Safe Streets Hayward (A St, B St, Tennyson)

Council Infrastructure & Airport Committee Agenda

This Thursday at 5:30pm, the City Council Infrastructure & Airport Committee (CIAC) is meeting to discuss the "Safe Streets Hayward" plan, and the current proposal for Tennyson Road is critically flawed:

We need you to speak up, either in person at the Hayward Executive Airport (20301 Skywest Drive) or on Zoom, to demand a plan that truly prioritizes safety.

Segment 4 — Ruus Road to Whitman Street

We are shocked to see that for Tennyson's Segment 4 (Ruus Rd to Whitman St), the plan completely FAILS to provide a single safe, protected bike lane (Class IV) option. The only options offered are paint. This is a "Safe Streets" plan in name only.

Why is the city avoiding a safe design? It appears they are prioritizing a handful of unneeded on-street parking spots over the safety of residents.

This decision is baffling. Every single business in this segment—from the shopping centers to the small plazas—already has its own large, private, off-street parking lot. We are trading proven, life-saving infrastructure for redundant parking that is not needed.

Segment 2 — Calaroga Avenue to Patrick Avenue

While the "HIGH INVESTMENT OPTION" option does proposes protected bike lanes, the "CONTINUOUS BIKE FACILITY" doesn't even propose a buffer nor flex posts even though other segments do include flex posts for this option.

This is the section where 🚲 Christopher Cassel (29 - 5/7/23) and 🚲 Jose Enciso Hernandez (26 - 10/5/16) were killed while riding their bikes across the 880 overpass. And where 21-year old mother, 🚶 Denesha Turner (3/21/15), and her kid were hit while crossing one of the on-ramps with a stroller. She died and her kid was left in critical condition.

So particularly this area needs major physical separation which ideal should include concrete barriers but at least some flex posts.

This isn't just a minor oversight; it's a dangerous failure:

IT CREATES A DEADLY GAP: This segment connects directly to the East Bay Greenway (Segment 5), which will have high-quality protected lanes. The city is forcing everyone—including children—into a high-speed traffic gap.
IT ABANDONS A KEY DESTINATION: This is the primary route to the new Tennyson Pump Track at Tennyson Park. This route must be safe for all ages.

This is a life-and-death issue. At least 9 pedestrians and cyclists have been killed in car crashes on or near Tennyson Road since 2015. These are not statistics; they are our neighbors.

OUR CALL TO ACTION: Show Up!

We need to show up in person or on Zoom to demand that a real Class IV protected bike lane alternative be added for Tennyson, Segment 4. Safety cannot be compromised.

MEETING DETAILS:

WHAT: Council Infrastructure & Airport Committee (CIAC) Meeting
WHEN: Thursday, November 13, 2025 @ 5:30 PM
WHERE (In-Person): Hayward Executive Airport
WHERE (Virtual): Via Zoom

Attachment III Alternatives Recommendations.pdf

Tennyson Road Concerns:

Segment 1 (Hesperian to Calaroga):
- The "Low Impact" option should at least include buffered bike lanes in the existing no-parking zones.
- The "Continuous" option isn't continuous. It should consider removing parking on the north side and adding flex posts to be a safe, consistent facility. Otherwise, it's a downgrade from the W. Tennyson bike lanes west of Hesperian.
Segment 2 (Calaroga to Patrick):
- The "Continuous" option must at least include flex posts for protection. This segment is dangerously close to the I-880 freeway ramps, a high-crash area where 2 cyclists & a pedestrian have been killed; Christopher Cassel (29), Jose Enciso Hernandez (26) & Denesha Turner (21).
Segment 3 (Patrick to Ruus Rd):
- We need a missing crosswalk or bike light at Ruus Rd & Tennyson for southbound cyclists.
- It's currently too dangerous for a westbound cyclist to merge across heavy traffic to use the left-turn lane onto Ruus Rd. A signalized southbound crossing is the only safe solution to prevent dangerous sidewalk riding or riding against traffic on Ruus.
Segment 4 (Ruus Rd to Whitman):
- This is the core of our fight. Parking does not generate city revenue and every business has their own parking lot, some of which are quite large. Keeping on street parking should not be a blocker for protected bike lanes in this section.
- This segment connects to the East Bay Greenway (Segment 5) and the new Tennyson Pump Track, which is the only pump track less than a 10 minute ride from BART besides the Richmond Dirt World Pump Track. It must be a protected facility.
Segment 5 (Whitman to 12th St):
- This section has already been analyzed as part of the Active Transportation Working Group for the East Bay Greenway and the current proposal is a protected bike lane on the north side, and a two-way cycle track on the south side adjacent to BART.

A Street Concerns:

Segments 5 & 6 (Grand St to Watkins):
- The "Continuous Bike Facilities" here must include flex posts on sections next to the curb. As we’ve seen on Main St., cars will park in unprotected, painted bike lanes, rendering them useless and dangerous.

Please join us on Thursday to make your voice heard.

In solidarity,

The Bike Hayward Team

We are fighting so we don't have to add more names to this list. In memory of the victims of car crashes on or near Tennyson Rd since 2015: