Profiles from the RSR Bridge path Who rides on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, anyway?
Learn more about what’s happening with the RSR Bridge Path
We’ve all been there, eyes glazing over as you stare into an endless line of brake lights, frustrated by the brutal commute. The notorious Bay Area traffic is one reason many people look for alternative forms of transportation, such as biking, walking, and public transit. The Richmond-San Rafael Bridge is certainly no exception to congestion, and how to manage the users of the bridge and the flow of traffic has been under growing scrutiny. Facing a looming climate crisis, air pollution, and soul-crushing traffic jams, do we really want to deepen our dependency on cars as a primary (or only) form of transportation?
Enter the multi-use pathway, a protected bike and pedestrian path constructed on the shoulder of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge that opened in fall of 2019. This pathway serves as a vital connection between Marin County and the East Bay for many people who travel outside of a vehicle. These are the stories of a few people who reached out to us about how they use the bridge path.
Claire M.
The Richmond-San Rafael bridge is the route that opened up the world of cycling to me after moving to the Bay Area. My life has completely changed since then, due to huge improvements to my mental health community, belonging, and exercise. However, I’d rather mention that I use the bridge to commute to my volunteer work at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, where I teach and tutor in math. This activity has brought irreplaceable nuance and meaning to my life, and I see my bike commute over the bridge as part and parcel of that job, giving me time to mentally reflect and consider how to best help the people I’ll be working with.
R.A.
I very much value the possibility to bike one way to or from work about once a week. This gives me an opportunity for more biking which is important at 67 years of age.
Pat L.
I do road cycling and a double bridge ride to SF is my favorite ride in the world. The access is incomparable. I have investigated ways to lead tours on this route (I would do it if sponsored or supported, as a Bike East Bay LCI) as well as spoken to Sausalito officials to support a campaign for a bike lane on the bridgeway. It’s helping me to practice for my biggest challenge yet, the Grizzly Peak Cyclists century ride and so far I have done several centuries across the Richmond bridge. It lets me fully circle the bay in a day using the Dumbarton bridge. I have also been a public speaker in an online commission meeting about plans for the Richmond bridge to support keeping the path.
Aiden K.
I volunteer at San Quentin state prison on Wednesday evenings. I teach college math there and use the bridge for my bicycle commute. I have pledged to myself that I will never own a car until we can control the climate emergency, so closing the bridge to non-car traffic would directly impact my ability to continue doing this. At a time when reducing emissions now is vital, the recommendation of MTC to prioritize MORE cars and not FEWER is mind-boggling.
What happens Next
On Thursday, May 2nd at 1 PM, the Bay Conservation and Development Commission will hear MTC’s proposal to limit the RSR Bridge path to weekends and Fridays only, effectively eliminating it as a commute option.
To express your support for the path remaining open 24/7, click here to send an email to the BCDC board. If you have a little more time, you can join on Zoom or in person at the meeting. The meeting starts at 1 PM, but the RSR Bridge is Item 8, meaning it will likely be considered after 1:30 PM.
Zoom link:
https://bcdc-ca-gov.zoom.us/j/89261651141?pwd=Yolo_X3i5Bj1zilCAN8pY22-povhGQ.U61iG35S8nb899rG
In-person details:
Bay Area Metro Center
375 Beale St., Board Room
San Francisco, CA 94105
Next, make sure you’re signed up for the MCBC Google Group for alerts on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. You can do that by clicking here.
If you want to be featured in a future edition of Riders of the RSR Bridge, please take a moment to fill out the survey linked here, particularly if you commute over the bridge by bicycle or have taken a job that you would not have had the pathway not been there.
Support RSR Bridge
You can support our work to keep the RSR Bridge open for bicyclists and pedestrians by donating to marinbike.org/give.
Sign up for advocacy alerts
Please sign up for advocacy alerts using the form below and we’ll tell you when/how to support our efforts.
members make it happen
Supporters like you, who speak out for safer places to bike and give to MCBC, make projects like these possible. Thank you! Want to support this work? Give here. We’re working hard to ensure that there is always a full pipeline of projects in development so we can keep making Marin more bikeable every year.
