From: Erik Purins
To: CITYCOUNCIL-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] In support of item 7-D (clarifying No Parking in Bicycle Lanes) Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026 10:07:40 AM
Attachments: bike-lane-uprising-2026-07-18-alameda-map-02.png bike-lane-uprising-2026-07-18-alameda-map-01.png
bike-lane-uprising-2026-07-17-alameda-map-detail-webster-and-haight.png Hi council members,
I support the amendment of the Alameda Municipal Code to clarify that no parking in bike lanes means all classes of bike lanes.
As a daily bike commuter, it is a clear safety concern, as well as frustration, to encounter vehicles obstructing all the kinds of bike lanes. When cyclists are forced into unprotected spaces with vehicle traffic, we are putting our bodies in harm's way.
The rule of law should be protecting our most vulnerable; cyclists are less likely to survive a vehicle-on-bicycle collision, so the law needs to be clear, so enforcement priority and consequences are clear.
I urge you to review bike lane obstructions as reported by the cycling community on Bikelane Uprising. They provide an application and site to view and report bike lane obstructions, quantify them, and identify offense types.
Recent map data is available at https://www.bikelaneuprising.com/maps/all which can be
filtered to the city of Alameda. I've attached example recent maps with hot spots, showing different bike lane obstructions, around which enforcement is requested, and an example detail of a single report.
The application can filter that list by type, and show incident time, place, license plate and location with photo evidence. I highlight that the incident of municipal vehicles in bike lanes is non-zero.
I'm asking you to match the city bike lane construction goals with enforcement, to protect our vulnerable riders, by equally enforcing bike lane law across lane types, including types II, III, and IV.
Please update the municipal code.
Erik Purins
1000 Versailles Ave.
Alameda, CA
94501
3 attachments
Reported Alameda bike lane obstruction heat map (general location and density) Reported Alameda bike lane obstruction by cluster (specific locations by size / count) Reported Alameda bike lane obstruction - example of detail photo from report at Webster and Haight
Advisory Board
Denyse Trepanier
Board Chair
Brian Fowler
Treasurer
Tim Beloney
Secretary
Maria Piper
Board Member
Cyndy Johnsen
Board Member
Mitch Ball
Board Member
Lucy Gigli
Founder, non-voting
Bike Walk Alameda is
fiscally sponsored by
Bike East Bay, a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization.
bikewalkalameda.org
July 16, 2026
RE: Item 7-D: No Parking in Bike Lanes Ordinance
Dear Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft, Councilmembers, and Staff,
We appreciate Staff’s work on this Item and their responsiveness to our concerns regarding the discussion around CVC 21211 in the staff report and resolution. (We hope you will have seen Staff’s revised language by the time you read this; if not, we encourage you to ask about it). With those revisions, we urge you to support their recommendation.
Parking in bike lanes is a widespread problem in Alameda. Earlier this year, Alameda “won” second place in a national competition for number of bike lane obstructions. While the ranking drew attention to the issue, the safety impacts are serious. Blocked bike lanes force people riding bicycles into traffic, increasing the risk of crashes for everyone and making bicycling feel unsafe. They also undermine the City's investment in bicycle infrastructure by making bike lanes unreliable and discouraging people from riding.
Keeping bike lanes clear is one of the simplest and most effective ways to improve safety, encourage more people to bike, and advance the City’s transportation and climate goals. Clarifying enforcement authority across all types of bikeways is an important step toward achieving that goal.
Thank you for your consideration.
Respectfully,
Bike Walk Alameda
From: Simon Mathieu
To: CITYCOUNCIL-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Item 7-D - Bike Lane Parking Enforcement Date: Thursday, July 16, 2026 11:59:20 AM
Greetings,
I'm writing in strong support of a clear code that will prevent parking in bike lane and urge strong and urgent enforcement of this code.
I was actually shocked to learn this wasn't already law. As a cyclist and father of a young cyclist, every single day I see bike lanes obstructed by cars in Alameda. This deeply unsafe situation discourages cycling. It's also self-perpetuating: when one car sees others parked in a bike lane, it feels it's ok to do so.
Clarifying the law and enforcing it will rapidly increase cyclist safety in Alameda and make cycling a more appealing option for everyone. This ties directly with our city's climate goal, but also relates to making Alameda more liveable for all.
