Sunnyvale study session examines buffered bike lanes, alternating parking and status quo for Hollenbeck Avenue

Sunnyvale Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission members heard a presentation March 20 on a feasibility study to close a bike-lane gap on Hollenbeck Avenue between Alberta Avenue and Danford Drive.

The study team — Eric, the city traffic engineer, and Ollie Joe of Hexagon Transportation Consultants — summarized existing conditions, collision history, bicycle volumes and three preliminary alternatives that vary in how they treat on‑street parking and the physical separation between bicycles and motor vehicles.

The study said Hollenbeck is a 40‑foot curb‑to‑curb residential collector that now lacks continuous bike lanes while parallel arterials have them. Ollie Joe said the consultants’ collision review for 2018–2022 found “we have 5 bicycle collisions along this corridor within the 5‑year period,” and that two occurred at intersections and three were mid‑block, two of which were collisions with parked vehicles. The team also reported that a 14‑hour bicyclist count on Hollenbeck is roughly one‑third of Mary Avenue and about 70% of Sunnyvale‑Saratoga Road, despite Hollenbeck’s lower speeds and its lack of a bike lane.

The three alternatives presented: - Buffer bike lane (Alternative 1): 6‑foot bike lane with a 3‑foot painted buffer, vehicle travel lanes narrowed to 10–11 feet and removal of on‑street parking along the corridor. The team said this alternative provides the greatest separation for bicyclists and the highest comfort benefit but would displace on‑street parking and require changes at several intersections (Remington, Torrington, Fremont). The…