Robert Prinz
prinzrob.bsky.social
Robert Prinz
@prinzrob.bsky.social
1.7K followers 320 following 8.8K posts
Advocacy Director at BikeEastBay. See me for bicycle culture & transportation infrastructure news on the sunny side of the Bay. My posts are my own.
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I will always like your sunset photos. Always.
Reposted by Robert Prinz
@walnutcreekgov.bsky.social is hosting a meeting this Weds to get your input on an Iron Horse Trail xing proposal at Broadway/Newell, & a protected bikeway proposal on Newell Ave.

Attend in person 6PM at City Hall and/or complete the survey at the link below:
www.walnutcreekca.gov/government/d...
Both the Oakland Rockridge & Emeryville TJs have upgraded their bike parking. I guess it’s time to turn the attention to Berkeley next…
This on-street Bay Trail gap closure project between Rodeo and Crockett is expected to start construction in 2027, but was held up for several years due to federal environmental requirements, to study the impact of a cycletrack through an oil refinery area. 🤦‍♂️

www.contracosta.ca.gov/261/Advertis...
Advertised & Upcoming Public Works Projects | Contra Costa County, CA Official Website
www.contracosta.ca.gov
The name change didn’t happen until 1994 & only more recently did the organization officially acknowledge its very problematic history.
I do take issue w the author’s statement that “League of American Wheelmen” was a better name than the current “League of American Bicyclists”. The former was started as an overtly sexist & whites-only organization.
This long-form breakdown from Not Just Bikes on John Forester & the disastrous impact of “vehicular cycling” in US bikeway design priorities since the 1970s is a worthwhile watch.

youtu.be/pRPduRHBhHI?...
This is Why Cycling is Dangerous in America
YouTube video by Not Just Bikes
youtu.be
Indeed. Any reference to vehicular cycling should include an acknowledgement that it is only a coping mechanism for badly designed streets, and not at all a preferred alternative, nor an accessible or acceptable option for the vast majority of people.
It’s not mentioned in the interview but staff have told me that in the Bay Area seismic activity is also a real factor in pavement deterioration & asphalt crack formation, as is development built on landfill or a sandy sub base.
The difference in pavement quality for the bike lanes vs car travel lanes on Lakeshore Ave in Oakland is a pretty clear visual representation of how much less damage bikes do to our roadways.
Yeah, conversion kits are really underrated! I wish those were eligible for ebike rebate programs.
Buying from a local bike shop instead of online is usually a good idea. They typically won’t sell bikes they can’t service. They can also offer test rides & answer questions about compatible parts & accessories.
As a rule of thumb, established bike brands are usually better about the proprietary stuff, compared to ebike-only brands, or non-bike companies trying to “innovate” in the ebike sector.
Too many ebike manufacturers got greedy locking customers into their own accessories & batteries, to the detriment of the utility & longevity of the bike. They also didn’t appreciate that local bike shops are a benefit to their business model, not a competitor. All of this was very foreseeable.
Hopefully there are enough Rad bikes on the road that someone will step up to try to provide aftermarket parts & service. But it’s not going to be easy.
This is why I tell people to avoid e-bike brands using many proprietary parts & tech. If the company closes it becomes very hard to get replacement parts & maintenance. There’s a reason why most human-power bike brands have been using mostly universal parts & accessories for many decades.
Another upside is that removing a lot of the cut through traffic that currently loops through Chinatown on the way to the tubes will open up opportunities for more bus lanes & protected bikeways. This includes 7th Street.
OAAP is at least a significantly better project than originally proposed, due to input from community groups & advocacy orgs. We helped squeeze about as much as was possible out of the designs, so I’m basically resigned now to enjoy what we’re getting.
IME the seminar coach makes a big difference in the value of the training. Bike East Bay works w some of them but not others. Anyone can message me privately for my input, if they’re thinking about attending a training w a specific coach.
Reposted by Robert Prinz
The City of Emeryville is gathering feedback from tenants, property owners, and property managers about evictions and tenant protections.

Take our short survey by December 8, 2025, and help us improve housing policies in our community.

Survey Link: www.surveymonkey.com/r/EMYTP
The number of hoops LAB requires instructor candidates to go through means the program self-selects for certain kinds of people. That’s a big reason why I set up a fully-funded program at Bike East Bay where we actively recruit from community partners w more diverse experiences & identities.
I’m aware of the San Ramon test. I’m not very concerned wrt robots in the bike lane, but very frustrated that San Ramon is participating in this, but hasn’t yet implemented any of the dozen protected bikeway recommendations from its 2018 bike plan. The priorities are so messed up.
The state should not enable companies whose goal is to hire fewer people. If the business model doesn’t serve the interests of the workers, then it doesn’t serve the interests of the state.
This should have happened 20 years ago, but it’s never too late to update our labor laws to insist that if a company can’t afford to hire humans & pay them a living wage w benefits, then they don’t have a viable nor legal business model.
Food delivery robots do not organize unions. They don’t ask for tips, healthcare, maternity leave, sick time, or other bothersome encumbrances like humans.

It was depressing that so many accepted & utilized the BS “gig economy” w/o question. This next iteration was obvious & inevitable.