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Bicycling in San Diego, ContinuedPublished: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:37 PM PDT We were having so much fun on Tuesday that I'm back for another round of discussion. Hope you will continue to send in such great comments! One of the threads that jumped out on Tuesday was the need for 'serious action' (KAWE) 'widespread desire for change' (Thom, and changing the 'government ... suffer from a failure of imagination' (Kate S). I say, 'amen!' Now, for all you elected officials reading today, don't get me wrong. Some of you are really stepping up to the plate to support bicycling - thank you County Supervisor Greg Cox, San Diego Councilman Scott Peters, and Coronado Councilmember Phil Monroe, for being three good examples! The entire City of Oceanside Council has been very supportive of bicycling lately, and I know that the League of American Bicyclists will be taking a hard look at making Oceanside the first city in the county to receive a 'Bicycle Friendly Community' designation. But I'm almost afraid to list you here because I know you'll get heat from folks like the local news editorial boards, and from radio talk show hosts who have nothing better to do than mock bicyclists. It's not easy to be taken seriously in this county when you talk about getting people out of their cars. We've got a chance to get it right. Some of our elected officials are already stepping up and supporting things like the Active Transportation Campaign, and working with local transportation policy to make sure bicyclists are included in all our transportation decisions. But fighting bureaucracy and the 'but we've always done it that way!' mentality is tough. Especially in San Diego where we seem to be distracted and bogged down in so many issues (see Lee Burdick's discussion of Lindberg Field yesterday). I'll be interested to hear your comments about how we can change the whole mindset in the County, or if it is even possible to do so. -- KATHY KEEHAN
15 Comments so far on this story...
I'm a cyclist, and like most cyclists, I'm also a motorist. I need help. Why is it, that when I'm driving my car, and a cyclist needs to use the full lane in front of me, that I feel impatient, and animosity towards that cyclist for getting in my way? And from the other perspective, why is it that when I'm commuting by bike, I feel that I'm doing the world a favor by reducing carbon emissions, and that I should be allowed special compensation, allowed to run red lights, allowed to cheat to the front of the line at a red light and go first, even if it slows motorists, even if it puts me in a position for the most common crash type, the right hook? Perhaps, although I understand intellectually that we're all in it together, that we need to behave charitably towards each other, that the roads don't belong to anyone, yet need to be shared by everyone, that I somehow don't yet believe it. What is it going to take for me to transform the intellectual understanding I have, to a true belief which I actually feel, and which drives my perceptions, and emotions? I suspect I'm not the only one who needs this therapy, but I'm willing to work on myself first. One of the areas in which I think we do need cycling infrastructure is where a route is available for motorists, but no reasonable alternative is available for bicyclists. Perhaps the most obvious example is the Coronado bridge on which cyclists are not allowed, and for which the only alternative is the ferry (limited hours, only once per hour each direction). A more subtle example is Clairemont to La Jolla, a mere 3.4 miles via freeway (SR 52), but 7.5 miles via the surface streets that cyclists have to take... that's twice as far, not to mention the canyons that have to be traversed along Regents, Genesee and La Jolla Village Drive. Click on the following link to see the two routes at google maps. Check the "Avoid highways" box to see the cycling route. link . How about a bridge over I-5? One of the areas in which I think we do need cycling infrastructure is where a route is available for motorists, but no reasonable alternative is available for bicyclists. Perhaps the most obvious example is the Coronado bridge on which cyclists are not allowed, and for which the only alternative is the ferry (limited hours, only once per hour each direction). A more subtle example is Clairemont to La Jolla, a mere 3.4 miles via freeway (SR 52), but 7.5 miles via the surface streets that cyclists have to take... that's twice as far, not to mention the canyons that have to be traversed along Regents, Genesee and La Jolla Village Drive. Click on the following link to see the two routes at google maps. Check the "Avoid highways" box to see the cycling route. link . How about a bridge over I-5? The organization Kathy directs, the SDCBC, has been doing a great deal for bicycling in San Diego, but so much more needs to be done on at least three fronts: 1) bicyclist education -- how to ride safely, lawfully, defensively, courteously, yet assertively in traffic; 2) motorist education -- bicyclists DO belong on our PUBLIC roadways; and 3) traffic engineering -- let's make traffic signal loop detectors respond to bicycles, and let's traffic-calm those high-speed free merges, diverges, and unions in a pedestrian- and bicyclist-friendly fashion. I would love a safer way to get downtown from North Park. You can either take Pershing Drive under the I-5, or cut through Balboa Park. Unfortunately, Pershing is a biker's gauntlet with the two high speed freeway entrances one has to