station, partly attributed to the advocacy of El Cerrito City Councilmember Rebecca Saltzman.

The installation of this protected bike lane, even as a relatively short segment on a large arterial road, is viewed as a significant accomplishment by advocates. It is seen as a foundational step towards broader improvements along the 22-mile corridor of San Pablo Avenue, which is identified as a critical East Bay arterial.

The official opening event for the San Pablo Avenue project is scheduled for July 13th at 11 a.m. at the Mayfair Station housing, located at 11600 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito.

Key facts
| Feature | Description |
|—|—|
| Project Location | San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, California (opposite El Cerrito Del Norte BART) |
| Infrastructure | Half-mile of concrete curb-protected bike lanes and protected intersections |
| Key Design Elements | Wide corner islands, bioswales, concrete bus-boarding islands, protected lanes extending to cross streets |
| Official Opening | July 13th, 11 a.m. |
| Source | Streetsblog SF |

This development signifies a tangible improvement in cycling infrastructure on a major arterial road. It demonstrates a move towards safer street design by incorporating physical protection for bike lanes and rethinking intersection configurations. While the project addresses immediate safety concerns for cyclists, the article implicitly raises questions for London’s own urban planning regarding the balance between accommodating high-volume traffic and ensuring the safety of all road users, particularly in areas adjacent to major transport hubs and on wide arterial roads. The design choices, such as the protected intersection treatment at the I-80 ramps, offer potential learning points for how to integrate cycling infrastructure more effectively with complex road networks.

Source: Streetsblog SF, https://sf.streetsblog.org/2026/06/30/eyes-on-the-street-sneak-peek-at-el-cerritos-san-pablo-ave-bike-lanes

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