Car Lite San Mateo
@carlitesanmateo.bsky.social
Getting around the suburbs of San Francisco with one car and too many electric bikes
https://www.carlitesanmateo.com
https://www.carlitesanmateo.com
I hit the best kind of traffic the other morning. Love seeing more cargo bikes around San Mateo 😍
November 24, 2025 at 7:17 PM
I hit the best kind of traffic the other morning. Love seeing more cargo bikes around San Mateo 😍
A great but often ignored read: nacto.org/wp-content/u...
November 21, 2025 at 9:24 PM
A great but often ignored read: nacto.org/wp-content/u...
These parking cost numbers are even more wild in the SF Bay Area.
~30% of people don't or can't drive but we all get to pay these costs. At current interest rates that is a ~$450/month payment on a single garage parking space 😳
~30% of people don't or can't drive but we all get to pay these costs. At current interest rates that is a ~$450/month payment on a single garage parking space 😳
November 17, 2025 at 11:17 PM
These parking cost numbers are even more wild in the SF Bay Area.
~30% of people don't or can't drive but we all get to pay these costs. At current interest rates that is a ~$450/month payment on a single garage parking space 😳
~30% of people don't or can't drive but we all get to pay these costs. At current interest rates that is a ~$450/month payment on a single garage parking space 😳
Get out on a bike with your kids!
November 13, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Get out on a bike with your kids!
Quick-build projects like this show how much can change with paint, planters, and people-first design. Every city should be testing people-first fixes like this. Tactical urbanism delivers safety, visibility, and community impact fast, no million-dollar study required.
www.wkrn.com/news/local-n...
www.wkrn.com/news/local-n...
November 11, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Quick-build projects like this show how much can change with paint, planters, and people-first design. Every city should be testing people-first fixes like this. Tactical urbanism delivers safety, visibility, and community impact fast, no million-dollar study required.
www.wkrn.com/news/local-n...
www.wkrn.com/news/local-n...
Ran into this recently on the Guadalupe River Trail in San Jose. So silly to have these needless wiggles on these routes!
November 10, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Ran into this recently on the Guadalupe River Trail in San Jose. So silly to have these needless wiggles on these routes!
9 PM on a Saturday night on pedestrianized B Street in San Mateo.
Took Caltrain down to Menlo Park for dinner, their downtown was a ghost town compared to this.
Took Caltrain down to Menlo Park for dinner, their downtown was a ghost town compared to this.
November 10, 2025 at 4:57 PM
9 PM on a Saturday night on pedestrianized B Street in San Mateo.
Took Caltrain down to Menlo Park for dinner, their downtown was a ghost town compared to this.
Took Caltrain down to Menlo Park for dinner, their downtown was a ghost town compared to this.
It's not all doom and gloom. Lot's of places to make an impact on traffic safety at the county level!
November 8, 2025 at 11:28 PM
It's not all doom and gloom. Lot's of places to make an impact on traffic safety at the county level!
This doctors office spent a lot of time explaining the complexities of their parking garage when confirming my appointment. Luckily I get to skip all of that and use this kinda-bike-parking.
Beautiful day out here today!
Beautiful day out here today!
November 7, 2025 at 9:42 PM
This doctors office spent a lot of time explaining the complexities of their parking garage when confirming my appointment. Luckily I get to skip all of that and use this kinda-bike-parking.
Beautiful day out here today!
Beautiful day out here today!
More housing but built only with bike pods to park your bike in. Anyone with a car can park in front of Tracy or Rebecca's houses.
November 7, 2025 at 8:11 PM
More housing but built only with bike pods to park your bike in. Anyone with a car can park in front of Tracy or Rebecca's houses.
Almost one week later and our floppy safety devices are still looking good. Follow for more thrilling updates.
November 7, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Almost one week later and our floppy safety devices are still looking good. Follow for more thrilling updates.
For all the details of what we're losing out on in CA this @rockymtninst.bsky.social white paper is a great read
5891093.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/589109...
5891093.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/589109...
November 6, 2025 at 7:44 PM
For all the details of what we're losing out on in CA this @rockymtninst.bsky.social white paper is a great read
5891093.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/589109...
5891093.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/589109...
I was super impressed by the bike infrastructure connecting to the trail. Two different separated bike lanes on roads connecting to/from the trail.
The trail itself is incredible! Kinda wish I was moving to this building long term. It was fun passing traffic on 880 on an e-bike ⚡️🚲💨
The trail itself is incredible! Kinda wish I was moving to this building long term. It was fun passing traffic on 880 on an e-bike ⚡️🚲💨
November 4, 2025 at 12:53 AM
I was super impressed by the bike infrastructure connecting to the trail. Two different separated bike lanes on roads connecting to/from the trail.
