A Wonderful Transformation for West Point Loma Blvd
Yay - I will finally be able to safely ride my bike down West Point Loma Blvd to get ice cream at 31 Flavors. And I can stop at Barons and Grocery Outlet for some groceries. And the next day, I might hit the bank and enjoy a yoga class. A short bike ride to local businesses is a great amenity for all of us.
I am truly grateful for the community of Ocean Beach and Point Loma for supporting this amazing opportunity to repurpose our streets as they are resurfaced. Many thanks also to Council Member Campbell for supporting a Class IV bikeway to provide a safe facility for all ages and abilities. Repurposing our streets as they are resurfaced is a very cost-effective approach to making our streets safer while providing an option for more people to bike, walk, and roll. And West Point Loma is a perfect example.
The segment along West Point Loma Blvd from Nimitz Blvd to Sports Arena Blvd will be going on a “road diet” or shall we say it is being transformed to accommodate all users of the road. Vehicle lanes will be reduced to one lane in each direction but the choke points at the west and east end will not be changed, meaning all turn lanes towards Nimitz and Sports Arena/Midway will remain. Reducing the number of vehicle lanes will provide the space for a safe and comfortable bikeway, also referred to as a Class IV Bikeway or Cycle Track. The reduction of lanes will create traffic calming to foster safer driving behaviors. Speeds will be reduced but the average travel time through this corridor will be relatively the same (approximately a 4 second delay). This small few seconds is well worth the safety benefits for all. We applaud the City of SD for implementing a true Vision Zero Solution for Safety as the recommended treatment and support the City’s goals for safety to be a top priority.
There are other benefits to the neighborhood: home values will likely increase, parents can let their kids get to their neighborhood schools by foot or bike, and more people will be out and about visiting local business and being social. This all creates a more vibrant, healthy, and enjoyable place to live, work, and play.
Just in time for summer, our neighbors to the east of Nimitz, can now safely hop on their bike and safely pedal to the beach and best of all, they will not have to worry about parking a car. They will now have the best front row parking on the sand, all without contributing to traffic on Sunset Cliffs. I look forward to sharing smiles with new riders in the neighborhood. Thank you again, to all of you, for supporting a healthy lifestyles and a healthy future. Ride on…
A Ride with Candidates in District 2
By BikeSD Board Member Nicole Burgess
I want to send many thanks to both Sarah Boot and Council Member Lorie Zapf for taking the time to experience a ride through District 2 with BikeSD. Both women listened and experienced our concerns for safety and the need for many improvements.
Last fall, BikeSD member Michael Muhammed and I escorted Sarah Boot by bike through many areas of District 2, including the busy intersection of Nimitz Blvd and Sunset Cliffs Blvd. Thank you, Sarah, for being brave and taking the challenge of cycling through this busy area of high vehicle traffic.
This past month, board member Austin Graves and I escorted Lorie Zapf and staff Kelly Batten along Morena Blvd to the Nimitz intersection. Although we did not take on the challenge of cycling this area, we were able to observe the difficulties and discuss the challenges to cyclists and pedestrians.
Both of the rides took the candidates throughout the many different types of bike facilities:
- Class 1 - a protected bike path along the San Diego River Trail
- Class 2 - bike lanes (some that included green paint or buffered bike lanes) and
- Class 3 - signage for a suggested bike route but no actual paint markings or sense of comfort.
It was clearly evident that our comfort level was affected as we traveled between the different types of facilities. It was also troublesome to note that many of the inconsistent bike lanes are due to Caltrans' lack of facility improvements.
Here is a great example of the transitions between facilities that were experienced during the ride with Lorie Zapf. After enjoying a very comfortable class 1 protected bike path along the San Diego River Trail, heading north on South Morena Blvd. through freeway interchanges that have no bike facilities was unnerving. At one point, Lorie asked if we could ride on the sidewalk through that section due to her fear. I encouraged her to stay confident and go with the flow of traffic as there are no curb ramps for these sidewalks. After we traveled through this area we reached the improved lanes of buffered bike lanes and green paint. At the traffic light, we discussed how our experience changed when we entered the improved section. We were so relieved. We went from being totally scared and stressed to relaxed and comfortable! The relaxing experience was thanks to simple paint and our city staff Brian Genovese, who led installation efforts. But as previously noted, Caltrans is not doing their part to provide safe facilities in their right-of-way, which is the main reason we are lacking continuous bike facilities in these dangerous areas. I hope Council Member Zapf will take initiative to work with Caltrans to improve these high-conflict areas near freeway interchanges.
