You are talking about a small segment of Telegraph, of course. And, about that segment, you are only partly correct.

You are correct that that part of Telegraph can be a pretty tricky ride. I would not recommend it to a rider who lacked confidence and alertness.

You are completely incorrect that “a bicyclist must somehow ride in between the two lanes going one way”.

On the contrary, in that section of Telegraph, the wise cyclist simply (and legally) *takes a lane*. That is, one rides down the center of a lane, clearly blocking cars from passing them in that lane. This is proper, legal, and probably the safest way to handle that part of the road.

In my experience of that segment of road, that’s more or less the only safe-ish way to handle it. The main two dangers that then arise are from the large amount of double-parking that occurs on Telegraph, and the occasional driver who decides to respond to this circumstance by deliberately menacing you with their car. Banning cyclists from that part of Telegraph would be a peculiar cure for those illegal activities by non-cyclists.

(Cyclists riding the wrong way there, as you mention some do, get no sympathy from me.)

Due to heavy pedestrian usage of the Bancroft Telegraph Ave. pedestrian walkway all day by students (walkway from Sather Gate in front of campus to the Telegraph Ave. entrance) this area is the most consistently congested traffic and pedestrian area of Telegraph Ave. The BRT should not add to the congestion due to the fact that a left turn here is dangerous to pedestrian and auto traffic since buses are long and turning is difficult in this cramped area.

The BRT is a good idea; but, only if BRT doesn’t use Telegraph Ave. There are severe problems for all merchants, as well as the 125 street vendors if the BRT’s current plan to change Telegraph Ave. into two-way street with one lane exclusively for buses and loading and and the other lane for automobile traffic.

Here are more problems to consider: Garbage pickup is at the most congested time of day early evening. Are the buses going to have to wait for the garbage truck, UPS and FedEx trucks and various food and other service trucks along the avenue; not to mention, stores such as Rasputin Records, Amoeba Record, Mars Mercantile — depend on customers who unload directly in front of their stores. These shops will lose business and this loss will impact Telegraph Avenue overall. Also the street vendors need to load and unload all along the 4 block Telegraph Ave corridor twice a day. I doubt that anyone can load or unload a vehicle in 3 minutes — in time to avoid blocking bus traffic in the bus and loading lane.

Also bicyclists should be aware that Telegraph Ave is too narrow to put a bike lane in. Consider Car exhaust and bus exhaust alone. How could bicyclists ride directly next to a bus lane or a very slow moving single lane for autos? The pollution would be terrible because a single lane of auto traffic would slow traffic to a standstill at every stoplight. Fumes would be affecting bicyclists, pedestrians, street vendors and stores. Will the buses really be able to keep their schedule under these conditions; and, one other very important reason not to have BRT on Telegraph Ave is the fact that the buses, every 5 minutes, will throw up a tremendous amount of dirt into the air. This is an absolute fact that would have significant impact on anyone on the sidewalks, including cafe shops open to the sidewalks. BRT on Telegraph is already a problem for pedestrians,bicyclists, service trucks merchants and street vendors.

Bicycles should not be allowed in traffic on Telegraph Ave. It is highly dangerous to ride a bicycle on Telegraph Ave. During peak hours a bicyclist must somehow ride in between the two lanes going one-way. Creating a bike lane would also add to the already existing problem of no more space and would force Telegraph Ave to create a second bike lane going the opposite direction if Telegraph Ave. was a two-way Street. Bicyclists should walk their bikes on the sidewalk on Telegraph Ave and use the existing bike lane on Channing Way; cross Telegraph Ave and turn left at the next corner and continue to Bancroft if the University is their destination; or if they must be on Telegraph Ave; walk their bikes on the sidewalk.

Consider also that Telegraph Ave is a one way street and bicyclists can only move in the same direction as autos. Many bicyclists ride the wrong way on Telegraph, which is illegal and dangerous to themselves and a hazard to vehicles.

Consider, also, the environmental impact a change would have on the historically significant ambiance of Telegraph Ave. The history of street vending and small businesses in a unique setting would be, forever, lost. We would not be able to restore this unique atmosphere after the damage is done. If the City of Berkeley would make permits to operate businesses easier to get there would be more business on Telegraph Ave.

If we want Telegraph to be a better place we should concentrate on keeping Telegraph Ave a person- friendly place to shop and a clean safe environment for all who work and shop there. Consider, also Emergency Vehicles and Police Vehicles. How are they going to park and where are they going to park if the BRT plan is instigated? Can an emergency vehicle squeeze into a single lane of creeping autos and what about the stoplight? How is a police or other emergency vehicle (ambulance) going to park; either in the bus lane or in the auto lane and, if it is a two-way, street, then, imagine the confusion in case of emergency. Will the buses come to a standstill while this is happening and miss their deadlines; thus obstructing other buses from meeting their deadlines?

Instead of going Southbound between Haste and Telegraph an alternate route should be implemented for the Bay Area Rapid Transit system. They cannot widen Telegraph Ave. in order to actuate their plan without narrowing the sidewalks to the point of congestion and danger to pedestrians and to the detriment of shops . I propose a left turn on Haste Ave. and a right turn on Dana and then left on Bancroft. Bus stops could be created on Haste St. at that corner and on the Dana St. corner. There is already a bus stop on Bancroft . An alternate route should be proposed.