Let’s Bike Oakland Introduces a New Model for Equity-Focused Planning
Tags: Biking, Civic Engagement, Equity, Community Engagement, Oakland

By: Jeff Knowles, Senior Planning Associate, Alta Planning + Design

Credit: Oakland Department of Transportation

The draft update to Oakland, CA’s bicycle plan was released for public review and comment this month. The plan, called “Let’s Bike Oakland,” is part of a larger effort by the City of Oakland’s Department of Transportation (OakDOT) to practice equity-focused transportation planning.

Alta Planning + Design was selected to lead a diverse team of subject matter experts and community-based organizations as part of this community-driven project.

We caught up with project manager, Jeff Knowles, to learn more.

Q: What was Oakland’s goal in updating this bike master plan?

Jeff Knowles: OakDOT wanted an updated bicycle plan that accurately reflected and addressed the needs of its most vulnerable residents. This meant the planning process and plan outcomes would need to be truly equity-driven. While currently in draft, Let’s Bike Oakland attempts to achieve that goal.

Credit: Oakland Department of Transportation

Q: What was the approach to the plan? - A representative survey to learn about Oaklanders’ experience biking - An Equity Framework to guide plan analysis, plan recommendations, and engagement - New engagement strategies including partnering with community-based organization to reach underrepresented Oaklanders, host community workshops, and help guide the plan recommendations - New outreach strategies including the use of a digital engagement tools and in-person mobile workshops to meet people where they’re at, across the city

Q: What were some of the obstacles and opportunities?

Jeff Knowles: A long history of distrust and disinvestment combined with rapidly increasing housing costs, fear of displacement, and cultural erasure through gentrification meant that residents living in Oakland’s disadvantaged neighborhoods were skeptical of new infrastructure investments in their community. The question “who is this plan for?” was a concern that framed nearly every engagement event.

OakDOT could have conducted more traditional public engagement, but instead decided to engage more authentically with specific communities and share its decision-making power with residents. To set the tenor of the project, staff and consultants were invited to attend an anti-racism training led by Oakland’s Department of Race and Equity. The project team then worked to develop an equity framework to guide the project that focused on accessibility, health and safety, affordability, and transparency. The framework developed metrics to answer questions such as:

Who are the City’s most vulnerable groups?

Does the plan address barriers so that vulnerable populations can take part in or enjoy the improvements?

Does the plan help support and not impede public transit service?

Does the plan increase access to jobs, education, health care, and other destinations?

Does the plan help reduce the burden of household transportation costs?

Will the plan help address discrimination or racially-biased policing?

Do vulnerable people have confidence that government will build what they ask for?

Q: Who were the key partners in making this vision a reality?

Jeff Knowles: The City hired five community-based organizations to host and facilitate several rounds of community conversations. OakDOT staff and consultants were tasked with developing materials, sharing information, and above all, listening.

Community Partners

Consultant Partners