The vision of Nimitz Blvd as a Neighborhood Greenway from I-8 to Harbor Drive is a priority for Bike Walk San Diego District 2 (formerly known as the District 2 Pedestrian Bike Advisory Committee). There is great potential and much community support to provide a protected bike facility connecting the San Diego River Trail to the class 1 bike path along Harbor Drive. Since a section of Nimitz Blvd will be resurfaced in the next few months, we hope that these women can influence Caltrans to improve the facilities near the dangerous I-8 intersection so that riders will not be left to defend themselves through the absence of bike lanes. New paint will help with these efforts but grade separation is truly what is needed. Nimitz Blvd is one of SANDAG’s Early Action Projects and we hope that our future council member will be able to support and expedite this project as an important corridor for the city. As Supervisor Ron Roberts stated in support, “Nimitz Boulevard is a community asset that connects schools, parks, beaches, bays, military installations, trails, recreational activities, and much more. This highly anticipated revision of Nimitz Boulevard would create a safe connection that is needed in this community. By providing more transportation options, it also will enhance regional connectivity.” Supervisor Greg Cox stated, “The creation of a class-1 bicycling facility along Nimitz Boulevard will not only provide an aesthetically pleasing greenway through the Point Loma community, it will ensure that our children and residents using the route and are able to safely transport themselves along a very busy corridor.” We look forward to continued support for the Nimitz corridor to become a reality.
I believe the rides were a great experience for both candidates and they each understand the need for better bike infrastructure in District 2 and throughout the city. Thank you again to Council Member Lorie Zapf, Kelly Batten, Sarah Boot and BikeSD members Michael and Austin for taking the time to discuss the need for better bike facilities in District 2.
Nimitz Boulevard Gets an Upgrade: Green Bike Lanes
BikeSD member, Anthony Starkey, sent these photos in today of the new green bike lanes that went in to enhance the buffered bike lanes:
If you've had a chance to ride the new lanes, what did you think?
County Board of Supervisors Chairman Greg Cox Supports Protected Bicycle Facilities on Nimitz Boulevard
BikeSD Board member and Ocean Beach resident, Nicole Burgess, has been steadily advocating to transform Nimitz Boulevard from its current sorry state to a world-class greenway that provides a safe passage for all its users, especially its bicycle riders. Burgess leads Ocean Beach's bike train to school on a daily basis and traversing the high speed sections of Nimitz Boulevard doesn't make for a very pleasant riding environment for either adults or children.
Burgess has engaged her local Councilmember, Kevin Faulconer in her advocacy efforts and now her efforts have gotten the support from the County Board of Supervisors Chairman, Greg Cox. Below is a copy of the letter Cox sent to Caltrans Transportation Planner, Connery Cepeda stating his support for a Class 1 bike facility on Nimitz Boulevard. The SANDAG Regional Bike Plan calls for cycletracks to be built on Nimitz Boulevard as part of its early action projects and we hope that this letter of support from Chairman Cox speeds up the design and construction process so more children in Ocean Beach can ride in comfort to their schools on a safe, comfortable and inviting bicycle facility.
Foto Friday: Riding into the New Year - Signs of Improvement in District 2
Article and photos by BikeSD member and supporter, Kelly Cummings.
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Way finding has been made easier for bicyclists with the addition of new signage. This example (above) is on the north side of the Sunset Cliffs Bridge over the San Diego River.
Late October 2012, BikeSD board member Nicole Burgess led San Diego City Senior Traffic Engineers Brian Genovese and Lynn Wade on an exploratory ride around Ocean Beach. Lynn Wade worked to document the need for way finding signage to help people navigate easily into the different areas of Ocean Beach by bicycle.
Below are some examples of the recent changes and additions to bicycle signage for way finding in the Ocean Beach area. There is much more than this going up around town. Have you noticed any new signs? Send us an image and location.
that helps to direct riders into specific areas of this beach community.
With the coming bike share program soon to roll out in San Diego, all this infrastructure improvement including signage, buffered bike lanes and improved road conditions will help to make San Diego a desirerable place to visit and live. Leveraging the good weather, natural beauty and terrific accommodations found in San Diego will help to make our city attractive to our "velo visitors", be they vacationers, conventioneers, business people and of course our local citizens.