City to proceed with 45 acre 'Mega-Mall' on Almaden Expressway

The City of San Jose is getting closer to forging ahead with a planned mega-mall regional shopping center in an area already clogged with big-box retail and heavy auto traffic congestion. In last night's council meeting, city leaders debated whether to rezone the 45 acres exclusively for commercial use.

This comes after a struggling downtown commerical district has decided to relax the rules, and the development of other Mega-mall developments such as San Jose Marketplace, the Plant, @First, Santana Row, and now the Almaden Ranch Retail Center. With existing traffic conditions, large volume of strip and mall retail, and the proposed expansion of what is had been limited access expressway, traffic congestion will be expected to increase as traffic safety decreases. Unlike any other expressway (except for maybe Capitol Expressway) Almaden falls somewhere between a road and a street but possessing the benefits of either. For a great talk on the inefficiencies and costs of building roads that have the characteristics of streets check out Chuck Mahron's talk at a recent TEDx event.



photo: torontoist.com



The amount of existing and proposed retail is evident in the map below with a Walmart also due to come online. Retail acerage is shown in green. Just prior to the announcement to build Almaden Ranch, Santa Clara County had announced is is currently expanding the Almaden Expressway shown in red from six lanes to eight lanes with the addition of bike lanes and pedestrian improvements.

Now cyclists, imagine riding alone an eight lane expressway with traffic zipping by you at 45 - 50 mph. In fact this portion of the roadway will have more capacity than State Freeway 87 which in this area only has six lanes. So cyclists would you ride on Almaden Expressway to do you shopping at one of the many Mega-Malls?


View Traditional Business Districts vs. Big Box in a larger map

50 MPH Speed Limit + Bike Lanes? No, Not in San Jose.

In an article in this morning's San Jose Mercury News "Look for slowdowns on Almaden Expressway -- and then higher speeds" Gary Richards describes the gridlock that we can expect in south San Jose over the next few months. This is becoming a familiar pattern in the Santa Clara Valley. Similar to the build it, pave it, build it, dance going on at Valley Fair/Santana Row, developers are poised to build additional strip retail malls once the roads are widened (this is in addition to the existing retail boxes such as Costco, Best Buy, Whole Foods and Safeway).

The plans call for additional lanes on each side of Almaden Expressway, making this roadway an eight lane expressway with 50 MPH speed limits. Additionally, a three lane left turn area is planned. Yes you heard it right; a left turn pocket with three lanes. I have only seen this in one other location; in Dublin, CA.
View Larger Map
The increased speed limit and additional traffic volume will seriously degrade cycling safety along this corridor (whether or not you paint bike lanes on the roadway) which already gets low marks for bicycle friendliness.

Some of this traffic will spill onto Lincoln Ave. in Willow Glen which already resembles a parking lot more than a quaint business district during the morning rush hour.

When VTA announced plans for a new "express" light rail from the Almaden Valley to downtown San Jose the hope was to encourage more people to ride the underused train system. But just two months later the County announced that they plan to widen the expressway. At times you just wonder, "What were they thinking?" If the stated goal is to reduce VMT (Vehicle Miles Travelled) as the city so passionately documents in their new general plan this will not help.

What do you think?

Photo: Richard Masoner @ Cyclelicious

Location:N 1st St,San Jose,United States

San Jose to relax downtowns street level retail rules

This week's city council meeting was chalk full of land use issues. Besides the debate on the proposed Almaden Ranch Retail Center, the council unanimously agreed to amend the municipal code allow non-retail uses to occupy street level commercial spaces.

In other words if the space that was previously a market, restaurant, or phone store has been vacant the first of the year, other commercial retail uses will be allowed to occupy the space such as banks, law offices, or real estate offices.

New York has mandated that retail business occupy street level retail since 1975 and accounts for some of the city's amazing vitality at almost all hours of the day or night. (New York City Mandates Street Retail).

Traditionally cities want street level retail to create activity and vibrancy at the street level. To quote, or more likely paraphrase an over-quoted Jane Jacobs, all that street level activity puts more" eyes on the street".

