Youth commissioners outline plan to pilot bike barriers near Prince Valley schools

Youth commissioners described plans to target Prince Valley and adjacent streets for bicycle and pedestrian improvements intended to benefit both the high school and nearby Glenview elementary.

Speakers said the committee conducted a site tour and research and will prepare a formal working document in the next one to two weeks to shape a proposal for the city council by year-end. “We looked around the city to see where we could possibly improve the bike infrastructure,” one participant said, noting the committee’s focus on routes that serve both elementary and high school students.

Members discussed the possibility of testing temporary measures before making permanent changes. One researcher reported a published estimate for physical bike barriers, saying, “bike barriers would cost between a 130,000 to 540,000 per mile,” and flagged ongoing maintenance costs. Commissioners also referenced a prior Gilroy City Council action tied to a pedestrian and bicycle safety program and raised concerns about potential congestion or other tradeoffs.

The committee discussed seeking visual materials from comparable projects (one example cited from Cupertino) to illustrate how physical separation can protect students. Members set an internal timeline for drafting proposals in March or April and compiling final material by April, with additional outreach and research to continue in the interim.

Next steps recorded in the meeting included starting a working document and collecting photo evidence and cost detail; commissioners said they will use the draft to request formal consideration by the council later in the year.