The new Lawson Middle School Bikeway Project is complete, just in time for school to start! 

This new, two-way separated bike path provides a safe and convenient way for students to get to the campus bike cages without crossing lanes of car traffic. During the morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times, the sidewalks near the school are crowded with students and the streets around the school are crowded with cars. The bike path gives cyclists a separate, dedicated space, and keeps them away from cars on the road and pedestrians on the sidewalks. This is an exciting infrastructure improvement for students and the City’s first two-way, on-street separated bike path! Drivers, please be mindful that parking around this area has changed.

All new things take time to adjust to. You can learn more about this bikeway and how to use it, as well as parking changes in the area by visiting www.cupertino.gov/lawsonbikeway.

Class I: Shared-Use Path (Off-Street Bike Path):

A completely separated path from the roadway, designed exclusively for use by people biking and walking. These paths are typically wide, scenic, and low-stress.

How to Use It:

• Ride at a safe speed and yield to pedestrians.

• Use a bell or call out when passing (pass on the left).

• Obey signs and slow down at intersections.

Class II: Bike Lane (Striped, On-Street):

Currently the most common, this bike lane is a designated lane on the roadway marked by white lines, green paint, and/or bike symbols. These lanes are exclusively for cyclists, usually located between the vehicle travel lane and curb or parked cars. Class II bike lanes vary in width and may or may not include a painted buffer zone between the bike lane and the adjacent traffic lane or parking lane.

How to Use It:

• Ride in the same direction as traffic.

• Watch for turning vehicles at intersections and driveways.

• Be aware of parked car doors opening into the lane.

Class III: Bike Routes (Shared Roadways with Signage):

These are streets designated as bike routes with green signs and shared lane markings (sharrows). Cyclists share the road with cars.

How to Use It:

• Take the full lane (ride in the middle of the lane) when necessary for safety.

• Ride in the same direction as traffic.

• Be especially cautious at intersections and around parked cars.

• Be aware of parked car doors opening into the lane.

Class IV: Protected Bike Lane (Separated Bikeway):

On-street bike lane that is physically separated from vehicle traffic by a barrier such as parked cars, flexible bollards, or concrete curbs.

How to Use It:

• Enjoy increased protection from vehicle traffic.

• Watch for turning vehicles at intersections and driveways.

• Stay in the designated lane and yield to pedestrians at crossings.

Bike Box:

A green box at the front of a traffic lane at a signalized intersection that allows bikes to queue ahead of cars.

How to Use It:

• Use the bike lane to safely move up to the light and in front of the first waiting car.

• Wait inside the box during a red light and proceed through the intersection when the light turns green.

• Cars- wait behind the bike box.

Bike Boulevard:

Signed bike route, sharing the roadway with motor vehicles on quiet neighborhood streets. Includes signs, street markings, and substantial traffic calming.

How to Use It:

• Ride confidently in the center of the lane (take the lane) rather than squeezing yourself between moving and parked cars, obey all traffic laws, and ride single file when cars are present.

• Cars- share the road with cyclists, drive slowly, and do not block the bike route.

Knowing these terms will help you choose the best route for your comfort level and destination. The City of Cupertino continues to expand and enhance its bike network and we hope y'all make the most of it!

Your mindful driving challenge for August is to always observe the posted speed limit on your way to and from school.

The first days of the new school year can be chaotic. Many of us are driving to school on autopilot while we juggle a million other thoughts, and that 15 mph school speed limit can seem torturously slow!  The temptation is to go faster because you know you can control your car at a faster speed.  After all, you’ll get your children to school faster and you’re unlikely to hit anything because you’re still going “slow”.  However, adding a mere 10 mph will more than double the chance that any pedestrian or cyclist you might hit will be seriously or fatally hurt instead of just bruised! That’s not a risk you want other drivers to take with your children, so don’t take it with their children. This month we challenge you to drive at or below the posted speed limit on the way to and from school. Your kids can be your traffic cops, helping you to find the speed limit signs and monitoring your speedometer.