Although this will help to alleviate some possible blight in a downtown that already has too many walls, fences, moats, and asphalt, it is just the other side of the coin given overbuilt auto-oriented retail in new spaces like, the Plant, San Jose Market Place, @First, Santana Row, and now the Almaden Ranch Retail Center. By creating large amounts of big box retail with free parking, it will always be more convenient to shop in these mega-malls than shopping downtown. Even residents living downtown will find it easier to drive to the Plant with all of it capacity, than to shop Walgreens and the Ross store downtown.

Giant Creative hosts evening get together for San Jose's 'Creative Entreprenuerial Leaders

photo: clibou

Monday I was fortunate enough to attend a little soiree at the Fairmont Hotel hosted by Giant Creative Services in San Jose. Attending were a diverse group of folks from the arts, entertainment, restaurant and events crowd along with marketers and promoters. City council member Sam Liccardo was present along with Kim Walesh of the Office of Economic Development.

With such a diverse group of dynamic individuals, it was exciting to meet the founders of a new pub, a beer blogger, a representative from NextSpace, the Metro, San Jose Jazz and others. Most, if not all the participants do their thing downtown, which has seen the arts, entertainment, and restaurant scene grow in the last few years.

Later on Sam Liccardo got up on a small stage to thank everyone and give some remarks. Half way into his talk he makes what I call the Fredo remark. Fredo is the character from the Godfather series of movies played by John Cazale. In the movie Fredo complains to Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) that even though he is the elder of the two he was passed over to be the godfather. In a line from the movie he claims in a shout "I can handle things, I'm smart." This is a often heard refrain in San Jose that even though San Jose is larger and more populous that, it should have the title "Godfather"; the godfather of culture, of entertainment, of a vibrant downtown.

Yes, strides are being made but instead of always comparing San Jose to the "younger, smaller" city to the north it's about time that it find its own way, do what works for this area, create its own vibe. In other words stand on its own two feet. Yes there is a growing movement of residents that are creating an original scene downtown, a unique vibe, but many times they have to fight city hall and especially the planning department to rise above the ubiquitous shopping malls and chain restaurants.

It's tough trying to start a new restaurant, pub, or event downtown when the city is ringed with Panda's, Panera's, and Wing Stop's. The flood of ubiquitous chains just doesn't seem to stop. With the recent announcement of another mega-mall, with mega-box retailers, and the obligatory fry pits, the city's planning department (along with other reasons I'll discuss in other posts) makes it just that much more difficult to create a vibrant space downtown.

San Jose City Council Approves Mega-Retail Center in Almaden Area - SJ Mercury News

Upcoming Bicycling Events in the Silicon Valley

Upcoming Events in the Silicon Valley

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

San Jose Bike Party -Sharks Ride
Friday, April 20, 2012 8:00PM

Route will be posted on Thursday, the day before the ride at
http://www.sjbikeparty.org/

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And the Shark Ride Pre-Rides

Test/Fun Ride #1 - "SLOW RIDE"
Sunday March 25, 10:00 am to 1:30 pm
Ride start will be somewhere near the Berryesa Flea Market
Whether you're a Sharks fan or not... Join us for our monthly SLOW test ride. Fun in the sun at a laid back pace.Everyone will be going at a 10-12 mph or so pace. No one will be dropped. Perfect if you like bike party's pace but prefer less people!

It's also perfect if you'd like to find out who we are, how we do test rides and how much fun they are! EVERYONE IS WELCOME!!!

The Sharks Test/Fun Ride #2
Thursday, March 29, 7:00 pm
Location: TBD

The Sharks Test/Fun Ride #3
Thursday, April 5th, 7:00 pm
Location: TBD

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Sunday Monthly Bicycle Ride

San Jose, Saratoga, Campbell
March 18, 2012

3:00 - 7:00 PM
Start at the parking lot at corner of Winfield and Thornwood
Map Route:
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/71423040/
RAIN OR WET PAVEMENT WILL CANCEL THIS RIDE!

San Jose Fixed  SJF
15-25 mile Bike Ride
Every Tuesday 6:45 @
Meets @ IMinusD Fixed Gear Boutique
112 Paseo de San Antonio (See Map Below)

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San Francisco Bike Party
Friday April 6, 2012
Animal Kingdom Ride
http://sfbikeparty.wordpress.com/


San Jose Bike Party Volunteer Mixer (BIRD)
Tuesday, April 10, 2010 6:45PM - 8:30 PM 
Build community by learning & chatting with other SJBP volunteers!
Come out to our monthly volunteer meeting!
This is the place to meet & chat with other amazing Bike Party volunteers, learn how to be a better volunteer and better cyclist in general, and help play with ideas to make Bike Party better!

