National City installs bicycle boxes. . .what are bike boxes?

The bike box is an intersection safety design to prevent bicycle/car collisions. It is a painted green space on the road with a white bicycle symbol inside. In some locations it includes a green bicycle lane approaching the box. The box creates space between motor vehicles and the crosswalk that allows bicyclists to position themselves ahead of motor vehicle traffic at an intersection.

National City received permission from the California Traffic Control Devices Committee (CTCDC) to install “Green” Bike Boxes at select signalized intersections along “D” Avenue, 4th Street and 18th Street (see photo above). The purpose of the green bike boxes, which are located at the front of a signalized intersection, just before the crosswalk, are to provide a highly visible, designated waiting
area for cyclists to allow them to get out in front of vehicles when the traffic signal turns
from red to green.

Another safety enhancement implemented was reverse angle parking, which provides drivers a clear line of site to check for other vehicles and cyclists prior to exiting from the parking space

In addition to the Community Corridor enhancements, National City partnered with A Reason to Survive (ARTS), a National City-based, non-profit that runs creative programs for youth facing adversity, local artist Roman De Salvo, and Sweetwater High School to design and fabricate artistic and functional bike racks through a $50,000 Active Transportation Grant.  Motivated students from Sweetwater High’s Welding Academy were selected each semester to participate in product development, hosted at ARTS workshop and design studio.

Completion of the projects will be celebrated Thursday, October 16th at 2:00 p.m. at Kimball Park.  There will be a bike rodeo with prizes for kids, free bike tune-ups, bike safety tips for families and more. Special thanks to the National City Rotary and Host Lions Clubs for donating bikes that will be raffled off for free during the event.

Don’t forget to bring your bike and a helmet!  Teen and adult cyclists interested in experiencing the new bike facilities in National City are encouraged to meet at El Toyon Park with their bikes and helmets by 1:15 p.m. to participate in a symbolic bike ride along 4th Street and “D” Avenue to Kimball Park. Cyclists will be making a pit-stop at GAMA Produce Market (corner of 4th Street and Palm Avenue) for healthy snacks.