Campbell: Repeal the prohibition of bicycles and pedestrians!

Akos Szoboszlay, President, Modern Transit Society

Some History of San Tomas in Campbell

Originally, southern San Tomas (over the river and southward) was Camden Avenue and contained an electric streetcar line from San Jose to Los Gatos via downtown Campbell. This line was destroyed by highway engineers in 1932 to widen San Jose - Los Gatos Road, now called Bascom Avenue.

In 1982, County highway engineers changed the shoulders into traffic lanes on San Tomas on the bridge over Los Gatos Creek, despite the fact bicyclists and pedestrians were always allowed there, including on the on-ramp from Winchester over the train tracks. I bicycled that way about once a month. In fact, this portion of San Tomas is more used by pedestrians than any other "expressway" portion in the County, since people need to cross under Freeway 17 and over the river.

I fought for 17 years for restoration of the bicycles/pedestrians facilities, and this occurred in 2000, by restoring the shoulder and by placing sidewalks. See one example of many letters that I wrote (and includes drawings):

After they changed the shoulders into traffic lanes in 1982, I pointed out to the County highway engineers that forcing peds to use the traffic lanes, especially with all that merging for the freeway entrances, was unsafe. Instead of restoring the shoulder as I stated, they blocked off the entrance by a chainlink fence. [Note: this entrance is now lost after the land was sold to a private developer who fenced it off.] This was formerly named Camden Avenue and always allowed bicycles and pedestrians. The walkers kept using the bridge and underpass under Hwy. 17 as there was no alternative.

I lead the effort to repeal the bicycle and pedestrian prohibition in 1991, but the ordinance still (illegally) bans bicycles and pedestrians south of Winchester. I could not get the pedestrian prohibition repealed at all due to opposition from City staff. The 1991 letter from Modern Transit Society, asking the Campbell City Council to repeal, is still accurate and has great info. See it as a web page or download the .doc file.

Campbell Ordinances

There are two ordinances, copied below. Both 10.20.030 (b) and 10.16.050 (entirely) need repeal. It would be obvious after reading that they contradict each other, and eliminating the former makes the later moot. Also see the notes regarding the ordinances, below.

10.20.030 Standing in roadways--Control of pedestrians on expressways and freeways.

(a) No person shall stand in any roadway if such action interferes with the lawful movement of traffic. This section shall not apply to any public official or employee, or employee of a public utility when necessary upon a street in line of duty.
(b) No person, other than peace officers acting in the performance of their duties, shall walk upon, or operate a bicycle or motor-driven cycle upon any county expressways and state freeways situated within the city limits; and no person shall drive any livestock thereon. (Prior code §3234).

10.16.050 Permitting bicycle access to portions of the San Tomas Expressway.

(a) In order to promote the public welfare, it is determined upon the basis of an engineering and safety study that bicycle access shall be permitted on the San Tomas Expressway northbound from the northbound on-ramp from Winchester Boulevard to the north city limits, and southbound on the San Tomas Expressway from the north city limits to the southbound off-ramp to Winchester Boulevard. Bicycle access shall also be permitted on the subject ramps between Winchester Boulevard and the San Tomas Expressway.
(b) Excepting the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, it is determined that no person shall drive any bicycle, or any vehicle which is not drawn by a motor vehicle upon any street established as a freeway, as defined by Section 604.5 of the Vehicle Code, nor shall any pedestrian walk across or along any such street so designated and described except in space set aside for the use of pedestrians; provided official signs are in place giving notice of such restrictions. (Ord. 1837 §1, 1991: prior code §3225).

Notes regarding the Campbell ordinances

Notice that the ordinance prohibits bicycles/pedestrians south of Winchester. The fact is, bicycles/pedestrians have always been allowed south of Winchester under State law because right of access was not acquired, due to the Los Gatos Creek park entrance, and the fact there never was a public hearing to close the road (formerly named Camden Ave.) to bicycles/pedestrians.

Here are possible arguments and counter arguments for not eliminating 10.20.0203 (b):

  • Keep "state freeways": Freeways are not in City jurisdiction, but Caltrans jurisdiction.
  • Keep "drive any livestock": Cities usually have a general ordinance banning animals from streets. It would not make sense to have an ordinance only banning livestock from San Tomas, but not from other streets.
  • No sidewalks: County policy adopted on August 19, 2003 and approved by the City of Campbell on May 6, 2003, states:
    "[wide] shoulder or path facilities can serve ... for occasional pedestrian use." [Source: County Expressway Plan, page 93]
  • Two locations don’t meet the “wide shoulder” and have alternatives described here:
    On the east side of the road for about 100 feet, trim back the shrubbery to create a path, similar to the County photo here (then scroll down). On the west side, an alternative route is shown on the detailed pedestrian-expressway map (available). Use guide signs, not prohibitory signs. See examples of guide signs.


    Links:

    1991 repeal request as web page or download the .doc file

    San Tomas Expressway page

    Links to related "expressway" information

    Compare with Montague Expressway: Walkers have always been allowed, but are subject to appalling conditions.

    See why the prohibitory signs themselves increase danger to bicycles and pedestrians and how the VTA BPAC voted.

    Recent study that shows that greatly increased collisions result when motorists don't expect walkers, bicyclists.

    Analyses of Pedestrians along Expressways

    Expressway topics, links page.

    For historical information on the fight against bicycle use of shoulders / bike lanes of expressways (until 1991) and against electric trains and streetcars in the Bay Area, click Conflict of Transportation Competitors .