Your Action for April Get to Know Your Local BPAC
Enthusiastic members have played a huge part in MCBC successes improving Marin’s cycling infrastructure over the last 20 years. As with pace-lining into a headwind or clearing a technical segment of trail, small focused efforts add up to positive results. Large projects such as re-opening tunnels and bridging gaps come about through steady pressure from members and supporters.
We are often asked “what can I do?” to make things better and safer for bike riders in Marin. To help answer that, we’ve compiled a set of simple tasks which can easily be achieved within a busy schedule. Each month, we’ll focus on one of these and ask for your help. It’s an easy way to keep things rolling forward. Let’s start local!
Your Cycling Action for April –
Get involved with your Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committees (BPACs) deal with the details of more local issues on an ongoing basis. They are one of the best resources to identify issues unique to your local riding “microregion.” MCBC coordinates with these groups and strives to be as involved as possible in local bicycle and pedestrian advocacy efforts, but local knowledge and rider experiences are key in identifying issues.
Whether you would like to slow traffic on your street, point out a bicycle safety issue, or get a new crosswalk installed, BPACs are a great place to start!
What They Do
Charter specifics vary slightly from city to city, but BPACs generally guide the bike/ped planning process and look for opportunities to fold improvements into development and/or street projects.
All BPAC meetings are open to the public and take public comments, giving you an opportunity to bring non-agendized issues to the table.
Who They Are
BPACs are composed of volunteer community members who are appointed by their Council. They are headed by a staff liasion–typically the city or town’s Public Works Director or Transportation Engineer – and joined by a Council liaison.
Three Ways to Get Involved
- Apply to serve on your local BPAC. Check the links below to see if your local BPAC has spots available currently, or when they will be looking to fill them.
- Subscribe to your local agenda notifications. Most cities/towns maintain interest lists for specific committees and will send you alerts when agendas are published, allowing you to stay on top of current bike/ped matters in your community.
- Speak during open time or send an email to your BPAC. If you don’t have time to serve on a committee, let your BPAC know what is important to you! Attend a meeting to voice your concerns through public comment or by sending an email.
Information for Specific BPAC’s in Marin
Follow the links below for information on meeting locations and times, contact information for committee members and city staff, and ways to stay informed about local bicycle and pedestrian improvements.
Corte Madera – Third Thursdays every other month at 6:00 PM
Mill Valley – First or second Mondays monthly at 6:30 PM
Novato – Second Wednesdays every other month at 7:00 PM
San Anselmo – Meetings scheduled as needed
San Rafael – First Wednesdays every other month at 6:00 PM
Sausalito – Third Monday monthly at 6:30 PM
Tiburon (Parks, Open Space, & Trails Commission) – Third Tuesday every other month at 6:00 PM
MCBC’s “Get Involved” series connects MCBC members and supporters with our work and the cities, towns, land managers, and other agencies with whom we work. Each month, we’ll highlight a new way for you to become an agent of bicycling change!
You can also get on the MCBC Volunteer Roster by letting us know your info below –