Thank you,
Simon Mathieu
Alameda Resident
From: Stephen Tye
To: CITYCOUNCIL-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] 2026-6132: Amending the Alameda Municipal Code re Bike Lanes Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2026 6:03:59 PM
Hello -
I'm am an Alameda resident and am writing in support of File No. 2026-6132 to address gaps in the Alameda City code to allow the City to enforce parking restrictions across its bicycle network. My neighbors and I have consistently reported cars blocking parking lanes since October 2024 and no action has been taken. These changes would help address these issues. # Date Opened Date Closed Status Description Photo Red Curb Request Link 1 2026-05-19 - Acknowledged Everyday a car parks in the bike lane along the curb. Curb needs to b Yes Yes #21752145 2 2026-05-19 - Acknowledged Blocking bike lane. Yes #21751083 3 2026-05-12 2026-05-18 Closed This was here the whole day actually. Didn’t even move. Blocking bike Yes #21698144 4 2026-05-12 2026-05-12 Archived Can we spot the bike? It’s a bit hard correct? Driver blocked the path Yes #21692167 5 2026-05-07 2026-05-11 Archived Would this get resolved much sooner if it was a bike blocking the lane Yes #21654179 6 2026-05-05 2026-05-11 Archived Blocking bike lane every weekday morning Yes #21638843 7 2026-04-30 2026-05-05 Archived Blocking bike lane. Yes #21596511 8 2026-04-24 2026-04-27 Archived Hazard on a daily basis. Blocking bike lane. Yes #21549334 9 2026-04-21 2026-04-22 Archived Blocking bike lane Yes #21521070 10 2026-04-20 2026-04-21 Archived Blocking lane every weekday. Yes #21510862 11 2026-04-16 2026-04-19 Archived Blocking lane. Daily hazard. Yes #21483603 12 2026-04-15 2026-04-15 Archived Blocking lane. This is a persistent issue. There’s been a request to p Yes Yes #21473978 13 2026-04-13 2026-04-14 Archived Daily hazard blocking lane. Yes #21453919 14 2026-04-09 2026-04-12 Archived Blocking bike lane. Daily occurrence. Yes #21427064 15 2026-04-08 2026-04-08 Archived Still here. Blocking lane. Every morning. Never resolved. Yes #21418053 16 2026-04-06 2026-04-07 Archived Blocking lane. Yes #21398679 17 2026-03-26 2026-04-02 Archived Blocking lane. Yes #21320424 18 2026-03-23 2026-03-24 Archived Blocking bike lane. This is a persistent issue. Please come by in the Yes #21295243 19 2026-03-18 2026-03-18 Archived Ongoing issue every morning. Blocks bike lane Yes #21256496 20 2026-01-23 2026-01-26 Archived Every morning some vehicle will block the bike lane. Yes #20853416 21 2026-01-22 2026-01-22 Archived Blocking bike lane. Yes #20845997 22 2026-01-21 2026-01-21 Archived Blocking bike lane. Yes #20837783 23 2026-01-16 2026-01-20 Archived Same vehicle here not moved blocking bike lane. Yes #20813607 24 2026-01-15 2026-01-20 Archived Blocking bike lane Yes #20807131 25 2026-01-14 2026-01-20 Archived Still here. Blocking lane. EVERY MORNING. Yes #20795180 26 2026-01-12 2026-01-20 Archived Daily occurrence. Blocking bike lane. Yes #20778397 27 2026-01-09 2026-01-11 Archived Car still blocking bike lane Yes #20763325 28 2026-01-08 2026-01-09 Archived Blocking bike lane. Please paint red curb, or line markings. Yes Yes #20754377 29 2026-01-07 2026-01-07 Archived Cars parked constantly every morning blocking bike lane. Yes #20745520 30 2026-01-05 2026-01-07 Archived Blocking bike lane. Yes #20726803 31 2026-01-02 2026-01-07 Archived Parked blocking bike lane every morning. Yes #20712517 32 2025-12-30 2025-12-30 Archived This car has been parked every morning the past few days blocking bike Yes #20694615 33 2025-12-29 2025-12-30 Archived Driver parked car blocking bike lane. #20687726 34 2025-12-23 2025-12-26 Archived Driver parked blocking bike lane Yes #20660856 35 2025-12-15 2025-12-16 Archived Issue reported and closed promptly in the morning. Car still parked an Yes #20614216 36 2025-12-15 2025-12-15 Archived Blocking bike lane. Yes #20608965 37 2025-12-12 2025-12-14 Archived Car parked blocking bike lane. #20595759 38 2025-12-07 2025-12-09 Archived Car parked blocking bike lane. When will we get proper enforcement? Th Yes #20558061 39 2025-12-03 2025-12-09 Archived Car parked blocking bike lane. Yes #20529713 40 2025-11-28 2025-12-01 Archived Vehicles parked totally and partially blocking bike lane. Yes #20499467 41 2025-11-12 2025-11-12 Archived This is a persistent safety issue. Driver parked in bike lane. Yes #20400258 42 2025-11-10 2025-11-12 Archived Blocking bike lane. Yes #20386882 43 2025-10-17 2025-10-20 Archived The previous request on the car blocking bike lane was closed, but it' Yes #20232602 44 2025-10-16 2025-10-17 Archived Blocking bike lane Yes #20225466 45 2025-10-16 2025-10-17 Archived Blocking bike lane. Yes #20220784 46 2025-10-14 2025-10-17 Archived Car blocking bike lane The truck behind has been parked there for alm Yes #20209611 47 2025-09-27 2025-09-30 Archived Car parked partially blocking bike lane While ok with just a bike, a #20090746 48 2025-09-22 2025-09-22 Archived Car parked partially blocking bike lane Yes #20055008 49 2025-09-05 2025-09-07 Archived Car parked blocking bike lane. Yes #19929866 50 2025-08-19 2025-08-20 Archived