Three Feet for Safety Act

News: California Road-Sharing Law Goes Into Effect September 16th

The “Three-Feet-for-Safety Act” legally mandates that California motorists give bicyclists at least three feet of space when passing them on the road and also provides a way for law enforcement to enforce safe passing.  The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, the Automobile Club of Southern California,   California Highway Patrol-Border Division and San Diego Police Dept. will launch locally the “I GIVE 3 FT” safety awareness campaign on Tuesday, Sept. 16, the day the law goes into effect.  The traffic safety groups are urging motorists to give bicyclists at least 3 feet clearance when passing. Read more…

The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition was proud to play a role in getting this law passed by supporting the “Three-Feet-for-Safety-Act” in conjunction with the California Bicycle Coalition, who led the state-wide efforts to get it passed. 

View the new California Vehicle Code Section 21760.

Now that we have this important safety measure as law, the Bike Coalition will continue to work with local law enforcement to help educate the public about the new law and its importance to all of us who share the road. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Proving a Violation

Support our “I Give 3 Ft” bicycle safety awareness campaign by donating or becoming a member of the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition today.

Spread the word on Facebook + twitter. 

Bike Coalition Executive Director Appointed to City's First-Ever Bicycle Advisory Committee

Andy Hanshaw appointed to guide city bicycle initiatives until mid-2016

Today, San Diego City Council appointed Andy Hanshaw to the City’s first-ever Bicycle Advisory Committee with a term ending July 1, 2016. Recommendations from Mayor Faulconer included Hanshaw, executive director of the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition and Point Loma resident, and Kyle Heiskala of Hillcrest. 

Hanshaw and Heiskala joined six additional bicycle advocates and residents from around the city to serve on the advisory board, including Coalition Board Member and Advocate of the Year, Randy Van Vleck. Others appointed include: 

• Kathleen Keehan (Rancho Bernardo)
• Michael Brennan (Hillcrest)
• Nicole Burgess (Point Loma)
• Petr Krysl (University City)
• Samantha Ollinger (City Heights)

In March, San Diego City Council unanimously approved its first-ever Bicycle Advisory Committee to provide guidance to the City on local bicycle projects to make a safer, more accessible and bike-able city, including the implementation of the Bicycle Master Plan Update.

“The City has a lot of great bicycling initiatives coming to fruition and copious opportunities to become one of the most bike-friendly cities in the nation,” says Hanshaw. “I look forward to working with the committee members and elevating San Diego to be a premiere city for bicycling.”

The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, an organization protecting and advocating for the rights of all people who ride bicycles, celebrates that the City of San Diego joins numerous cities in the county that have formally and informally sanctioned bicycle advisory committees.

For more information on Hanshaw and the Bike Coalition, please visit www.sdcbc.org. 

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San Diego County Bicycle Coalition (SDCBC) is a nonprofit organization that advocates for and protects the rights of all people who ride bicycles. They promote bicycling as a mainstream, safe and enjoyable form of transportation and recreation. For more information, go to www.sdcbc.org.  

USA Today Names San Diego in Ten Best Bike-Friendly Cities

San Diego only California city recognized in national bikeability list

Yesterday USA Today released its list of the ten best cities nationwide for bicycling. San Diego was the only California city mentioned. To read the article, click here. 

According to the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, the recognition is warmly welcomed but long overdue. “San Diego is making great strides and we’ve got even more on the way to be excited about including CicloSDias, bike share and the regional bike plan,” says Executive Director Andy Hanshaw. 

Major accomplishments from the past year include: 

• Launching San Diego’s first ever open-streets celebration, CicloSDias
• SANDAG’s approval of $200-million for a regional bike plan Early Action program 
• San Diego’s first bike share program with DECOBikes unanimously approved
• Record number of Bike to Work Day participants in May, 2014

The USA Today article highlights scenic and luxurious bicycle routes in San Diego including the Silver Strand, the ride to Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma and the Pacific Coast Highway route up the coastline and through some of the county’s most beautiful beach towns. 

For more information on bicycle opportunities and developments in San Diego, please visit www.sdcbc.org. 

San Diego Bike Loop is open for business!