East Bay Bike Party
Friday, April 13, 2011 7:30 PM

http://eastbaybikeparty.wordpress.com/


SJBP BIRDS & Friends: A Party Night to Remember in SoFA
Saturday April 14, 2012,  7:00 PM - 1:00 AM
South First Billiards, 420 S. First St., San Jose, CA

B I R D - P A R T Y ! ! ! Let's all relax and hang out together.
But you don't have to be a BIRD to attend, this party is open to everyone.
So grab your friends and come on down!
This is not just any ol' Pool Hall...
A DJ Spinning music or a live band, Killer food menu, Full Bar with 15 beers on tap, Lounge area, 29 Pool Tables, Ping Pong Tables, an art gallery. (21+ only)

Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition Second Annual Advocacy Summit
Tuesday, April 17, 2012 2:00 pm - 8:00 PM
Oshman Family Jewish Community Center

3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto, CA 

For those cyclists who want to get more involved with Advocacy this is the perfect event. Their is a $20 fee for this event. For more information: http://bikesiliconvalley.org/bike-summit-2012

San Jose Bike Party - The Shark's Ride
Friday, April 20, 2012 8:00PM

Route will be posted on Thursday, the day before the ride at
http://www.sjbikeparty.org/

Cupertino Bike Swap
Sunday, April 29, 2012 10:00AM - 4:00 PM

104949 S DeAnza Blvd, Cupertino

Save the date. It's one of the best swaps in the area
60 bucks for a space (if your selling) or $2 to enter

And in the not too distant future
May 10, 2012 - 18th Annual Bike to Work Day
May 12, 2012 - Bike the Limits Ride
May 15, 2012 - Amgen Tour of California San Jose to Livermore
May 15, 2012 - King of the Mountain Challenge
June 21, 2012 Bicycle Music Festival 2012
July 14, 2012 - San Jose Bike Party Ladies Ride - (Sorry guys, ladies only)

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Also note the Guadalupe River Trail will be closed for paving construction soon. The closed portion will extend north of 880 all the way to Gold Street in Alviso. check Twitter for more details.

Too see all rides on the map click the link just below the map. Thanks.

View Upcomming Bay Area Bike Events in a larger map

VTA seeks public comment on proposed route changes - but it's more than route changes

In a news release this week, VTA is seeking public comment on three bus routes, two community bus routes and one, a new limited bus route that will eventually phase into a new bus rapid transit line (BRT).

However I wanted to comment on Route 11, which is a very limted route to begin with, extending from San Pedro Square to Taylor and 17th and only 20 times a day on weekdays. The plan is to extend the route to Diridon Station.

However, if I recall correctly this route used to go past San Jose Marketplace, home to another Target store, Office Depot, Panera Bread, etc., etc., etc. Now outside of a Limited Stop Bus (304) which only runs on weekdays and only four times a day (rush hour) there is no bus line that runs to the suburban style shopping center.

As Scott Herhold of the San Jose Mercury News mentions in a August 2010 column:

But it is not downtown, no matter what (Redevelopment Director Harry) Mavrogenes says. It is on Coleman Avenue south of Taylor Street, separated from the city center by at least three-quarters of a mile and a hulking overpass.

So although a connection to Diridon Station is an improvement, if you want to get more residents living downtown, and you want those residents to live a car-free or car-lite life you will have to connect the meager downtown retail offerings by transit when they are so spread out and are connected by horrible pedestrian improvements.

 Scott later goes on to ask Harry Mavrogenes how he got to the grand opening of a new business in the San Jose Marketplace:

Then I asked how he'd gotten to the grand opening. He said he had driven from his City Hall office. So we have a downtown location that you have to drive to from your downtown office. Sorry, Harry. Something doesn't compute.

So if were going to build these suburban strips malls in a downtown setting the least we can do is connect them to downtown businesses and residences. Please.


View Larger Map

Head's up - City of San Jose looking for BPAC applicants

Photo: Richard Massoner
@ http://www.cyclelicio.us/

This summer the City of San Jose will be posting openings for positions on the city's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) this summer. At least one position will be open.

If you walk or ride a bicycle, are interested in advocacy, have some experience in reviewing bicycle or pedestrian projects or even admit to having read even parts of the San Jose Bicycle Plan 2020 then you maybe the one their looking for. Time commitment will not be that great since the committee only meets 4 times a year these days due to budget woes.

I'll post more info by late spring or early summer.

Interesting post from on Cyclelicio.us San Jose works to increase bicycle commuting from August of 2008.

This evening's Caltrain BAC meeting - update on Warm Planet Bikes

This evening's Caltrain Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting should be a good one. An update will be given on the near term status for Warm Planet Bicycles located at the 4th and King Street station. Warm Planet Bicycles provides an invaluable service to San Francisco residents as well as cyclists arriving to the city for work or play.

Also, a presentation will be given by the Transbay Joint Powers Authority on bicycle facilities in the Transbay Transit Center. Meeting starts at 6:45 pm at the Caltrain Office at 1250 San Carlos Ave., Second Floor, San Carlos, CA.

For this evenings agenda, click here. 

Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition to host its second annual Bike Summit

All right all you up and coming bike advocates. Or even you veterans out there. Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition is holding its second annual Bike Summit in Palo Alto next month. It's definitely worth it just to hear from Aaron Naparstek, founding editor and creator of the hugely successful Streetsblog.

The second annual Silicon Valley Bike Advocacy Summit will be held on April 17, from 2:00 to 8:00 pm, at the Koresh Family Jewish Community Center in Palo Alto. Stanford Hospital and Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition will co-host this event. Professionals, advocates, politicians, public agency employees, industry representatives, public health officials, and interested community members are invited and will come together to participate in a community event focused on promoting the bicycle and smart planning for health, environmental security, and enhanced communities.

The Summit will serve as a catalyst to improving relations between advocates and government, increase the involvement of business in the advocacy world, and inspire attendees to become even more involved in fostering healthy communities.

Registration is $20 at http://svbikesummit2012.eventbrite.com/. Those for whom the cost of admission is prohibitive may apply for a scholarship by emailing colin@bikesiliconvalley.org.

Aaron Naparstek, founder
Streetsblog.org
photo: Streetsblog.org

Besides Aaron, there will be some other well known local, regional and national names on the agenda (ok, known to at least us wonky types), such as Dave Synder, Executive Director of the California Bicycle Coaliton, Jeffrey Miller, Executive Director, Alliance for Biking and Walking, Randy Neufeld, Director, SRAM Cycling Fund, Graham Brownstein, State Policy Director, TransForm, and Robert Ping, Technical Assistance Director, Safe Routes to School National Partnership.

So click on the link above and register today. Your inner advocate will thank you.

For more information.

Upcoming Bicycling Events in the Silicon Valley

Upcoming Events in the Silicon Valley

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

San Jose Bike Party - Irish Ride
Friday, March 16, 2012 8:00PM

Route will be posted on Thursday, the day before the ride at
http://www.sjbikeparty.org/


St. Patrick's Day Midnight Mystery Ride!
Saturday, March 17, 2012 11:30 PM - 2:30 AM
Grab your green and join this great ride through the SF night sky. This month's ride falls on St. Patrick's Day! It should be a blast! Details and FAQs are on the website at www.midnightmystery.org.

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Sunday Monthly Bicycle Ride

San Jose, Saratoga, Campbell
March 18, 2012

3:00 - 7:00 PM
Start at the parking lot at corner of Winfield and Thornwood
Map Route:
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/71423040/
RAIN OR WET PAVEMENT WILL CANCEL THIS RIDE!

San Jose Fixed  SJF
15-25 mile Bike Ride
Every Tuesday 6:45 @
Meets @ IMinusD Fixed Gear Boutique
112 Paseo de San Antonio (See Map Below)

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San Francisco Bike Party
Friday April 6, 2012
Animal Kingdom Ride
http://sfbikeparty.wordpress.com/


San Jose Bike Party Volunteer Mixer (BIRD)
Tuesday, April 10, 2010 6:45PM - 8:30 PM 
Build community by learning & chatting with other SJBP volunteers!
Come out to our monthly volunteer meeting!
This is the place to meet & chat with other amazing Bike Party volunteers, learn how to be a better volunteer and better cyclist in general, and help play with ideas to make Bike Party better!