The trail itself is incredible! Kinda wish I was moving to this building long term. It was fun passing traffic on 880 on an e-bike ⚡️🚲💨
The trail itself is incredible! Kinda wish I was moving to this building long term. It was fun passing traffic on 880 on an e-bike ⚡️🚲💨
Northbound local looking pretty spacious. I like that the schedule is simpler now. Just get on the next train leaving!
November 4, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Northbound local looking pretty spacious. I like that the schedule is simpler now. Just get on the next train leaving!
Taking the big bike on the big train. I’m going to ride on the Guadalupe River Trail for the first time to get to a work event. Excited to try out this trail and a bit worried about bike space on Caltrain on the way home. Adventures ahead!
November 3, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Taking the big bike on the big train. I’m going to ride on the Guadalupe River Trail for the first time to get to a work event. Excited to try out this trail and a bit worried about bike space on Caltrain on the way home. Adventures ahead!
No bike racks at the local Safeway so we get this nice spacious parking spot!
November 3, 2025 at 12:39 AM
No bike racks at the local Safeway so we get this nice spacious parking spot!
I’m always amazed by how often these floppy crosswalk signs have to be replaced. I bike by these two at least four times per week so let’s see how long this version makes it!
Currently looking pretty shiny and new. How long do you think they will last?
Currently looking pretty shiny and new. How long do you think they will last?
November 1, 2025 at 7:05 PM
I’m always amazed by how often these floppy crosswalk signs have to be replaced. I bike by these two at least four times per week so let’s see how long this version makes it!
Currently looking pretty shiny and new. How long do you think they will last?
Currently looking pretty shiny and new. How long do you think they will last?
The same holds true in a car-focused SF Bay Area suburb. If safe alternatives existed people would flock to them!
www.carlitesanmateo.com/blog/sm-trip...
www.carlitesanmateo.com/blog/sm-trip...
October 24, 2025 at 11:27 PM
The same holds true in a car-focused SF Bay Area suburb. If safe alternatives existed people would flock to them!
www.carlitesanmateo.com/blog/sm-trip...
www.carlitesanmateo.com/blog/sm-trip...
This poster came out of that time at Apple and their marketing push for "Wheels for the Mind". It is super expensive to buy on eBay but I love the artwork. Wish there was a cheaper reproduction somewhere.
October 20, 2025 at 9:30 PM
This poster came out of that time at Apple and their marketing push for "Wheels for the Mind". It is super expensive to buy on eBay but I love the artwork. Wish there was a cheaper reproduction somewhere.
Morning ride to get coffee and pastries. The streets are so calm and quiet on a Sunday morning.
October 19, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Morning ride to get coffee and pastries. The streets are so calm and quiet on a Sunday morning.
Updated this chart because it was missing an important option. You don't need to use an e-bike for all trips for it to save you a lot of money!
$0.70/100 miles is also a worst-case scenario. Your cost is likely much cheaper than this.
$0.70/100 miles is also a worst-case scenario. Your cost is likely much cheaper than this.
October 8, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Updated this chart because it was missing an important option. You don't need to use an e-bike for all trips for it to save you a lot of money!
$0.70/100 miles is also a worst-case scenario. Your cost is likely much cheaper than this.
$0.70/100 miles is also a worst-case scenario. Your cost is likely much cheaper than this.
San Mateo struggles to grow without adding lots of cars. They have been mostly steady at 1.8 cars/household for a while.
Hopefully the new general plan and focus on building more housing near transit turns these trends in the right direction.
www.carlitesanmateo.com/blog/sm-cars...
Hopefully the new general plan and focus on building more housing near transit turns these trends in the right direction.
www.carlitesanmateo.com/blog/sm-cars...
October 4, 2025 at 8:48 PM
San Mateo struggles to grow without adding lots of cars. They have been mostly steady at 1.8 cars/household for a while.
Hopefully the new general plan and focus on building more housing near transit turns these trends in the right direction.
www.carlitesanmateo.com/blog/sm-cars...
Hopefully the new general plan and focus on building more housing near transit turns these trends in the right direction.
www.carlitesanmateo.com/blog/sm-cars...
From 2007 to 2023 the number of cars in San Mateo went up by 20% while the area needed to store them jumped by 30%. How car bloat contributes to our city feeling full of cars: www.carlitesanmateo.com/blog/sm-car-...
October 4, 2025 at 5:57 PM
From 2007 to 2023 the number of cars in San Mateo went up by 20% while the area needed to store them jumped by 30%. How car bloat contributes to our city feeling full of cars: www.carlitesanmateo.com/blog/sm-car-...