Bicyclists win fight over preserving Kentfield lane

By Brad Breithaupt
Marin IJ, October 25, 2007

After an outcry by bicyclists and letters from parents, a new controversial stretch of bicycle lane along College Avenue in Kentfield will remain as is.

Marin Supervisor Hal Brown, who two weeks ago was poised to have the new lane removed after protests by parents who park there, said it would remain in place after all.

Brown said he is working with the College of Marin to replace some of the parking that was lost after the new lane was painted.

Parents and officials at Adaline E. Kent Middle School asked Brown to eliminate a tenth of a mile of the bike lane and restore the on-street parking - about eight spaces - used by parent volunteers at the school and by parents dropping off and picking up their children.

But Brown reversed course after meeting with the Marin County Bicycle Coalition and hearing from some parents who wanted to preserve the bike lane that ties into a popular bike path and a crosswalk.

He said several parents told him that the new lane offers an extra measure of safety for students who are told by the school to ride their bikes on the sidewalk, not in the street.

Sabrina Browne, one of the Kent parents who defended the bike lane, said the lane makes it safer for bicyclists and for motorists.

"We wanted the bike lane to stay and we wanted to find parking solutions for volunteers," said Browne, one of the nearly 70 school district parents who sent letters and e-mails to Brown and school leaders supporting the lane.

"A terrific solution was reached that left everybody better off," said Katherine Wing, a district parent.

School PTA President Nancy Lovelady, who had objected to removal of street parking, said "My whole issue and the school's was always about the kids' safety."

Kent's principal, Skip Kniesche, said it appears Brown's plan could help resolve the matter.

"If that does in fact happen, then it's fine," he said. "I'll be happy when it gets settled."

The lane was painted, and the parking removed, along the stretch between the school's Stadium Way entrance and the exit from its parking lot, next to the bike path that parallels Corte Madera Creek.

The lane was added during the reconstruction of College Avenue. School officials were not advised the parking would be removed.

Extending the lane was "a no-brainer," according to the county Public Works Department. But after controversy reached Brown's office, the department apologized for not advising the school of the change, where parking is tight.

The removal of the parking forced parents volunteering at the school to search for parking blocks away.

"Removing parking is always an issue," Brown said. "Couple that with lack of communication and community outreach and people get upset."

Brown said he's working with the college to find parking for Kent school parents in its lot across from the middle school campus.

"College of Marin has been extremely generous and cooperative in helping resolve the parking issue for Kent School," Brown said. "Once the details are worked out, I think everyone will be happy."

The Kentfield School District will pay the college for using spaces for long-term parking for staff.

"All you have to do is walk across the street," Brown said. "It looks like a win-win."