Update: Mayor Ashcraft Now Promises Second Chance for Grand in Alameda

Word came down late Thursday from advocates and directly from Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft that there will be a second chance for protected bike lanes on Grand Street next month. "Stop the press!" emailed Bike Walk Alameda's Cyndy Johnsen late in the evening, after meeting with Ashcraft at a mayor's forum.

And here is the email directly from the mayor, sent to Streetsblog Thursday evening at 9:30:

So the protected bike lanes on Grand will get another chance, apparently. That's certainly good news after this week's vote against the plan.

Was this part of some political maneuvering to quell car-brained, reactionary voters for a while? Perhaps. But, as one advocate put it, who cares, as long as the protection goes in soon, so kids and families can cycle safely.

"This sounds like she's now completely on board with protected bike lanes along the entire stretch. (The staff proposal; the one she voted in favor of in June.)," wrote local advocate Drew Dara-Abrams in an email to Streetsblog. "I assume this is still in a bit of limbo, so I for one am only going to thank the Mayor and not nitpick over details until after the next set of votes."

Streetsblog wishes its readers a happy Indigenous People's Day.