OAKLAND — Oakland officials took the wraps off the Bay Area's newest piece of transportation infrastructure: the new Embarcadero Bridge near Jack London Square. In addition to being seismically safe, the new span is much wider for cyclists and pedestrians exploring the Bay Trail.
"It's not totally clear and hasn't been totally linked but for a family that wants a calm, protected bike ride they can actually bike on this 12-foot multi-use path," said Oakland's Transportation Director Ryan Russo.
The bridge also has a wider underpass so that small boats can sail between Lake Merritt and the Oakland Estuary.
While many pedestrians were excited about the new crossing, Roger Rudick, editor of the San Francisco Streets Blog, said one of the bike lanes is too narrow and too close to a metal guard rail. It could leave cyclists vulnerable to speeding vehicles, he warned.
"Somebody just, you know, jinks the steering wheel a little bit and you're crushed against the barrier," said Rudick.
The city says bikes are allowed on the multi-use path. The $31-million bridge cost more and took longer to build due to lead contamination in the soil and water that had to be contained.