East Bay Bike Party
Friday, April 13, 2011 7:30 PM

http://eastbaybikeparty.wordpress.com/


SJBP BIRDS & Friends: A Party Night to Remember in SoFA
Saturday April 14, 2012,  7:00 PM - 1:00 AM
South First Billards, 420 S. First St., San Jose, CA

B I R D - P A R T Y ! ! ! Let's all relax and hang out together.
But you don't have to be a BIRD to attend, this party is open to everyone.
So grab your friends and come on down!
This is not just any ol' Pool Hall...
A DJ Spinning music or a live band, Killer food menu, Full Bar with 15 beers on tap, Lounge area, 29 Pool Tables, Ping Pong Tables, an art gallery. (21+ only)

Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition Second Annual Advocacy Summit
Tuesday, April 17, 2012 2:00 pm - 8:00 PM
Oshman Family Jewish Community Center

3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto, CA 

For those cyclists who want to get more involved with Advocay this is the perfect event. Their is a $20 fee for this event. For more information: http://bikesiliconvalley.org/bike-summit-2012

San Jose Bike Party - The Shark's Ride
Friday, April 20, 2012 8:00PM

Route will be posted on Thursday, the day before the ride at
http://www.sjbikeparty.org/

Cupertino Bike Swap
Sunday, April 29, 2012 10:00AM - 4:00 PM

104949 S DeAnza Blvd, Cupertino

Save the date. It's one of the best swaps in the area
60 bucks for a space (if your selling) or $2 to enter

And in the not too distant future
May 10, 2012 - 18th Annual Bike to Work Day
May 12, 2012 - Bike the Limits Ride
May 15, 2012 - Amgen Tour of California San Jose to Livermore
May 15, 2012 - King of the Mountain Challenge
June 21, 2012 Bicycle Music Festival 2012
July 14, 2012 - Ladies Ride

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Also note the Guadalupe River Trail will be closed for paving construction soon. The closed protion will extend north of 880 all the way to Gold Street in Alviso. check Twitter for more details.

Too see all rides on the map click the link just below the map. Thanks.

View Upcomming Bay Area Bike Events in a larger map

SJ Bike Share Update

photo: inhabitat.com

On the heels of Chicago's decision to partner with Alta Bike Share, Inc., San Jose, Palo Alto, and Mountain view will soon have their own bike share system. Alta Bike Share, Inc. part of the Alta Design Group of Portland was chosen among three bidders.

Well the bids are out and it looks like three vendors are vying for the Silicon Valley Bike Share contract with VTA. At a bidders conference however, all three bidders stated that late summer was just too ambitious of a goal and it looks like a potential roll-out will be around the end of September. Stay tuned.

Dublin mayor chats it up with Silicon Valley cyclists

Lord Mayor riding a Portland
made Metrofiets Cargo bike.
photo: Richard Masoner
@ www.cyclelicio.us/

The city of San Jose hosted this last weekend the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Ireland, his First Lady, and a delegation of about ten business persons and educators to several events in the area. Basically it amounted to tours, meetings, and dinners; enough to make you forget what time zone your in.

But it was one two hour event on Sunday that made the trip worthwhile. A crowd of about 300 cyclists met at City Hall Plaza to ride with the Lord Mayor Andrew Montague. Cyclists, some dressed in green and some like me, in tweed showed up at the early hour on all types of rides; cargo bikes, choppers, lowriders, carbon fiber fixies, and just plain old mountain bikes.



Josh Agee, Highland Bagpiper
gets the riders ready to ride.
photo: Richard Masoner
@ www.cyclelicio.us

 Josh Agee, an occasional Bike Party-goer was there to play the pipes as the crowed filed out from City Hall. Wheels hit the street just after 10:00 am with a short ride around the streets and trails of downtown.

What was most noticeable was just how accessible the Lord Mayor was with everyone; chatting it up with children, talking bike share success in Dublin with Jim Bell of VTA's bicycle advisory committee, or discussing the playlist of Irish tunes coming from SJ Rolling Thunder's music trailer.

