Photographs

Pedestrian/Bicycle Path Debuts on Benicia-Martinez Bridge

August 29, 2009
Festivities were held August 29 to mark the official opening of a new pedestrian/bicycle path on the George Miller, Jr. Memorial Bridge leading from Benicia to Martinez. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) and Caltrans hosted opening events at both ends of the bridge, with a ribbon-cutting in Martinez at the foot of the bridge kicking off the festivities. Attendees then joined in the official first walk/ride across the bridge, where an opening ceremony followed at Vista Point in Benicia. A bicycle rodeo geared to youths at the nearby Amports lot was offered by the City of Benicia.
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People began lining up before 8 a.m. to await the 8:30 opening ceremony in Martinez. (Photo: John Huseby)

Several hundred people gathered on the Martinez side, awaiting the opening. (Photo: Karl Nielsen)

Dignitaries cut the ribbon in Martinez officially opening the Benicia-Martinez Bicycle/Pedestrian Path. Left to right: Bijan Sartipi, Director, Caltrans, District 4; Rob Schroder, Mayor, City of Martinez; Elizabeth Patterson, Mayor, City of Benicia; and Mark Ross, Councilmember, City of Martinez. (Photo: Karl Nielsen)

During the ceremony (Photo: John Huseby)

People of all ages participated in riding, running and walking on the newly-opened bath. (Photo: Karl Nielsen)

Following the opening ceremony, Nancy Lund, a member of the Benicia Bicycle Club, took to the bridge bike path. (Photo: Karl Nielsen)

Cyclists begin the trek up the path to the bridge (Photo: John Huseby)

Walkers waited for most of the cyclists, then took off. (Photo: John Huseby)

The bike/pedestrian path is visible on the west side of the bridge. (Photo: John Huseby)

Traversing the bridge. (Photo: John Huseby)

Relaxing at Vista Point in Benicia (Photo: John Huseby)

The Orinda Roadrunners took the bike/pedestrian path in stride. (Photo: Karl Nielsen)

On the Benicia side, Bijan Sartipi, Director, Caltrans, District 4, addressed the crowd. (Photo: Karl Nielsen)

MTC Commissioner Anne Halsted, representing San Francisco Bay Conservation & Development Commission (Photo: Karl Nielsen)

MTC Commissioner Jake MacKenzie, representing Sonoma County & Cities, rode his bicycle across the bridge before speaking at the Benicia celebration. (Photo: Karl Nielsen)

Among the crowd at the Benicia opening ceremony are MTC Commissioner Amy Rein Worth, representing the cities of Contra Costa County (fourth from left), Rob Schroder, mayor, City of Martinez (sixth from left) and, behind him, Mo Pazooki, Caltrans project manager. (Photo: John Huseby)

Attendees celebrate following the opening ceremony in Benicia. (Photo: John Huseby)

Eric Vaught of Alameda rode his 19th-century replica high-wheeler across the bridge. He said he took BART to the North Concord station in the morning, then rode the high-wheeler to Martinez and onward to Benicia and back, before heading home on AmTrak. He works for Ridable Replicas of Alameda. (Photo: Karl Nielsen)

At Vista Point in Benicia – they made it! Club Hikanbyke members, left to right: Arleen Sakamado, Joan Friedman, Roland Flamme, Ken Roberts and Ken Karda. (Photo: Karl Nielsen)

Eva Roth took a ride at the bike rodeo in Benicia that followed the opening of the bicycle/pedestrian path. Her father, Scott Roth, and Sergeant Frank Hartig watch as she begins the course. (Photo: Karl Nielsen)