On Tuesday morning, Andy Hanshaw, Bike Coalition Executive Director joined Mayor Kevin Faulconer and City Council President Todd Gloria for the announcement of the new San Diego Bike Loop: a seven-mile network of on-street bike lanes linking downtown, Little Italy, Banker’s Hill and Balboa Park.

The Loop connects riders with many of San Diego’s top destinations, including Balboa Park, the Gaslamp, Petco Park, the Central Library, City College and the new Waterfront Park. It includes buffered bike lanes on some streets and sharrows on shared roadways. The route is marked at the beginning and end of each block with a green way-finding symbol.

“[The Loop] provides a beautiful ride for both cycling enthusiasts and casual riders,” Mayor Faulconer said. “It’s the kind of low-cost project that has a huge impact on our neighborhoods and we’re going to be doing a lot more of them in the future.”


Todd Gloria noted the success of the “road diet” on 4th and 5th Avenues that replaced a car lane with a buffered bike lane. “When I travel from my home to my office downtown, I see how well used these bike lanes are,” he said.

“Our streets are not just for cars,” Gloria went on. “They are for people. With more people choosing biking not only as a form of exercise but as a real transportation option, providing safe bikeways is a smart investment.”

Nikola Modrusan, a junior at High Tech High, was pleased with the new route. “It would be nice to have more things like this,” he said.
In his remarks, the Mayor suggested that Modrusan may not have to wait long: “We have the opportunity to do more projects like this in other neighborhoods around the city. This is just the beginning.”

Long after the news crews departed and the street returned to normal, a steady trickle of bicyclists could be seen making their way up 5th Avenue in the buffered lanes.

City of San Diego to form a Bicycle Advisory Committee- Join us in support on March 4th at City Council

The City of San Diego is to form a Bicycle Advisory Committee - Join us in support on Tuesday, March 4th at 10 AM! The San Diego City Council will take action on it’s consent agenda on Tuesday to officially form a Bicycle Advisory Committee for the City. This is a significant development for all who ride and is part of the recommendations, which were previously approved, in the Bicycle Master Plan Update. The Bicycle Advisory Committee will allow for advocates and citizens to provide valuable guidance to the city as they continue to implement the plan to provide a safer, more accessible, and bike-able city. Please join us at Council Chambers at 10 am next Tuesday. Thanks for your support!

CITY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

COUNCIL CHAMBERS 12THFLOOR

202 C STREET

SAN DIEGO, CA 92101

http://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/pdf/officialdocs/legisdocs/140304tuesdaydocksupp4.pdf

Bicycle Coalition Celebrates San Diego’s Big 13 of 2013

Two-wheeled momentum builds from Coronado to Oceanside

On December 12th, people who love bicycles rolled into SILO in Makers Quarter to spin joy for the county’s top 13 bicycle achievements in 2013. The third annual Holiday Joy Ride showcased achievements such as major route and parking improvements, government and agency bicycling plans, open street celebrations and events attended by everyday people on two (and sometimes three) wheels.

In no particular order, the Bicycle Coalition notes the big 13 of 2013 as: 

• CicloSDias – San Diego’s first open streets celebration celebrates car-free streets
• New Belgium Brewing’s Tour de Fat raises more than $40,000 for local bicycling nonprofits
• Thousands of bicycles cross the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge for sixth annual Bike the Bay and raise more than $62,000 for the Bicycle Coalition
• Mayoral Candidates address plan for livable streets and communities
• The Bicycle Coalition hosts dozens of classes and public workshops to prepare anyone bicycling with safety tips
• SANDAG approves $200-million for regional bike plan Early Action program
• San Diego’s first-ever bike share program with DECO Bikes unanimously approved (scheduled to launch in 2014)
• Bike to Work Day gets a record number of participants in 2013 (over 9,000)
• Cities across San Diego County install bike corrals, green bike lanes, sharrows and other infrastructure enhancements
• The Bicycle Coalition hosts free bicycle valet at over twenty community events in San Diego County
• Regional Bike Walk Alliance created by the Bicycle Coalition represented by Bicycle and Pedestrian groups in Oceanside, Coronado, Chula Vista, Encinitas, Vista, Escondido, Solana Beach and San Diego City Council District 2
• Partnership with San Diego Business Improvement District Council holds Monthly Bike Local Sundays to encourage folks to ride and shop at local businesses
• San Diego City Council Approves $312 Million Bicycle Master Plan Update 

