Share the Path, an education and outreach campaign, is one of four initiatives that the partnership is taking to improve access and safety on the Mill Valley/Sausalito Multiuse Pathway. Other initiatives include physical improvements to the pathway; regulatory changes including an enlarged “slow zone” of 10 mph adjacent to Bayfront Park; and increased enforcement of safety rules and regulations.

Pathway Improvements Underway To visually divide the path, center striping was added to the pathway between East Blithedale and Almonte in July 2016 as a pilot project, and in September 2015, street graphics emblazoned with the word “share” were also installed along with directional arrows. A repaving project from East Blithedale to Almonte is scheduled in Fall 2017 to resurface the path. If the center striping pilot project is deemed successful, the repaved path will include the centerline, as well as colored, stamped asphalt at 3 intersections and at the beginning of the 10mph slow zone.

Additionally, railings on four bridges from Coyote Creek to Sycamore Avenue were renovated in December 2015 and a speed feedback sign was installed in July 2015. A roundabout intersection was completed in March 2015 at a high-use junction at the eastern edge of Sycamore Avenue on the Mill Valley/Sausalito Multiuse Pathway—the first of its kind on any Marin pathway. The roundabout, located in one of the busiest stretches of the multiuse pathway network, is designed to help slow people down and minimize user conflicts. Construction of the roundabout was funded in part by Parks and Open Space Measure A dollars as well as County National Model Program funds.

Part of a larger maintenance project to improve safety and functionality of the path, the roundabout is the second in a series of pathway improvements. Last summer the City of Mill Valley added a multiuse pathway alongside the east end of Sycamore Avenue, which allowed users coming from Camino Alto to more easily connect with the main pathway.

Understanding Use and Measuring Success A speed survey was conducted in May, 2016. Speed surveys will continue on an ongoing basis to help measure the speed compliance success over time. Using data from a visitor counter installed previously and the speed surveys have provided a wealth of information about the number of people using the path and speed trends. For the time period surveyed, the daily average use of the path was 2,718 people and the average speed in the 10mph zone was about 12mph.

Additionally, an online visitor survey was conducted in summer 2015 gauging the success of the Share the Path education and outreach campaign, particularly the tabling outreach events and the new signage on the path. Survey results indicates that about 50% of those surveyed believe that the campaign has increased their awareness of how to use the path safely, and a little over 50% of respondents felt that the campaign has affected their feelings of personal safety on the path.

Enforcement Efforts Targeted enforcement of the rules and regulations in key locations has also been a priority safety measure taken on the Mill Valley/Sausalito Multiuse Pathway. In addition to regular efforts, a Sheriff’s Deputy was hired to do targeted enforcement on the path approximately one day per month between January 16, 2016 and July 17, 2016. Most of the enforcement has focused on education measures, with 98 verbal warnings given and five citations issued.