Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Farmers Insurance Open Bike Valet

The Farmers Insurance Open is partnering with the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition to offer patrons free bike (non-motorized) parking. For each fan who uses their bicycle and checks in with SD Bike Coalition, Farmers will donate $10 to the organization.
The bike “valet” area will be on the tennis courts of the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines. Bike racks and security will be provided beginning at 5:45 a.m. on Wednesday, and at 7 a.m. on Thursday – Sunday.
February 4th - 8th, 2015
The Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines
10950 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037


Thursday, January 15, 2015

Carlsbad Village Business Owner Spotlight - Choice Superfood





“McDonald’s isn’t the only one that can have a playground.” This keen outlook inspired San Diego native Nastasha McKeon, Founder and CEO of Choice Superfood Bar& Juicery located on the corner of Carlsbad Village Drive and State Street, to transform her business into a village oasis. In less than a year, Nastasha’s passion about creative alternatives is making a difference and transforming Carlsbad into a better place. Not only does her business provide healthy food choices, it serves as an active community space, hosting meetups, yoga classes, music festival groups, and movie screenings. “Events are what drive community, and businesses, and people,” Nastasha shared. We couldn’t agree more.

The City of Carlsbad, Circulate San Diego and the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition announced recently the launch of Walk + Bike Carlsbad, a campaign to promote walking and biking in Carlsbad. This 12-month effort, funded with a grant by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), will encourage more walking and biking throughout the city, with a special emphasis on the Village, Barrio, and beach strand areas. Like Nastasha, Walk + Bike Carlsbad values healthy lifestyles, connectivity, sustainability and economic vitality.

Choice’s green space features relaxed communal tables where people sit surrounded by neighbors, trees, and family. Nastasha is a mom herself, raising two little ones who attend local elementary schools. They walk there together. Making the Village her home, Nastasha believes walkability and bicycling are essential to our community and its future. In other areas of San Diego County, she noted, cars dominate the streets. Since moving to the Village, Nastasha has discovered that Carlsbad is a natural fit for active lifestyles, a place to run, surf, and ride bikes with family. “There is something so amazing about life when you don’t have to get into a car to go somewhere.” 

This is our ideal of “village life,” too. In addition to her welcoming enclave, Nastasha partners with Carlsbad Inn, which offers a weekly walking tour stopping at Choice for free samples of juices and smoothies. Nastasha has noticed a direct and positive impact on business from this partnership. Nastasha looks forward to participating in the Walk+Bike campaign as a fresh start to a New Year, an opportunity to improve work culture at Choice, and a life-long goal to bring positive change to her community. Let’s make this our resolution. 

For more information about Walk + Bike Carlsbad, visit

Monday, January 12, 2015

Walk+Bike Carlsbad


 

Walk + Bike Carlsbad Launches


The City of Carlsbad, Circulate San Diego and the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition announced today the launch of Walk + Bike Carlsbad, a campaign to promote walking and biking in Carlsbad, just in time for those seeking fitness and lifestyle changes in the new year. The 12-month effort, funded with a grant by the San Diego Association of Governments, will encourage more walking and biking throughout the city, with a special emphasis on the Village area.

City of Carlsbad Associate Planner Pam Drew said Carlsbad is a perfect place for a campaign like Walk + Bike.

“With new bike racks, bike lanes and lighting, it is easier than ever to walk and bike in Carlsbad Village,” said Drew, who is overseeing the campaign for the city. “Walk + Bike fits right in with the community’s values around healthy lifestyles, connectivity, sustainability and economic vitality.”

The San Diego Association of Governments provides “active transportation” grants to support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, alleviate traffic congestion and improve public health throughout the region. The Walk + Bike Carlsbad campaign will serve as a model for the San Diego region to be replicated in other cities for similar campaigns.

According to America Walks, nearly half of the trips made by car in the U.S. are under one mile. These short, one-mile trips equate to a less than five minute bicycle ride or a 20 minute walk. Walk + Bike Carlsbad encourages turning these short driving trips into walking and bicycling trips.

Circulate San Diego Executive Director Jim Stone said, “Walk + Bike is a natural fit for Carlsbad because it is such a great environment for these kinds of activities. With the campaign, we’re suggesting people leave the car in the driveway for those short trips around town, rather than driving. Taking this step allows you to rediscover the joy, beauty, and benefits of walking and biking.”

The campaign will include events, outreach to schools, business promotions and other activities throughout the year. In January, casual walk and bike “meetups” will be held, along with the campaign’s first mobility workshop on Jan. 31 at the Carlsbad Senior Center. More details about these events can be found on the campaign website at www.carlsbadca.gov/walkbike.

San Diego County Bicycle Coalition Executive Director Andy Hanshaw said, “We are excited to partner with the city and Circulate San Diego on this campaign and to host the first Walk + Bike mobility workshop on Jan. 31. The City of Carlsbad has already made significant investments in its walking and biking infrastructure by putting in bike racks and adding crosswalks. We hope the workshops and other events will help encourage the community to take advantage of this infrastructure by walking and biking more.”

This campaign builds on recent improvements made as part of the city’s “livable streets” program, which aims to make city streets more accessible to people using all modes of transportation, not just vehicles. In addition to the new bike racks and crosswalks, the city has made it easier to walk or bike by improving bike lanes, adding new bike lanes and “sharrows,” widening sidewalks and improving signage and lighting. Many of these projects were made possible through SANDAG grants.

“The City of Carlsbad is proud to partner on Walk + Bike Carlsbad with the region’s leading experts in active transportation,“ said Drew. “We’re excited to be seen as a model in promoting active transportation and working with our partners. Their expertise, combined with the city’s investment in better infrastructure for walkers and bicyclists, will be important for the campaign’s success. We also need the community’s participation in the events and activities that will take place throughout the year.”

For more information, visit www.carlsbadca.gov/walkbike.
For more information
Pam Drew, 760- 602-4644, pam.drew@carlsbadca.gov
City media contact
Kristina Ray, 760-434-2957, kristina.ray@carlsbadca.gov

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Bayshore Bikeway Barrio Logan Segment Community Meeting

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is planning improvements to the Bayshore Bikeway between 32nd Street and Park Boulevard in the City of San Diego, known as the Barrio Logan segment. Interested parties and community members are invited to attend the second community stakeholder’s meeting to hear about and provide comments on preliminary plans for how the bikeway could be implemented along Harbor Drive.

WHEN: Monday, February 2, 2015
6-8 p.m.
WHERE: Woodbury University School of Architecture -2212 Main St. San Diego, CA 92113

This is a public meeting. Any interested members of the public are welcome to attend.

About the Project

The Bayshore Bikeway is a major corridor in the regional bike network, and the Barrio Logan segment is one of the last major segments of the Bayshore Bikeway to be constructed. It will provide a comfortable and attractive place to ride a bike along Harbor Drive that is separated from vehicle traffic. The Barrio Logan segment will connect to the existing Bayshore Bikeway at the bayfront promenade in front of the San Diego Convention Center, and to an existing section of bike path now under construction south of 32nd Street.




Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Roundabouts In San Diego County

What is a Roundabout?

A roundabout is an intersection where traffic travels around a central island in a counter-clockwise direction. Vehicles entering or exiting the roundabout must yield to vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

 This handout will better help you understand the ends and outs of a Roundabout.

Roundabouts can be found in La Jolla and there is a recently installed one in Carlsbad, on Rt. 101.