In addition to bicycling improvements throughout the county, the Bicycle Coalition honored the winners of its Golden Gear Awards for those who went above and beyond to make San Diego more bicycle friendly in 2013. The winners include:

• Advocate of the Year: Randy Van Vleck of City Heights Community Development Corporation
• Volunteers of the Year: Julie Hocking and Robert Leone
• Community Partner of the Year: KPRI Radio
• Public Partner of the Year: San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)
• Bike Friendly Business of the Year: New Belgium Brewing

For more information on the Bicycle Coalition and how to get involved in its successes in 2014, please visit www.sdcbc.org. 

Monday: San Diego City Council to Hear $312 Million Bicycle Master Plan Update

San Diego County Bicycle Coalition supports City’s long-term bicycling vision  

WHAT:

San Diego is looking into its bicycling crystal ball – what will the future hold for our growing two-wheeled community? On Monday, City Council will vote to approve or deny the Bicycle Master Plan Update, a citywide policy document to guide the development and maintenance of San Diego’s bicycle network over the next 20 years.

With support from the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, the new plan includes an assessment of the existing infrastructure in San Diego and recommends increased bicycle parking, improved bicycle signage, bicycle safety courses and approximately 878 miles of proposed bike lanes and bike routes throughout San Diego County.

WHY:

Approval of this plan ensures San Diego will see twenty years of bicycle advancements and that bicycle commuting is a trend that is not going away but growing. The projected improvements to the current bicycle infrastructure will ensure that cyclists have better access to local businesses, transit centers, shopping districts, parks, and other local amenities to make San Diego a bicycle-friendly destination for locals and tourists alike.

WHERE: San Diego City Council chambers: 202 C Street, San Diego, 92101

WHO:

·    San Diego City Councilmembers

·    San Diego County Bicycle Coalition

·    All people who ride bicycles in San Diego

WHEN: Monday, December 9

VICTORY: SANDAG Approves $200 million for Regional Bike Plan Projects

San Diego County Bicycle Coalition calls this an historic moment for the bicycling community

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. 

For more information on the Bicycle Coalition’s strategic initiatives, visit www.sdcbc.org. 

CicloSDias: First-ever Celebration Joyfully Embraced by Community and Local Businesses

Premiere open streets celebration surges neighborhood businesses and inspires livable communities

The City of San Diego proudly premiered CicloSDias this Sunday, August 11, to offer the community a break from the stress of car traffic, promote local business and establish San Diego as a bicycle-friendly city with open streets celebrations. 

Photo by K.C. Alfred / UT San Diego

A press conference featuring Coucilmembers Marti Emerald and David Alvarez and County Supervisor Dave Roberts kicked off the event at 10 a.m., and the 5.2-mile route of CicloSDias officially opened to all those who felt the urge to bike, walk, or dance in the car-free street. The course extended from Golden Hill through North Park and South Park to reach Cherokee Point Elementary School in City Heights, looping through popular parts of each neighborhood and including hundreds of local businesses.

“This free event gave the streets back to the people for just one day, and everyone loved it,” said Andy Hanshaw, executive director for San Diego County Bicycle Coalition (SDCBC). “The local businesses were booming and grateful, participants were out riding around and running into people they knew - there was a contagious feeling of cheerfulness. The success of this event represents a shift toward a future of livable communities and shared streets.”

CicloSDias brought an estimated 10,000-15,000 friends and family members (including four-legged ones) out to spend their Sunday riding, walking, strolling and skipping though some of San Diego’s most picturesque parks, neighborhoods and districts at no cost. Local businesses saw a surge in activity as participants “shopped local.” Spontaneous bands played on the sidewalk, dancers put on performances, stores brought their products outside to sample and businesses offered specials to rejoice in all the activity of the first-ever event. 

“Surveys have shown that residents want to walk and bike more and spend less time in the car,” said Hanshaw. “CicloSDias brought people out of their homes and cars and into the streets to enjoy San Diego with neighbors. We hope to give our communities the same opportunity again next year.” 

