News and Other Links from San Diego and beyond
- The biggest news to list here is that the State Attorney General, Kamala Harris, has joined in the lawsuit filed against the SANDAG and its Board stating that “the 3.2 million residents of the San Diego region already suffer from the seventh worst ozone pollution in the country,” and that the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan prioritizes automotive transportation over bicycling and transit thus avoiding the purpose and intent behind creating the Regional Transportation Plan. I hope, that the case is settled and that the settlement results in allocating transportation dollars in a truly equitable manner allowing bicycling and walking to receive one third of the overall transportation budget.
- The SANDAG Regional Transportation Plan currently has allocated a paltry $3.4 billion out of a possible $200 billion for bicycling and walking projects. In order to effectively implement the Regional Bicycle Plan, SANDAG had announced two positions seeking Active Transportation Planners. Public pressure at the October 2011 Board meeting where the Regional Transportation was voted on allowed for the plan to fast track some projects that are currently in the Regional Bicycle Plan. Thus the need to implement projects in the Regional Bicycle Plan quickly and effectively has taken on increasing importance. The first Active Transportation Planner, Beth Robrahn, has been hired and will soon be on her way to San Diego to transform the region as she has in her former home.
- San Diego Magazine gives some love to our Bicycle Coordinator, Tom Landre, and his full time assistant, Jake Aquino.
- Encinitas will get a new bicycle and pedestrian underpass to allow for safer crossing of the railway tracks. The groundbreaking ceremony was held last Wednesday. Construction is expected to take between 8-9 months.
- La Jolla has a new Police Captain and he wants you to be a more engaged citizen and report suspicious activities or personal theft such as stolen bicycles. Capt. Brian Ahearn says, “sometimes when bikes have been stolen people figure, ‘I don’t want to bother the police,’ and they might be the 10th person in that one neighborhood who’s had a bike stolen that hasn’t called us.” Ahearn noted the exchange of information “is huge for us,” because it “helps identify the trends, figure out who’s stealing these bicycles so we can put a stop to it.”
- Mark Manion who is paralyzed after being struck by a drunk driver while riding on a cross country trip will be giving a talk about his experience at Ramona’s First Congregational Church on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m.
- The United States Postal Service will be releasing stamps with bicycle themed images on them in May.
- This would solve all our traffic signal woes: “to reduce waiting times for cyclists and pedestrians, the city of Graz has renewed and updated its system of pelican crossings (traffic light controlled crossings). At one crossing in the centre of Graz, cars and not pedestrians or cyclists have to be sensed by the signal controller in order for the traffic lights to turn green for them.”
- Do you live in Solana Beach and want to get more active in bike advocacy? Join Bike/Walk Solana.
- Another bike shop that can meet and exceed all your biking needs, at least in the East Village neighborhood.
- The Fallbrook/Bonsall Village News has a great writeup on the SOBs, or Senior on Bikes.
- Streetsblog has a writeup on how bike facilities are good for business.The Parks & Trails in New York, the New York State Canal Corporation and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor released a study[pdf] on the same subject along with how regions can attract more cyclists.