Comments on: Mayor Sanders Wants a Car-Free Balboa Park Plaza

By: Larry Hogue

Larry Hogue — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:13:39 +0000

Serge,

At one point, years ago and even when this was brought up last month, there was talk about not just removing the parking and rerouting the street, but closing off the through traffic completely (and I always assumed bikes would still be allowed in some fashion). That would definitely make it a bicycling issue. See my and other comments at the beginning of this thread.

With the most recent article in the U-T, it’s clear that they’re now just talking about moving the travel lanes over to the west side of the fountain and getting rid of the parking. So it’s more of a quality of life issue especially if Balboa Park is your neighborhood park (as it used to be for me). But still of interest to a lot of people on this blog.

By: Serge Issakov

Serge Issakov — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:07:31 +0000

I’m all for restoring the plaza by removing the parking… but how is this a bicycling issue?

By: Kathy

Kathy — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:46:36 +0000

good article in today’s UT re: the proposal –
the proposal would keep auto traffic on the Laurel St bridge, just cutting it over onto the street before the fountain rather than going all the way round it. Not an optimal solution for cyclists, but a step in the right direction.
There’s a Balboa Park Committee meeting this Thursday, Feb 4th, 6:00 at the Santa Fe Room of the Balboa Park Club. come on out!

By: KK

KK — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:17:59 +0000

Feb 15 might be a good time to voice an opinion – the Balboa Park Task Force (who are trying to figure out all things Balboa Park) meets Monday Feb 15, Reuben H Fleet Science Center community room, 6 p.m. There’s a public comment period at the beginning of the meeting where you can voice your support for making Balboa Park car-free.

By: Michael Ballard

Michael Ballard — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 23:15:34 +0000

It may not seem like a lot, but I see a lot of cars on the Prado Bridge during commute, and many cars at Presidents Way/Park Blvd. Most speed, sadly. I rarely drive through there, not sure the last time I did. I usually am bicycling there.

By: Larry Hogue

Larry Hogue — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:28:08 +0000

I wonder if there are any studies that show where the through-traffic is going? Balboa Naval Hospital? Museums on the Park Blvd. side of the park? If you were trying to drive to the zoo, I don’t think this is the way you’d go (unless you were a lost tourist). Doesn’t seem like there’s much else over there that would draw traffic.

If you really want to follow the process of this as it develops, I’d suggest getting in touch with Mike Kelly of the Committee of 100. I can probably get his contact info if you can’t find it elsewhere.

By: Michael Ballard

Michael Ballard — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:55:52 +0000

The through roadway goes south from the plaza onto Pan American Rd, then onto Presidents Way to meet with Park Blvd. That is the through path I speak of. While I’m not for using that as a “fast” route through the park by car, I am for slowing it down substantially. I’ve had many bad encounters with speeding cars on the El Prado Bridge myself, considering its 15 mph limit. I take the lane now, which is quite legal, and let the cars deal with it. I’ve also seen too many pass dangerously on the bridge (narrow and illegal to pass).

By: Fred

Fred — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 04:07:04 +0000

Well, I didn’t mean to be insulting at all. Sorry.

The point is that over and over again, bicycle advocates seem to put the automobile first which I frustrating. I’m all for seeing people’s points of view, but when did the tobacco lobby start seeing second hand smokers as more important than cigar aficionados? Remember the AAA actively campaigns against any money being spent on any infrastructure other than roads. They are not pro-auto, but also anti-cycling. They are one of the biggest lobbies in the country so trust me when I say, motorists will get by somehow. They will not be short-changed in the least. No worries.

Balboa Park is pretty small when you are traveling 60 MPH, and there are plenty of freeways to choose from. My goal is to get through the park without getting buzzed everyday. Sorry if I sound so annoyed, but I am starting to realize how much stress this El Prado bridge actually is.

We get buzzed daily and once a car tried to run us off the road. This bridge is less than a quarter mile and the speed limit is 15 MPH. We were riding 16 MPH (bike speeders) and yet we still get harassed daily. That’s why the excitement over Upas.

Also, I’m now curious on how this bridge is used. I was under the impression that there was a cul-de-sac in many of the parking lots. Now, I’m realizing that the bridge is used as a through street. Is this correct. Where does it go on the other end after the rotary? Surely driving through a busy park where there are multiple stops is not the fastest way to drive the short distance through the Park. It may be the shortest distance, but that rarely works out as fastest in an auto.

Anyway, I’ll be interested in hearing how this bridge is used. The guy who almost killed us in his SUV told us that El Prado wasn’t for riding bicycles, but for putting automobiles through the city as quickly as possible. Perhaps this is why I feel so strongly about this teapot.

By: Michael Ballard

Michael Ballard — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:26:10 +0000

I’m not trying to win, and I’m most definitely not for driving everywhere. I also take issue with the “west coasters” reference. Not all drive everywhere. I bicycle more than I drive, at least around town. I ride to work, even this week. My point is that, if closing the plaza to cars means no cars will be able to travel through the plaza, that creates a problem for others. I’m all for removing the parking.

Travel from Bankers Hill to the eastern end of the park would be very circuitous, forcing those cars into downtown or Hillcrest to get to the other side of the park. Remember, there is only ONE vehicular crossing between downtown and Hillcrest, that is via the Prado bridge AND the plaza in question. It is also the only level crossing, which is easier for most cyclists. This is my concern. I could care less if people whine about having to walk farther to a parking lot. So, closing the plaza to motor traffic would create other problems. Closing it to parking would be much better.

By: Fred

Fred — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:58:28 +0000

OK, Mike, you win. If you think that getting around the park in a car is a problem then we’ll have to agree to disagree.

I thought that the whole point of a park was to relax. If driving around in a car is relaxing to you, there are thousands of miles of freeway in which to enjoy yourself.

For me, the whole purpose of a park is to get away from it all including autos. In an ideal world, I’d also like to get away from cyclists. Again, in NYC, their parks have separate pedestrian and cycling lanes. I don’t think that cycling and pedestrians really mix.

While on a bicycle, I’d prefer not to have to worry about a stroller getting pushed in my path. I’d have to hurt myself to save the child. While walking, I don’t like being screamed at, “On your left” or whatever nonsense they are yelling this week.

Seriously, the park isn’t much more massive than my example of Central Park where many places are completely car free.

I guess that this illustrates the HUGE difference in point of view from the East vs. West Coast POV. West Coasters just can’t seem to wrap their head around getting anywhere more than a few feet w/o a motor. I think that if people change a little, they will benefit a great deal.