HomeMy WebLinkAboutBHATE, AJAY EMAIL 011425
Marie Sunseri
From:Ajay B <pelican.aj@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, January 14, 2025 9:42 AM
To:Karen Stepper
Cc:Marie Sunseri
Subject:Danville City Council initiative to disband BAC and remove BAC advocates
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Dear Ms. Stepper, the below article in the East Bay Times grabbed my attention:
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/01/13/borenstein-does-key-bay-area-cycling-town-care-about-
bikers-safety/
I am writing this email to urge the Danville City Council NOT to disband the BAC and to keep Alan and
Bruce on the BAC.
Although I am technically a San Ramon resident, I am frequently in Danville either driving out to Danville
downtown or cycling through Danville, Moraga, Lafayette as well cycling on Mt. Diablo. Hence what
happens in Danville, also impacts me. Over the past few years, I have seen several improvements in
Danville from the point of view of cyclists and pedestrians. When it comes to cyclist and pedestrian
safety, I rate Danville much ahead of our own city - so much so that I have submitted some of the
improvements done in Danville to San Ramon's commission on pedestrian and cyclist safety as a model.
The improvements made on the IHT in Danville, the clear road-signs for cyclists, flashing and highly
visible pedestrian crossing lights all have been great improvements that other cities can look up to.
Therefore, I'm quite surprised and troubled to see the Danville City Council trying to disband the BAC and
removing two experienced cyclist advocates from the BAC. Both, Alan and Bruce, have been
instrumental in cyclist and vehicle safety on Mt. Diablo - their work on getting the cyclist turnouts
implemented has simply been phenomenal - there is no other mountain where this has been
implemented so well. Likewise, their advocacy on bicycle safety within Danville city and trail limits has
been exemplary and visible to all. In short, they seem to have done and are doing exactly what the BAC
was set-up to do.
I have served on a non-profit board and have been in leadership positions before. I can understand that
egos and tempers often clash when leaders with differing point of views come to the table. I am only
speculating whether something like this is driving the current motion. However, if your charter is to make
Danville a safe city for all then I sincerely hope that the Danville City Council and the current BAC finds a
way to coexist and work together to improve cyclist safety.
Sincerely and with Best Regards
Ajay Bhate
San Ramon Resident and an avid cyclist
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