JUNE 15, 2026 www.paloalto.gov
FINAL 2026 BICYCLE
AND PEDESTRIAN
TRANSPORTATION
PLAN
City Council Meeting
Ozzy Arce, Senior Transportation Planner
Meeting Purpose & Recommended Action
Recommended Action:
Adopt a Resolution Approving the Final 2026 Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan (Attachment A), including staff-recommended changes from the Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee (PABAC) (Attachment B).
Purpose: Present the Final 2026 Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan (BPTP) for consideration and adoption.
2 Project Timeline
Proposed Bicycle Network
Pedestrian Districts
Prioritization Framework
Project List
Visioning;
Objectives Final PlanAdmin.
Draft Plan
Existing
Conditions
Analysis
CSTSC + PABAC + PRC + PTC + RC + CC
Public
Review
Draft Plan
CSTSC + PABAC + PRC + PTC+CC CSTSC + PABAC + PRC + PTC + RC + CC PABAC + PTC + CC PABAC + City Council 20262023
Phase 1
Introduction &
Visioning
Phase 2
Existing Conditions,
Needs & Concerns
Phase 3
Recommendations
Phase 4
Draft Plan
Phase 5
Final Plan Adoption
& Implementation
2024 2025
Workshop
Online Mapping Survey
Walk Audit
Bike Ride
Council, Commissions, Committee
Responsive Final Plan: Incorporating Dec. 1 Council Feedback 4 How Staff Refined the Final Plan
• Proactive E-bike & E-cycle Management: Added programmatic engagement, exploring concrete regulation, and youth education strategies to safely manage e-bike and e-cycle speeds.
• Direct Alignment: Coordination with the Safety Action Plan, the San Antonio Road Area Plan, North Ventura Coordinated Area Plan, the Midtown Bike/Ped Undercrossing at El Dorado Avenue, and the Cubberley Master Plan. • Comprehensive Policy: Review of 2030 Comp Plan, noting that Comp Plan Policy T-4.1 (Keep Streets Open as a General Rule) fully supports safety tools like neighborhood modal filters.
• Corridor Adjustments: Incorporates project-specific and programmatic modifications, such as advancing additional safe routes to school projects 1 Key Elements of the 2026 BPTP
5 • Low-stress Bicycle Network: Shifts its foundational focus toward developing calm, neighborhood-based Bicycle Boulevards. • Implementation Framework: Actionable, high-priority
work focused:
• 25 Priority Bicycle Projects; about 19 miles of enhancements • 24 Intersection & Crossing Upgrades
• 3 Special Projects and 3 Special Studies
• Policies & Programs to improve walking and biking conditions • Pedestrians: Establishes dedicated high-activity pedestrian zones using a specialized Pedestrian Toolbox for improvements. • E-bikes; and Alignment:; Includes programmatic strategies to address the adoption of e-bikes and e-cycles; Ensures integration with other City projects.
Next Steps
6 1. Publish an Adopted Final Plan document
2. Initial Priorities for 2026 BPTP Implementation:
• Electric Bicycle & Electric Cycle Strategy
• Traffic Calming Update
• Advance Capital Projects
• PABAC Reform
Additional Discussion on Cal Ave. and E-Cycles
7 California Avenue
• Incorporating Bike Access on Cal Ave.: Per Council direction on Dec. 1, 2025, the 2026 BPTP includes:
- Bicycle access along Cal Ave with 8 mph speed limit; and - Future improvements along Cambridge Avenue as supplementary route when there is high-pedestrian activity on Cal Ave. • Addressing E-Moto Safety Concerns: On June 1, 2026, Council expressed concerns about use of e-bikes (and/or e-motos) along Cal Ave, and requested a bike-free design:
- BPTP includes programs & policies for education,
encouragement, enforcement & regulation
- OOT and PD staff are collaborating with PAUSD on educational material on e-bikes & illegal e-motos focused on students, plus enforcement as resources allow, and potential restriction on campus
Process and Implications of Cal Ave. Approach
8 Description Community Street (BPTP 12/1/2025) Bike-Free Design (Cal Ave 6/1/2026) Progress
Complete
Completed:
• Ordinance to create Community St (3/24/2025)
• Signage/striping design for ECR/Cal Ave
• Encroachment permit applications (10/1/2024
& 6/27/2025, received 2/5/2025 & 6/10/2026)
• Interim design for slow bikes (6/1/2026)
Progress
Needed
• Low-cost implementation by
augmenting resurfacing, August 2026
• Walk Only during certain times
• Reallocate staff and identify funds for CIPs
for Cal Ave & Cambridge (mid-year or FY28)
• Undertake bike-free design for Cal Ave &
enhanced bike access on Cambridge inc.
community engagement
• Encroachment permit for Cambridge/ECR
• Construction TBD (potentially 2032)
• Remap school access routes
Ultimate
Condition
• Textured thermoplastic to encourage slow bike
movements
• Enforcement recommended
• Repave with smooth unmarked surface
• Enforcement needed in interim & final
• Students have higher traffic exposure
Recommended Action
Adopt a Resolution Approving the
Final 2026 Bicycle and Pedestrian
Transportation Plan (Attachment A),
including staff-recommended
changes from the Pedestrian and
Bicycle Advisory Committee
(Attachment B).
9 JUNE 15, 2026 www.paloalto.gov
FINAL 2026 BICYCLE
AND PEDESTRIAN
TRANSPORTATION
PLAN
City Council Meeting
Ozzy Arce, Senior Transportation Planner