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The project is now “down to the toughest sections,”
says Thompson. Consider: Bay Trail advocates must
deal with oil refineries, shipping ports, airports and
seven toll bridges—“all the while trying to weave our
way through.”
Collaborating for a Unified Voice
Helping with that effort is the Bay Area Trails Collabor-
ative—a group made up of dozens of related support
organizations. Laura Cohen, director of RTC’s Western
Regional Office, is chairing that multijurisdictional
effort. A major goal according to Cohen: “To create a
regional voice for trails.”
With a broad approach, the collaborative is focused
on completing a comprehensive regional trail network
of more than 1,600 miles that includes not only the
San Francisco Bay Trail, but the Bay Area Ridge Trail
(a 550-mile route along the ridgelines), the Coastal
Trail, the Napa Valley Vine Trail and a network of
multiuse paths across the Bay Area. The Bay Trail’s
website ( ) describes a number of these
“sister trails.”
“By working together as a powerful, multisector,
regional collaborative, we can leverage our collective
influence and expertise to create a really world-class
regional trail system,” Cohen states. “The Bay Trail is a
major partner in that effort.”
Dynamic Process
Bit by bit, the Bay Trail is coming together, and
Thompson says a number of new accomplishments
are imminent. By the end of 2016, she expects the
eastern span of trail on the Bay Bridge to be complete,
finishing the connection between Treasure Island and
Emeryville. Also, a crucial 1.75-mile link is expected
soon at Breuner Marsh in Richmond, as well as the
0.6-mile Ravenswood section between the South Bay
communities of East Palo Alto and Menlo Park, which
will open up 80 miles of trail, including some connec-
tor routes.
Still, Thompson acknowledges that the project has
a way to go, with completion of the entire 500 miles at
least 10 years away.
Meanwhile, though, the completed sections offer
stellar hiking and biking opportunities. About 290 of
the 350 completed trail miles are separated from road
traffic, while the remaining 60 miles or so consist of
on-street bicycle/pedestrian sections. Although the
Cindy Barks is an
Arizona newspaper
reporter who also
writes a travel
and hiking blog at
project’s goal is for all the trails to be separate, Thomp-
son says the on-street sections represent areas “where
it’s really not feasible.”
Ambitious and long term, yes, but those involved
agree the Bay Trail’s results have been gratifying. “For-
tunately, certain leaders had the foresight years ago,”
Cohen says, adding, “To a lot of people, assets like the
Bay Trail are really what make the Bay Area special.” •
Trail users have plenty of resources to help them navigate
the route. The Bay Trail’s website offers a map that splits the
500-mile route into 24 sections, with detailed directions and
explanations about each one. Audio tours also are available
with the use of an app. For information, go t
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U N I F Y I N G T H E B A Y