Bryant Street in 1914 vs. 2015: more cars but leafy trees remain and now bike friendly
A look at Bryant Street at Lincoln Avenue in 1914 compared to 2015 shows many changes, including cars (lots of them), sidewalks and a lack of trees growing directly in the street. However, Palo Alto’s distinctive leafy canopy is visible in both photos and even more developed today than it was 100 years ago.
Bryant St at Lincoln Avenue in 2015. Photo by Ian Sears for Palo Alto Pulse. Trees are abundant, but so are cars. Today, bikes are also a big part of Bryant Street.
Bryant St at Lincoln Ave in 1914. Photo courtesy of Palo Alto Historical Society Archives. No cars meant no sidewalks and trees growing in the street.
Bryant Street became a “bike boulevard” in 1982
Did you know that the Bryant Street bike boulevard was the first of its kind in the country?
Thanks to bike advocate and leader Ellen Fletcher, Palo Alto is one of the most bike friendly cities in America
Established in 1982 and named after Ellen Fletcher, a Holocaust survivor, former Palo Alto Councilwoman and bicycle advocate, the Bryant Street bike boulevard is one of the many reasons that Palo Alto is considered one of the most bike-friendly cities in America. And the good news is that Palo Alto has plans to add more bike boulevards in the coming years.
Ellen Fletcher with her bicycle. The local bike pioneer died in 2012. Photo by Cycledelicious.
The future? More biking options and new ways to get around town that save energy and avoid parking hassles
As Palo Alto looks to decrease car traffic, we are lucky to have dedicated bike lanes, the Bryant Street Bike Boulevard and wide, flat streets that are perfect for getting around town by bicycle. And with the advent of quiet and fast electric bikes, Palo Altans have even more reasons to give up their cars and appreciate the ease of biking to school and shopping.
Bikes get a special lane across Bryant at Embarcadero. Photo by Cycledelicious.
