Great Streets Mountain View joined other community and city groups at City Hall Plaza to celebrate Earth Day and share ideas for building a greener, more livable city.
At our booth, we invited people to tell us where they like to walk and bike—and where they see opportunities for improvement. We also shared before-and-after photos of California Street following the Complete Streets Pilot, which sparked a lot of thoughtful feedback and conversation.
We asked participants to jot down their ideas on postcards, which we’ll compile and share with the community and city leaders. And for our younger visitors, the craft table was a hit—kids had fun creating their own street signs.
Below is a summary of the feedback we heard, both in conversations and in writing:
California Street Complete Streets Pilot
Positive comments
- Several participants (drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians) expressed strong support for the California Street changes. They noted that vehicle speeds appear lower and that the corridor feels safer and more comfortable for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
- Several participants highlighted the Escuela Avenue crossing as a meaningful improvement in their walk to and from school (Mistral Elementary and Castro Elementary).
Improvements Needed
- Some participants mentioned that the new vehicle parking lane can obstruct drivers’ visibility of other vehicles when turning right onto California Street and obstruct drivers’ visibility of bicyclists when turning right from California street into a driveway.
- Illegal parking was also raised as a concern, as it can further reduce visibility for all users. Participants asked whether parking enforcement could be increased.
- One participant noted that certain bollard treatments feel visually cluttered and may make it harder for drivers and bicyclists to see each other. She expressed a preference for the more subtle green posts over blue planter boxes and white posts.
Sidewalk obstructions
- All neighborhoods: Participants reported that sidewalks are often obstructed by overgrown vegetation, typically from private yards or planting strips, limiting accessibility—especially for people walking side by side. Residents requested increased inspection, education, and enforcement.
- All neighborhoods: Sidewalks are also frequently constrained by utility poles, signposts, and fire hydrants. Participants suggested the City adopt policies to prevent this in the future and survey existing conditions and consider widening sidewalks where feasible to improve the pedestrian experience.
Street Lighting
Participants across multiple neighborhoods expressed a need for improved lighting to improve safety
- Residential areas (citywide): more lighting
- Sylvan Park / El Camino Real: additional lighting
- Old Mountain View: brighter and more consistent lighting
- El Camino / Mariposa Ave: improve lighting for cyclists and pedestrians.
Tree Canopy
Participants requested additional street trees throughout the city, including along both residential streets and major corridors, to improve shade, comfort, and neighborhood character.
Castro Street / Downtown
Positive comments
- Several participants described downtown Mountain View as highly walkable and vibrant, especially compared to neighboring cities.
- The closure of Castro Street to vehicle traffic was widely praised.
- Participants also appreciated painted bollards and public art elements.
Improvements
- At the intersections of Dana Street and Villa Street with Castro Street, a participant reported traffic safety concerns. Drivers sometimes stop in the middle of these intersections, creating conflicts with pedestrians—particularly children who will run into the street without looking.
Specific Street Improvements
- El Camino Real @ Mariposa Ave to Palo Alto: Improve bike lanes and lighting for pedestrians and bicyclists
- Rengstorff Ave @ Junction Ave : Install a pedestrian beacon on Rengstorff to make it safer for neighbors to cross (e.g. to Safeway)
- Dana Street @ Calderon: When biking on Dana Street eastwards towards Sunnyvale, there are frequently parked cars on the right side. Please create a bike lane which is protected by vehicle parking on the left.
- Shoreline Blvd Overpass over Central: The Shoreline Blvd Overpass over Central has two lanes merging into one AND the merge from Central all at the same place (3 lanes merge into one). The right lane northbound should be an exit only lane to Central so that it’s only a 2 to 1 merge.
- Evelyn at VTA Parking Lot: Install a pedestrian beacon to address long crossing distances and frequent unsafe pedestrian crossings, particularly during peak periods and farmers market days.
- Shoreline Park: Add more vehicle parking