Bike Lanes under threat after decades of planning A Transformative Opportunity for Tiburon Boulevard in Jeopardy
Tiburon Boulevard may soon feature the longest separated bikeway on any state highway in California—a milestone for safety, access, and regional connectivity.
This opportunity builds on a vision first laid out over 50 years ago. The mile and a half stretch between US-101 and Blackie’s Pasture has long been recognized as a critical gap in Marin’s bikeway network. Numerous plans, including the 1974 Marin County Bike Plan, the 2012 Tiburon Boulevard Bay Trail Plan, the 2016 Tiburon Bike-Pedestrian Master Plan, and the 2018 Caltrans Bay Area Bike Plan, have recommended addressing this gap. These proposals reflect not only sound planning but also community priorities that have endured across generations.
Thanks to these long-standing recommendations, Caltrans committed as early as 2020 to incorporating bikeway improvements into a broader maintenance project along Tiburon Boulevard, funded through the State Highway Operations and Protection Program (SHOPP). What’s exciting is that—unlike traditional SHOPP efforts which focus solely on resurfacing—this project includes two significant enhancements.
What’s being proposed
Class IV Bikeway: US-101 to Blackie’s Pasture
Following Mill Valley’s lead on E. Blithedale Avenue, Caltrans plans to install a Class IV bikeway—a separated bike lane marked by flexible posts—along Tiburon Boulevard. This approach preserves motor vehicle lanes while creating a safer, more inviting space for people biking. While not a perfect solution, it offers tangible safety improvements and a clearer separation between people biking and driving.
Class I Multiuse Path: E. Strawberry Drive to Greenwood Cove Drive
A short segment of multi-use path will close a persistent sidewalk gap that currently forces people to walk or ride on the shoulder. This gap has posed significant challenges to accessibility for decades, particularly for students and their families. With this project, we have the chance to finally close it.
Acknowledging Community Concerns
Community dialogue is vital, and questions have been raised regarding the project. Below are key points of clarification:
Route Redundancy
Some have questioned whether a new bikeway is necessary, given that riders already use nearby residential streets. However, bike networks thrive on choice and connectivity. Just as we build multiple roads to serve different needs, we provide diverse bike facilities to serve different users, from commuters to families.
Safety Design
Indeed, the design stops short of full concrete separation. Yet, the flexible delineators represent a meaningful upgrade. A 2023 Federal Highway Administration study showed a 53% reduction in crashes when traditional lanes are converted to separated ones. This project embraces the principle of continual safety improvement.
Fiscal Impact
Concerns about cost deserve careful consideration. Fortunately, the bikeway represents a small fraction of the overall budget, less than 2% at the high end, and likely closer to 0.2%. Moreover, if the project’s bike improvements were canceled, the funding would not automatically be redirected to other local needs—it would simply return to the state, potentially benefiting other regions instead of ours.
Traffic and Emergency Access
The project maintains all current vehicle lanes. Shoulders will remain accessible via flexible posts, which can be driven over in emergencies. This ensures continued access for emergency responders and allows broken-down vehicles to be safely cleared from the roadway.
Bus Access
One concern raised is about the bus stop functionality with the new bikeway configuration. While outreach to Marin Transit could have been stronger, workable designs already exist throughout Marin where buses and bike lanes share space effectively. Transition zones and clear signage will help ensure smooth operations for both buses and people biking.
A Critical Juncture
Caltrans has reaffirmed its intent to move forward with the bikeway. However, calls for delay have emerged, including from Assemblymember Damon Connolly, who has asked for a pause in response to community feedback (you can read his letter here). We believe thoughtful dialogue is essential—and that moving forward with this project, while continuing to refine and improve it, represents the best path.
How You Can Help
A special Tiburon Town Council meeting will take place on Wednesday, June 4, at 5 PM to discuss the project. Whether you attend in person or via Zoom, your voice can help reinforce how vital safe, accessible, and connected bike infrastructure is for our community. Details for the meeting can be found here.
Following the meeting, we encourage you to share your support with the councils of Tiburon and Belvedere, Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters (a consistent advocate for the project), and Assemblymember Damon Connolly.
This project represents a rare and timely opportunity to realize a vision that has been half a century in the making. Your support can help make it a reality.
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