Two more community friendly events will round out this year’s Triple Crown of bicycling events including the 6^th Annual Bike the Bay on August 25 and Tour de Fat on September 28. 

For more information on CicloSDias, visit www.ciclosdias.com, or email info@ciclosdias.com. For daily updates, follow on Facebook and Twitter. Also visit www.sdcbc.org for more information on local cycling events in San Diego.

Support a Start-up Bicycle Academy in San Diego

Please help our friend Messy Jessie as she works to open San Diego's own Bicycle Academy. Her business will not only teach youth and adults how to repair bicycles, but will donate the used bicycles from the program to provide transportation to those in need. Cool, huh? Read below for more details and check out her crowd funding campaign:



Local bike shop Messy Jessie's is launching a fundraising campaign. The goal of this campaign is to open San Diego's very own Bicycle Academy. This academy will offer curriculum bases after-school programs to middle and high school aged students. The students will learn basic bicycle mechanics on donated bicycles, assessing their needs, and repairing them to get them back out into the community. The fixed bicycles will be given to local shelters and organizations, providing transportation to those in need.

The academy will operate in the same fashion as a school, following curriculum, offering mentorship programs and ultimately preparing students to function in a shop environment.

The funds raised will go towards securing a facility in which to teach. They will cover the costs of building the schoool and be used toward the publishing and printing of workbooks designed to aid in education.

The benefits of this academy won't end with youth programs. The community can use the space to host speaking events, art shows, ride in movie nights and anything else it can thing of.

Contributions are raised through Indiegogo:

www.indiegogo.com/projects/messy-jessie-s/x/3596367 

Checks made payable to "Messy Jessie's" can be mailed to
Messy Jessie's
P.O. Box 34575
San Diego, CA 92163

www.messyjessies.com

3 Ways to Help CicloSDias

Please join us in supporting CicloSDias -- San Diego’s first-ever open streets community-wide event. 

On August 11^th, CicloSDias will open 5.2 miles of car-free streets in the heart of San Diego to pedestrians, cyclists, families, and anyone who can imagine a new way to use them.

This is an exciting opportunity for neighbors and community members to come together and enjoy open, car-free streets and support a clean, healthy and vibrant San Diego. What’s more, ‘open street’ initiatives in other cities have proven to be a powerful catalyst, driving those cities to become more walk-able, bike-able, and transit friendly.

Watch the video

We are asking you to join us and invest in San Diego by helping the CicloSDias crowd-funding campaign.  The CicloSDias Steering Committee is seeking to raise $15,000 in 15 days to cover event-related expenses, including traffic re-routing and control, police, and emergency medical services, and community outreach efforts.

We are off to a great start (20% funded) but we still have a ways to go. Please help launch CicloSDias in one of 3 easy ways: 

1.     Become a Supporter: This is FREE. All you have to do is visit the crowd funding page and choose "become a supporter." The more supporters the campaign has, the more people will hear about the campaign and show their own support! 

2.       Make a donation: Donations of any size make a difference, so please make a contribution. You will become part of history! (And, there's some fun rewards involved too).

3. Become a Fundraiser: Support the campaign by reaching into your own network of friends and family and encourage them to donate to your personal fundraising campaign. We have additional rewards for top fundraisers!

Thank you for your support!

Ride Your Bike to Opening Day!

The East Village is once again hosting the Padres Opening Day Block Party on Tuesday April 9th.

Your San Diego County Bicycle Coalition will be there providing free bike valet service, so ride your bike and avoid the traffic and hassle of parking a car. We will keep your bike safe and secure during the block party and game!

J Street will be closed off from 6th to 10th Avenue for the Block Party where there will be live music, great food from local artisans and a Stone Brewing Beer Garden. Click here for more info about the block party. 

We will be set up from 11 AM to 6 PM (the game starts at 3:30). Just look for the SDCBC tent and racks! 

City of Coronado Public Meeting to Discuss Bayshore Bikeway Improvements

The City of Coronado recently held a public meeting to discuss changes to the intersection of the Bayshore Bikeway with the entrance to the to the Coronado Cays development, and the Coalition was there to make sure cyclists needs were addressed.

