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Cupertino's 9th annual Fall Bike Fest on September 24 was a fabulous success! The biggest additions this year were 1) an infrastructure ride, where Transportation Manager David Stillman gave a tour of past, present, and future bike-friendly infrastructure projects throughout Cupertino, 2) a scavenger hunt and raffle for participants of the family bike ride led by the Bicycle Pedestrian Commission, 3) contests such as oldest rider and biggest group, 4) cargo bikes to test out, and 5) a station where people could learn to pump up their bike tires. Activities from prior years were also part of this year’s event. These included helmet fitting, bike safety checks, an educational bike rodeo and obstacle course for kids, blender bike smoothies (on two blender bikes this year!), bike decorating, art and poetry flag decorating, and more activities and games offered by the many organizations who hosted booths.
This yearly event is meant to encourage the community to bike and educate them how to do it safely through a fun, family-friendly venue. This year the festival moved from the City Hall parking lot to Cupertino Civic Center Plaza and Torre Avenue, which was closed to cars for the event. This proved to be a welcome change.
Feedback
We’ve received extremely positive feedback so far. Several participants said they liked the new venue, vibe, and activities. Many vendors said they appreciated connecting with the community. Pat Hines owns Safe Moves, has run the bike rodeo at the Fall Bike Fest for years, and hosts bike rodeos up and down the state of California. She said this was the best bike fest she’d ever seen – not just in Cupertino, but anywhere.
Metrics
Around 350 community members participated in the bike rodeo and/or one of the bike rides. There were 22 booths, some hosted by the City, some hosted by partner organizations, and some co-hosted by the City and partners. Around 135 high school students and community members volunteered to help run the event.
Many Thanks
Huge thanks go to the Bicycle Pedestrian Commission for leading the bike rides, Walk Bike Cupertino for helping to coordinate the volunteers and host helmet fittings, Community Cycles of California who did more bike safety checks than they've ever done at an event before, Safe Moves for teaching kids bike safety in their mini "Safe Moves City," the Sheriff's Office for escorting both bike rides, the Youth Environmental Power Initiative and Cupertino Poet Laureate for running the colorful flag decorating activity, Cycle for Change for leading the scavenger hunt, the many organizations who hosted booths at the festival, the many volunteers who helped run the festival, and everyone who attended. We could not have done it without each and every one of you!
Photos/Video
Check out the City's Bike Fest website for photo highlights:
http://www.cupertino.org/bikefest
Here's a short time lapse video of the family bike ride that a resident shared: https://youtu.be/w2bWSefW6Pw
Head's Up
Next year will be the 10th anniversary of the Cupertino Fall Bike Fest! Mark your calendar now: Saturday, September 30, 2023. We're already gearing up for the biggest, best Bike Fest yet.
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The City of Cupertino is developing a Master Plan for two parks where they are specifically asking the community what bicycle infrastructure they would like to see integrated into and/or to the park. This is your chance to let the City know what YOU would like to see.
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Lawrence/Mitty Park and Trail Plan
 The City is currently in the design phase of an all-new park at the Lawrence-Mitty site. This site will provide much-needed open space in East Cupertino and enhance the existing Saratoga Creek Trail. It will be designed for people of all ages and support a healthy and connected Cupertino community.
The City has developed three concept alternatives for the site, based on community input from a community vision survey conducted in the spring. The three concepts will all include the following design elements:
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An emphasis on biking, walking, play, nature, and the creek
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Multi-Use Trail Extension with space for a future connection to the North
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Walking Trails separated from bikes
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Comfort and Safety Features: Seating, sound wall or fencing along the expressway, and an emergency phone
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Soils: Existing soil piles and edge-of-creek berms will be removed wherever it is safe for mature tree roots. This soil will be repurposed as cover soil along the expressway edge in the North area.
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Vegetation: Shade trees, native and drought tolerant plants, enhanced riparian plantings, and bioretention areas to treat runoff.
Cupertino wants to hear your thoughts on the three design concepts. You have choices about how to provide input:
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Memorial Park Specific Plan
About the Project
Memorial Park is at the heart of Cupertino - hosting numerous community and civic-focused events. It is the largest and most well-used park in Cupertino. The 22-acre site includes a lawn ideal for family picnics, a gazebo, an amphitheater, a lighted softball field, and six lighted tennis courts. Memorial Park is adjacent to the Cupertino Senior Center, Quinlan Community Center, and Cupertino Sports Center, and the park houses the Cupertino Veterans Memorial which honors local veterans. Cupertino's growing Middle School Bicycle Skills program takes place adjacent to the park - in the Senior Center parking lot.
The City is working on two immediate renovation projects at the park: removal of the ponds, and technical improvements at the amphitheater. The ponds at the site are in the process of being removed - learn more about this project on the City Website. The scope of work at the amphitheater is being defined and will enter the design phase after a public request for qualifications process is initiated. Both projects lead to this planning effort for the future of Memorial Park.
The Specific Plan
The Memorial Park Specific Plan project aims to improve the facility and determine how to best meet the future recreation, community gathering, event, and green space needs of Cupertino. The Parks and Recreation System Master Plan’s vision for the park highlights the expansion of the civic event space and community hub experiences by providing a unifying focus on the surrounding existing City facilities, and by enhancing natural site features. This Plan will enhance Memorial Park’s unique identity, create a sense of place and grow a unique expression of the Park to achieve a balance between the built and natural environments.
The Park's Specific Plan will be developed with input from the Community, Commissions, and the City Council. The first Community Survey has closed, but there will be opportunities in the future to provide input. Visit the project site to subscribe to project updates.
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Elementary Poster Contest
The Mineta Transportation Institute is hosting a poster contest. The contest allows students, grades 1-6, to demonstrate their knowledge of the year’s transportation theme, "Rethink Your Ride," through an artistic, visually compelling image.
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Join us for SR2S Working Group Meetings
Safe Routes to School (SR2S) Working Group meetings are held via Zoom on the second Wednesday of most months. If there's a topic you'd like the Working Group to discuss, email us! saferoutes@cupertino.org
Visit the link below to register, access agendas, and view the complete list of dates for this school year’s Working Group meetings. We hope to see you at our next meeting!
Working Group Meetings
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Important Upcoming Dates
Agendas will be posted 72 hours before each meeting at the links below.
- Wednesday, October 12, 4:00 p.m.
SR2S Working Group Meeting
Topic: Ride out the Drought (by Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition)
- Tuesday, October 18, 5:00 p.m.
Cupertino City Council Meeting
Topic: Consideration of a Crosswalk Across Rodrigues Avenue in the Vicinity of a Public Pedestrian Walkway Easement leading to Regnart Creek Trail
- Wednesday, October 19, 7:00 p.m.
Bicycle Pedestrian Commission (BPC) Meeting
Topics: BPC Website, Traffic Adaptive and Multi-Modal Count Pilot Program, Bicycle Facilities Improvements,
- Wednesday, November 9, 4:00 p.m.
SR2S Working Group Meeting
Topic: TBD
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