SAN DIEGO, September 27, 2013 – Today
San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) approved scenario 1 for the
regional bike plan early action program, which allows a $200 million investment
in high priority bike projects over the next 10 years. The
San
Diego County Bicycle Coalition (SDCBC), an organization protecting the rights of all people who ride
bicycles, says this is a momentous step toward
creating a regional bicycle network of
interconnected corridors, support facilities and programs to make
bicycling a convenient form of transportation.
“The momentum for
bicycling as an active form of transportation in San Diego County is in high
gear,” said Andy Hanshaw, Executive Director of SDCBC. “By approving scenario
1 for the regional bike plan, SANDAG has put into motion essential improvements
that will enable folks to ride bicycles more safely on more direct and
convenient routes that connect more cities throughout the county.”
In 2011, SANDAG’s board of
directors made a commitment to active transportation with the adoption of the 2050
Regional Transportation Plan and its Sustainable Communities Strategy,
which included integration of Riding to 2050: San Diego Regional Bicycle
Plan previously approved in 2010. The board developed the bike plan early
action program, and in April 2012, SANDAG’s transportation committee accepted
its goals and began initial cost estimates. Following a recommendation by the
transportation committee, today’s final action by the board approved scenario 1
for the early action program prioritizing projects included within the 2050
Regional Transportation Plan.
Some high profile projects
in the list of early action priorities include the North Park – Mid-City bike
corridor, the Uptown bicycle corridor, several Coastal Rail Trail San Diego
bikeways, San Diego River Trail bikeways, additional Bayshore Bikeway
connections and some downtown to southeast San Diego connections.
According the Hanshaw,
these much-needed bicycling improvements in San Diego County complement the
greater bicycle momentum occurring throughout all parts of the region. Earlier
this week, Governor Brown announced that he signed a bill that will require
cars to give three feet of space when passing a bicycle rider on the road. The
City of San Diego and its bike share partner, DECOBIKE, are currently searching for
input on locations for the new bike share system slated to open in 2014. Also, San Diego’s business improvement districts
run the nation’s largest bicycle friendly program of its kind.
“SANDAG’s approval for
early action on these high-priority bicycle road and pathway improvements
nicely wraps together bicycle-related projects and improvements occurring
simultaneously in all parts of the county,” Hanshaw said.
