Coleman Avenue bike lane protection
At a glance
Based on auto-generated captions; names and details may be misheard.
- What: a request by Councilmember Schmidt, backed by a residents' "paint isn't protection" presentation, to put flexible posts (bollards) in the Coleman Avenue bike lane, with a 12-month pilot proposed.
- Where it stands: on 10/13/2026 the council did not agendize it. Agendizing needs three councilmembers; Combs supported Schmidt, and the other three preferred to stay with the package approved on September 15 (speed cushions, Santa Monica Avenue parking and Willow Road intersection work, with bollards under study). No motion or vote.
- Next: staff said a bollards-only report could return around the second December meeting if separated from the other work, versus early 2027 as part of the package. The speed cushion replacement with asphalt does not rule out bollards later.
Main points
- Speakers, including Bergen Bailey speaking as a parent, cited cars parking or drifting in the bike lane, measured speeds of 27 to 29 mph and national guidance for physical separation above 25 mph.
- Concerns against: staff capacity to maintain posts and sweep, delays to approved work, and not adding agenda items this year.
Official minutes (September 15, 2026)
- The council adopted a resolution making the Coleman Avenue Pilot permanent (Staff Report 26-151-CC), 4-0-1, Taylor absent; presented by Associate Transportation Planner Cortez.
- Supporters of protected bike lanes included Cole, Rascoff and Silverstein; Rascoff also asked that speed cushions be removed from the bike lanes. Mertz and others said the changes worsened Santa Monica Avenue problems and asked for a timed bike lane; Loftus asked for parking and traffic enforcement and street sweeping research.
- Council received clarification on speed cushions in the bike lane, curbs, the County side project timeline and challenges with bollards, and discussed Santa Monica Avenue parking, bollards on Encinal Avenue and a southbound bike lane.
- This is the approved package referred to in the October 13 discussion below.
Sources
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City Council special and regular meeting minutes, September 15, 2026: https://menlopark.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/agendas-and-minutes/city-council/2026-meetings/minutes/20260915-city-council-special-and-regular-minutes-approved.pdf
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2026-10-13 - City Council (recording, 10/13/2026)
Discussion time
About 37 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-13 - City Council | 37 |
Log
2026-10-13 - City Council
Council-initiated request discussed; three public speakers in favor; not agendized for lack of three supporters; staff outlined timing options.
2026-09-15 - City Council
Item J2. About 16 speakers, nearly all for a permanent pilot with bollard-protected bike lanes; others raised Santa Monica Avenue parking and safety. Schmidt/Nash resolution making the Coleman Avenue Pilot permanent passed 4-0-1 (Taylor absent). Staff were directed to research street sweepers for streets with bollards and to add to the Santa Monica Avenue parking effort potential bollards for bike lane awareness and southbound improvements at Coleman Avenue and Willow Road.