The meeting kicked off with a presentation on the intersection. The project consultants gave some background on the large number of bikes and pedestrians crossing the entrances only a daily basis and a few accidents that have occurred. Attendees were then invited to place sticky notes of Ariel shots of the project noting problems or potential solutions.

The meeting was dominated by Cays homeowners, and many had stories of near misses with cyclists. While some homeowners wanted to force cyclists to stop and dismount before crossing the road, most realized that the main problem was visibility. With high walls leading up to the entrance from both sides and a guard booth right in the middle of the car drivers, they have trouble seeing cyclists coming from either direction along the Bayshore Bikeway.  The Coalition supports making improvements to the intersection while maintaining the flow of bicycles and pedestrians in one of the region’s busiest active transportation corridors.

Click here to view the intersection.

Many homeowners ride the Bayshore Bikeway themselves and saw that improvements could make for a safer ride and help beautify the entrance with new landscaping.  At the next meeting, scheduled for April 2nd, the project consultants will present some potential design options based on the feedback received.

If you ride the Bayshore Bikeway and would like to share your experience, you can email project engineer Darlene Danehy at ddanehy@psomas.com.

San Diego City Council Passes Resolution Promising Bicycle Infrastructure Improvements

Last week the San Diego City Council unanimously passed resolution promising bicycle infrastructure improvements to enhance safety.

BikeSD worked with Council Member Zapf on the resolution in response to the deaths of two cyclists in separate incidents in the councilmembers’ district over the past year. The resolution calls for the City to plan and develop infrastructure projects, explore ways to make cycling safer, support grants and other funding to build facilities and maintain staffing to implement projects.  You can read the complete resolution here:

http://dockets.sandiego.gov/sirepub/cache/2/qgctf355pl3rc245lywuogn4/50618303142013094428374.PDF

BikeSD and SDCBC came out in support of the resolution while noting that it will take more than resolutions to ensure that all people who ride bikes are safely accommodated on our roads. Momentum has been building improving cycling in San Diego, but this resolution reaffirms the City’s commitment to implement the 2011 Bicycle master plan and other programs. Aggressive action is needed to avoid more needless deaths and injuries to cyclists.

 In their discussion of the resolution, it was clear that the councilmembers shared a desire to make improvements for cyclists, although they noted that actually getting projects on the ground can be difficult.  With Mayor Filner’s recent announcement of the City’s first CicloSDia, bike share coming, and SANDAGs early action bike program, exciting changes should be coming sooner rather than later.

The Coalition will continue to work with the City and other advocates to make sure that much needed improvements for bikes are actually made and not just talked about.

Bikes Mean Business - Reflecting on the 2013 National Bike Summit

In my role as your Executive Director, I've had the privilege to attend the annual National Bike Summit held in Washington D.C. for the past two years.

Held each March, the Summit brings more than 750 bicycle advocates from across the country together to rally for important federal transportation dollars needed to make bicycling safer and more accessible for us and the people we represent who ride.

SDCBC Representatives at the Summit with Congresswoman Susan Davis

I've just returned, inspired and proud for the work that we do. The response was very positive and we can all take pride in the team that represented San Diego County at this years Summit. Together with our colleagues from all fifty states and beyond, we learned from our hosts and leaders at the League of American Bicyclists (LAB), the priority issues which we all "took to the hill" on a snowy, cold morning last Wednesday.  Our San Diego team met with our Congressional Representatives including Rep. Scott Peters, Rep. Susan Davis and staff from Rep. Duncan Hunter, Rep. Juan Vargas and Rep.

Darrell Issa. Additionally, I had the opportunity to talk proudly of the work we are doing in San Diego to the office of Senator Diane Feinstein, along with my colleagues from across our great state of California.  One of the issues we brought forward in our meetings this year, and this years Summit theme was that Bikes Mean Business. The economic impact of our local bicycling industry continues to grow and in California alone last year, the retail industry generated nearly $1.2 billion in sales and created 9,741 jobs. Our representatives from California and across the nation heard the call last week. Bikes Mean Business!

At the conclusion of the days events, everyone came back together to share their successes and hear from Andy Clarke, President of the LAB and Rep. Earl Blumenhauer, of Oregon, a true champion for our cause on Capitol Hill (see attachment). That experience of talking locally but bonding together nationally for more funding for bicycle infrastructure was very memorable and rewarding. Thank you for the opportunity to represent you.

