We convinced the County Supervisors. He failed to mention that the reported accidents involved bicycles crossing the expressway at arterial-expressway intersections, not bicycles using the expressway. The result was an unnecessary battle to allow bicycles along Foothill. For similar reasons, the Sunnyvale battle took two years, and the Santa Clara battle took four. These delays unnecessarily increased the risks for bicyclists, by forcing them to use the more dangerous arterials, and by increasing their trip length.
Recent events indicate that the goals are being broadened.
They are starting to consider the larger transportation picture and expand their mandate. This is maximizing people capacity, not just automobile capacity. The sidewalks were completed in 1997. Considering time efficiency for bicyclists, instead of only for car users, is a major turn-around. The prohibition signs stipulated a two mile detour on slower arterials.