What really impressed the Lord Mayor was the diversity of bikes as described above. After the ride, as his handlers cautiously looked on as the Lord Mayor rode a chopper, a cargo bike, a Mad Max looking post-apocalyptic cycle, as well as a lowrider. 

Lord Mayor chatting it
up and a traffic signal.
photo: Richard Masoner
@ www.cyclelicio.us

While watching him ride the chopper bike, I was struck at how much fun he was having. This is in addition to the LM having to ride with a two-pound, 400 year old chain necklace referred to as the "Chain of Office". In contrast to local elected officials obligatory hand waves he didn't meet a rider who said they didn't shake hands, pose for a picture, or talk one-on-one with the LM.

The LM was so impressed with Sunday's ride, bikes, and jousting fun that he told the crowd that he planned to start a Dublin Bike Party. So you see instead of just bringing to the world Google, iPads, and Facebook, we are exporting a little bit of bike culture as well.

Who knows, maybe this is the start to a new trend. Whenever one of San Jose's seven sister cities mayor's visit our city we can take the mayor and their delegation out for a little ride.

Thanks to all of you who made it a great success!

For more photos from Richard Masoner, check out his flickr photos or his blog Cyclelicio.us.

The Rides of March -The Irish Ride and The Mayor's Ride

photo:dionridesbikes.com

San Jose Bike Party presents two great rides in March.  

March Theme: The Irish Ride
March 16, 2012 8:00 PM

March’s theme is definitively a tip of the hat to San Jose’s sister city of Dublin, Ireland. The home of Guiness. The ride is the night before St Patrick's day so we’ll party early. Think green, lucky charms and lots of Irish accents. A nice thermos of Irish coffee might hit the spot as well.


The Mayor's Ride
March 11, 2012, 10 AM to Noon - San Jose City Hall
Also of note is that we are planning a special ride with the 342nd Lord Mayor of Dublin. He is in town visiting San Jose. Look for more details to be posted on this page later. But for now keep your calendar clear on Sunday, March 11th from 10am to noon. We will show him how SJBP rolls. So roll up in your best green and ride with us through the streets of downtown San Jose.

Just how did this ride get started? Shorty Fatz, documentary films, and of course San Jose Bike Party.

Lord Mayor Andrew Montague

The Mayor's Ride - How did this ride start?

Dublin's Lord Mayor, Andrew Montague

Cycling in San Jose is now world famous. Maybe not Copenhagen style world famous but world famous none the less. So how did the Lord Mayor of Dublin hear about San Jose Bike Party? And where did the idea for the ride start?

It goes back to last year when council member Pierluigi Oliverio showed one of his great documentary movies (don't miss two upcoming movies this spring) at City Hall. After one movie titled "Sprawl" the council member had Kim Walesh, Director of the Ecomomic Development Office, and Joe Horwedel, Director of Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement take questions from the audience. I remember one random question on the status of bike investment in the city.

Kim Walesh replied that the city was making progress on increasing bike trail and roadway invest on all things related to bikes and that San Jose Bike Party was now a huge hit within the city. I was shocked a little at first for a departmental level leader to stand up and public state that Bike Party for once put this city on the cycling map.

The next day I emailed Director Walesh and thank her for her support. She and Hans Larsen the city's Transportation Director had actually ridden on some bike party rides so it was good to hear the real deal.



Kim Walesh, Director -
San Jose Office of Economic Development

She then went on to state that she had just returned from Dublin, Ireland and met with Lord Mayor Andrew Montague. While there, the Lord Mayor had mentioned that he had heard about San Jose Bike Party and that he would love to participate in a Bike Party when he visited San Jose.

Given that Dublin, Ireland is one of seven of San Jose's sister city's maybe this will start a trend. In the future maybe we can host a ride with each cities delegation. After all the dinners and speeches a weekend morning spent on the bike will be a wonderful thing for world peace and understanding.

Now get out and ride.


San Jose's Sister Cities:

• Dublin, Ireland
• Okayama, Japan
• San Jose, Costa Rica
• Veracruz, Mexico
• Tainan, Taiwan
• Pune, India
• Ekaterinburg, Russia