Andy Hanshaw

Member Spotlight: Jeff and Rhoda Hein

Our names are Jeff and Rhoda Hein. We are lifelong San Diegans and cyclists. We currently live in Tehachapi California were we get as many as four seasons in a single day! Yes, that makes riding a challenge sometimes.  We have long climbs that end with 20% plus grades to head winds up to 60 mph gusts. We are moving back to San Diego this fall and we want to be as active in the biking community as possible. We crew for RAAM (Rhoda will race in the 2014 RAAM) She has also re-found her love for track biking and will compete in the masters state and nationals in the pursuit and time trial. I have been riding for about 30 years. I was hoping to become a master's racer, but I was severely injured overseas breaking my neck. I was told I would never ride again...but I am slowly making my come back and I hope to compete in the pursuit and time trials on the track myself. Rhoda and I have just started a nonprofit organization, "Cycling for Social Justice."   We will be raising money those who have no voice in the world. This ranges from animal rights to our current group: the National Association for the Mentally Ill. Rhoda has a passion for both the mentally ill and the families of the mentally ill as she has had to live and manage my life as upon coming back from the war on terror I was diagnosed with PTSD and bipolar disorder. We believe we can make a difference one pedal stroke at a time and we look forward to being a part of  the San Diego Bike Coalition and making San Diego a bike-friendly city.

Mayor Filner Announces First Ever Open Streets Event in San Diego

This morning, Mayor Filner and the City of San Diego made a very exciting announcement. San Diego will host its first ever open streets event in August 2013! Called CicloSDias, this free, open street event encourages people to walk, ride, stroll and enjoy San Diego in a way they never have. CicloSDias San Diego celebrates our communities coming together for an unforgettable day of physical activity and fun! 

We at SDCBC could not be more excited and are happy to be partnering with the City on this event! 

To learn more:

  Visit www.CicloSDias.com 

Like CicloSDias on Facebook

Follow CicloSDias on Twitter

 

Coast Highway 101 Update

If you have not ridden Coastal Highway 101 recently through Encinitas, please do!  You're in for a treat!  Most of it is now marked with sharrows and "Bikes May Use Full Lane" signs.  That means traffic engineers have determined the outside lane is "too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane", per CVC 21202(a)(3), and so bicyclists have the right to control the lane.  Controlling the lane, rather than riding near the right edge, makes it easier for motorists to realize sooner that they need to change lanes to pass safely.   

Further, northbound, just north of Leucadia Blvd, there has been "lane diet", reducing the number of travel lanes from two to one, to make room for an eight foot wide bike lane.  And the pavement is all smooth now - goodbye Vulcan Ave detour!  Check it out!

Serge  Issakov

SDBC/SDCBC liaison


See full release below:

­February 20, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Andy Hanshaw, San Diego Bicycle Coalition, 858-487-6063

New Bike Lane, Sharrows Welcomed by North County Bicyclists

New roadway markings remind cyclists, motorists to share the road

SAN DIEGO, February 20, 2013 – Drivers and bicyclists traveling through Encinitas along Coast Hi­ghway 101 have seen a change to the roadway in recent weeks. In an effort to better accommodate the growing number of bicyclists in the area, the City of Encinitas added a new bike lane to northbound Coast Highway 101 from Leucadia Boulevard to La Costa Avenue. Crews also added a total of 140 sharrows and 28 “Bicycles May Use Full Lane” signage in both directions from K Street to La Costa Avenue to remind motorists that cyclists may ride in the center of the lane for increased safety and visibility.

San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, an organization that advocates for and protects the rights of all people who ride bicycles, reminds cyclists and motorists to follow guidelines for the new bike lane and sharrows, which now adorn streets across the county.

“For the thousands of people who ride Coast Highway 101 every week for recreation and transportation, the bike lane and sharrows are a welcome sight,” said Andy Hanshaw, executive director of the Bicycle Coalition. “They’re also markings of a more bike-friendly community, which we’re seeing in mass across San Diego County.” 

