Why this matters

My name is Mihir Basarkar, and Foster City is my home. Growing up here, I went from biking to elementary school to now commuting daily to Hillsdale High via SamTrans. I care deeply about our community, but our streets are becoming more dangerous.

This became personal when two of my friends had bike accidents. But this isn't just a student issue, it is a Foster City issue. In San Mateo County, youth-involved collisions are such a high priority as mentioned in the San Mateo County High Injury Network Report (Source: San Mateo County SRTS HIN Report). Currently, the only thing separating a student or a commuter from a speeding car on East Hillsdale Blvd or Edgewater Blvd in Foster City is a six-inch strip of paint. That’s not a bike lane, it’s a serious safety incident waiting to happen.

The Solution

We have a major opportunity to lead the Peninsula. Right now, Foster City residents dont feel safe having their kids bike around in Foster City or  biking to Caltrain daily because of the safety risk. 

By installing protected bike lanes using physical barriers like bollards or planters we can:

1. Protect my classmates: Studies show that physical barriers cut bike accidents in half compared to just using paint
2. Help Foster City commuters: So many people want their kids to bike to school or local activities or to the Hillsdale Caltrain station to get to work, but they don't because they feel exposed to traffic
3. Promote sustainability: If we make the ride to the bus stop or train station safe, we can get more cars off the road and make our air cleaner

Our Goal

I am proposing a pilot program for protected bike lanes on high-traffic routes like Hillsdale Blvd, Edgewater Blvd and Beach Park Blvd. These arteries connect our kids to schools and our professionals to the Caltrain corridor.

Let’s not wait for another accident before we act. By signing this petition, you are asking the Foster City Community Council to prioritize safety and modern transit for everyone.

Together, we can create a safer, healthier, and more connected Foster City. Please sign and share!

PS:  In the image below, the left image shows the bike path today in Foster city, the image on the right shows the proposal for the future protected bike path.