Driver parked car blocking bike lane Yes #19788411 51 2025-07-10 2025-07-14 Archived Car is parked on the bike lane, and not in the parking bay. #19459533 52 2025-07-07 2025-07-09 Archived Vehicle parked blocking bike lane #19426600 53 2025-07-02 - Acknowledged We need some red painted curb at the beginning and end of parking bays Yes #19399695 54 2025-05-19 2025-05-20 Archived Still here parked, blocking lane. n Yes #19029694 55 2025-05-16 2025-05-19 Archived Blocking lane. Long term parking. Yes #19016178 56 2025-05-13 2025-05-14 Archived Repeat offender is back. Long term parking, blocking lane.i Yes #18982084 57 2025-04-22 2025-04-23 Archived Again!!! Back blocking lane. Yes #18830103 58 2025-04-16 2025-04-17 Archived Despite multiple requests opened and closed as addressed, this IS NOT Yes #18792941 59 2025-04-14 2025-04-16 Archived Long term parking. Blocking travel lane. Car has not moved. Yes #18769417 60 2025-04-11 2025-04-14 Archived Long term parking Blocking bike lane. Yes #18755549 61 2025-04-09 2025-04-14 Archived Lack of enforcement empowers repeat offenders Driver didn't even try Yes #18738350 62 2025-04-08 2025-04-14 Archived Despite all the previous tickets marked as addressed and closed, this Yes #18734870 63 2025-04-08 2025-04-08 Archived Car parked blocking bike lane. Not resolved despite previous tickets b Yes #18729745 64 2025-04-07 2025-04-08 Archived Been here all week now Blocking bike lane. Yes #18726435 65 2025-04-03 2025-04-07 Archived Car parked blocking bike lane. Yes #18698971 66 2025-03-22 2025-03-24 Archived Car blocking bike lane. Yes #18619979 67 2025-03-21 2025-03-24 Archived Car parked blocking bike lane. This is a regular occurrence. Yes #18616796 68 2025-03-16 2025-03-17 Archived Car blocking bike lane Yes #18576608 69 2025-03-08 2025-03-11 Archived White Honda parked blocking bike lane since Friday. #18526604 70 2025-02-13 2025-02-18 Archived Same car is back blocking bike lane daily Yes #18378509 71 2025-02-11 2025-02-12 Archived Repeated offender parking in the bike lane. Yes #18360232 72 2025-02-06 2025-02-10 Archived Not a recent photo due to the rain, but this car is back parking and b Thanks for your time,
Stephen Tye
Phone | 925-640-3157
E-mail | [email protected]
From: Christi Toa
To: CITYCOUNCIL-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Support for Item 7-D - No Parking in Bike Lanes Ordinance Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2026 1:00:54 PM
Dear Mayor Ashcraft and City Council Members,
I am writing in strong support of Item 7-D, which would amend the Municipal Code to add a violation and fine for parking in Class II, III, and IV bike lanes. Thank you for bringing this forward. It closes a real gap, and it will make enforcement and tracking meaningfully easier across Alameda's bike network.
I want to share a quick update that shows exactly why this matters. Some of you may recall my May email documenting 427-459 Mitchell Ave, where I compiled 89 SeeClickFix reports of vehicles protruding into the bike lane since October 2024, including one silver Mazda CX-9 photographed blocking the lane on 16 separate dates. For over a year, reports were opened and closed within days while the same violation returned the next morning. Public Works responded by installing No Stopping signage at the former bus bay, and I'm happy to report that since the sign went in, we are finally seeing real improvement at that spot. That is the difference clear authority makes: good intentions and repeated reporting did not change behavior, but a sign backed by enforcement did. Item 7-D extends that same clarity to the entire bike lane network instead of one corner at a time.
Separately, I also want to share two things I'm hopeful about going forward.
One is driver education. A lot of blocking isn't malicious, it's people making a quick stop who don't realize the bike lane is the one place they can't do it. The message worth repeating is simple: do not stop or park in the bike lane. If you need to make a brief stop, pull into the travel lane instead. That is counterintuitive to most drivers, but a bike lane blocked by a parked car forces a cyclist, sometimes one towing a child, out into moving traffic, which is far more dangerous. I'd love to see that message reach City workers and contractors too. I've repeatedly seen City and contractor vehicles parked in bike lanes when the travel lane was the safer choice, and the City sets the example here.
The other is enforcement capacity. I was glad to see Council approve the additional full-time Parking Enforcement Technician in the June budget cycle. That added coverage is exactly what's needed to move from reactive, one-off responses to consistent, proactive patrol across our bike corridors, and I'm looking forward to seeing that consistency, along with the enforcement data that will let us all confirm it's working.
Thank you for your continued work to make Alameda a leader in safe, sustainable transportation. Painting a bike lane is only half the job; keeping it clear is the other half, and Item 7-D is a strong step toward finishing it. I urge your support.
Regards,
Christi Toa