Supported by the Bicycle Coalition, sharrows are a newer tool in the bike-friendly community toolbox. Adopted by Caltrans in 2005 as a statewide universal marking for sharing the road, sharrows mark travel lanes that bicyclists and motorists share. When a lane is too narrow for a dedicated bike lane, a sharrow has been proven to be an effective tool in increasing safety and awareness for all road users. These four-foot wide bicycles with two arrows on top are painted on streets in neighborhoods and along thoroughfares in San Diego County that agencies have already designated as bicycle routes. Road users can see sharrowns in Oceanside in North County as well as the communities of Ocean Beach, Point Loma, Normal Heights and downtown San Diego.

Sharrows help bicyclists position themselves away from parked cars, to avoid being struck by suddenly opened car doors, and to alert other road users that bicyclists may occupy travel lanes. To aid the effectiveness of the sharrows, the City of Encinitas also installed several “Bicycles May Use Full Lane” signs to reinforce that cyclists have the right to be in the travel lane.

To celebrate the new bicycle lane and roadway markings, the Encinitas Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee, along with Leucadia 101 Main Street Association and Downtown Encinitas Main Street Association have organized a casual ride on the new and improved Coast Highway 101. The “Joyride” will take place on March 23. The organizers encourage all community members to save the date and join them for a cruise up and down the coast with stops at local bike shops and restaurants. Please visit www.bikewalkencinitas.org for more details.

For additional information on sharrows and other bike-friendly infrastructure projects, contact the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition at execdir@sdcbc.org or 858-487-6063.

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San Diego County Bicycle Coalition (SDCBC) is a nonprofit organization that advocates for and protects the rights of all people who ride bicycles. They promote bicycling as a mainstream, safe and enjoyable form of transportation and recreation.  For more information, go to www.sdcbc.org.  

South Bay Becomes More Bike-Friendly

Chula Vista has become the third city in San Diego County to install sharrows!  The City of CV's first sharrows were installed on East J St., a popular bike corridor over the I-805 which connects commuters and residents to schools, adjacent parks, and canyons while connecting "old" and "new Chula Vista."  Congrats to City staff Tom Adler and Frank Rivera and to the Chula Vista Ad-Hoc Bike Committee.  If you're interested in making CV a better place to ride and live, get involved with the new Ad-Hoc Bike Committee which meets monthly.  The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 5 from 6:30pm to 8pm and will meet on historic Third Avenue at D' Volada Cafe (320 Third Ave, 91910).  Please join us.  For more info, contact Tom Adler, tadler@ci.chula-vista.ca.us

-Randy Van Vleck

North Park-Mid City Regional Bike Corridor

On Wednesday, January 30th, SANDAG kicked off their North Park-Mid City Regional Bike Corridor community advisory group and there was lots of excitement about making the area more bike-friendly. There more than two dozen community members in attendance. SDCBC is one of many community organizations represented on the committee, along with community planning groups, business improvement associations, and town councils. The purpose of the group is to advise SANDAG on the design of bikeways identified in the Regional Bike Plan including Meade Ave, Orange/Howard Ave, and Landis/ Wightman.

District 9 Councilmember Marti Emerald kicked of the meeting by urging out of the box thinking in terms of project design. She said that now was the time to reshape our streets to the serve all people, and pledge her support to make that happen. She encouraged the community to hold SANDAG to the three year schedule to get something built as many in the room have experience with plans that are gathering dust on a shelf somewhere.

There were lots of great “out of the box” ideas, but the biggest request was to make sure that cyclists had access to the business districts along University Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard. SDCBC has been working with these business districts to become more bike-friendly, and the community recognized the need for safe and convenient access as well as a place to park.

Long Beach provides a great example of bike facilities that have improve cyclist safety, maintained traffic flow and help businesses thrive as reported in a recent article. I was happy to hear the SANDAG planners reference the Long Beach case.

While SANDAG's planning efforts are focused on the corridors that were identified in the regional bike plan, 

they pledged to make sure the proposed improvements compliment projects in the City of San Diego Bicycle Master plan as well, including much needed improvements on Fairmount Ave and Texas Street.

SDCBC will continue to be engaged to make sure that this project is the best it can be and can be an example of innovative bike design for the entire region. 

-Kevin Wood, San Diego County Bicycle Coalition Board Chair