San Mateo council directs staff to pursue partial Humboldt parking restoration, pilot bike boulevard and lighting upgrades

The San Mateo City Council on Feb. 3 directed staff to pursue a negotiated approach to community concerns over the North Central Bike Lanes, asking for deeper outreach, a pilot bike-boulevard option on a parallel street, a focused street-lighting program and a return to council with funding options and a refined implementation plan.

City public works engineer Jay Yu told council the Humboldt segment of the North Central project removed about 170 parking spaces and that community feedback since 2022 has focused on those parking impacts. "When we present all the data, all the facts, all the alternatives, we will be asking council to provide direction on addressing community impacts of the North Central Bike Lanes Project," Yu said during his technical presentation of usage counts, collision records and cost estimates.

The council’s direction came after more than 60 members of the public spoke for and against keeping the Humboldt bike lanes, and after extended council discussion about equity, neighborhood impacts and safety. Several council members said they want more neighborhood outreach before any permanent changes. Councilmember Diaz Nash said North Central residents "need agency" in decisions about their neighborhood and later supported restoring parking if a robust mitigation plan is provided. Deputy Mayor Lorraine and other members pressed staff to pilot alternatives before permanently removing bike infrastructure.

Why it matters: The Humboldt bike lanes (installed July 2022) remain a rare north–south protected connection in…