cross. Then again, to get to Balboa Park, you either have to take Morley Field Drive up to Park (no shoulder, very dangerous) or University Avenue (ditto). A pedestrian bridge across Florida Canyon to Park Blvd is my dream solution. Any others? I used to ride a lot more until I got tired of sharing the streets with self-involved bike nazis who felt too good to obey the traffic laws and basically acted like only those who peddled in spandex should be on the roads. I'd like to know what the author thinks of these critical mass dunderheads who purposely cause traffic jams and put everybody, drivers, riders, and pedestrians, at risk. To NP Resident -- we all need to push for a reduced speed limit on Pershing Dr. and significant traffic calming (e.g. "squaring") of the mouths of the freeway onramps. This could be done quickly, and at low cost. Pershing is a real problem, because cyclists should always be given two alternative ways, one vehicular, the other pedestrian, to negotiate a nasty intersection. Unfortunately, the pedestrian crosswalk is horrendously mis-engineered, such that motorists cannot see pedestrians starting across until it is too late to stop. Larry, don't let the critical mass dunderheads and self-involved bike nazis get to you. Ride responsibly, courteously, lawfully, and safely, but get out there and ride and help the rest of us, including Kathy, Brian, and Serge, set a positive example. Kudos to the North Park Community Association who, when asked for improvement suggestions by N.P. residents at the last street fair, took the suggestion and ran with it. We asked for bicycle friendly improvements, like bike lock rails and bike lanes. Within months stylish bike rails were installed all around the 30th St. and University Ave. area. And recently Utah St., from Upas St. to Adams Ave., was repaved and bike lanes were added on both sides of the street. Thanks, N.P.C.A. Maybe it just takes some "face time" with the community and business associations to be heard. Hey, NP Resident, a possible alternate route might be to take 30th Street into Golden Hill, and then down B Street into downtown. I want to add to the comments on non-working traffic signal loop detectors. I know I can trigger the light by leaning my bike's metal chain ring and pedal over and down low, in the center of the circle as we are told, but it only works 1/2 the time, even in the newer intersections. If lights worked for cars only 1/2 the time, there would be bedlam! We need better sensors! I also believe this would help bicyclists feel less like renegades and more like equal roadway users. Maybe bicyclists would then treat stop signs and red lights correctly, by actually stopping, and obeying other laws that are supposed to make roads safer for all. I think our renegade attitudes about traffic laws stem in part from being treated as 2nd class roadway users every time that traffic signal loop detector won't work for us. I was it the SANDAG public workshop on the regional bicycle plan June 18th and I was surprised by the amount of planning and thought that has already gone into the cycling/commuting issue. I think by small degrees the “hardcores” (the critical mass) are out there drawing a line in the sand and saying these are our roads too. Their message may be a little abrasive but they do get some attention. I think we certainly can have a cycling town like Portland but you have to keep rattling the chains of those city and county officials.Whether you agree or not it does take small steps for those folks to listen but when you got Supervisor Cox and his legislative assistant Danny Melgoza showing up at that meeting it must mean something. All of the posts have been so great! I do have to say as a "Critical Masser" that we do take care to be safe on the roads. And we are doing quite a bit to further public officials to recognize our biking rights. Please don't let some radicals in the group lead to you to generalize the rest of us. We wear helmets, we have lights, and we are careful. We get more cheers from those drivers than we do angry fists, and most people want to know how they too can join in. If our city was a safer place for bicyclists to ride, and had more organized rides, it wouldn't take 1,200+ people riding once a month through the streets of San Diego. Riding your bike would just be accepted, and normal part of everyones lives. Why aren't roads and intersections designed with bicycles in mind before they're built, instead of requiring expensive upgrades after the fact on a case by case basis? Has anything been done to change the process? And why do construction workers put signs in the bike lanes? Are they ever cited for obstructing traffic, and if not, why not? What can San Diego do? Each of us who are able should find ways to trade out a car trip for a bike trip... start with what you can handle; shorter distances, easier hills, less daunting traffic situations; and of course on a safely maintained bike that fits you. Kathy is right, as more people experience and expand what they can accomplish by bicycling, more people will begin to realize that "Bikes Belong". Though I'm sorry I have to add this. Ride legally and responsibly! Bicycling through some of the traffic situations in San Diego takes some skill and abilities that most of us didn't learn when we were growing up. If you aren't sure how to get around effectively by bicycle, check in with the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition ( link ) for tips, free bike route maps, and training opportunities. Reader feedback
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