Action Item: Send a Letter to ask the City of San Diego to Implement a Protected Bicycle Facility along Park Blvd in Balboa Park
Action Item: Send a Letter to ask the City of San Diego to Complete the Corridor; Implement a Protected Bicycle Facility along Park Blvd in Balboa Park
UPDATE, JANUARY 30, 2023: In early September, after months of extensive outreach, the City announced plans for protected bike lanes and separated bus lanes throughout most of Park Boulevard within Balboa Park. This is a massive win for active transportation within the City’s Crown Jewel; thank you so much to everyone who called into the planning meetings to voice your support for bikes and buses within the park! These lanes should be completed in early 2023. If you have additional questions, please contact us at talk@bikesd.org, and consider the Action Item below completed.
Since June 2021, BikeSD has been discussing with the city the opportunity to have a fully protected Class IV bicycle facility along the entire Park Boulevard corridor.
In Downtown, the city has recently implemented part of the Park Blvd section of the Downtown Mobility Plan, with the remaining segments of the class IV cycletrack already planned from K St to the I-5 bridge. From Village Place to Robinson Ave, SANDAG’s Uptown Segment 5: Park Blvd Bikeway is in the pipeline to provide improvements. And just last week, KPBS spoke with BikeSD board member Ari Criste to report on the city’s new plans to implement protected bike lanes on Park Blvd from Adams Ave to University Ave.
The last big stretch in Balboa Park is still up in the air. In November 2021, our campaign got the support of Uptown Planners, who wrote a letter in support of a class IV protected bikeway on Park Blvd in Balboa Park. The city has drafted plans for micromobility improvements to the corridor, but has not yet shared them to any community groups. We need your help to encourage the city to implement a fully-protected facility as part of the upcoming pipeline and street resurfacing project along Park Blvd in Balboa Park.
EVEN BETTER:
Write your own personal message to MayorToddGloria@sandiego.gov, StephenWhitburn@sandiego.gov, and jriveros@sandiego.gov, and please BCC: campaigns@bikesd.org. Modify this sample letter and copy/paste to your personal email app:
Dear Mayor Gloria, Councilmember Whitburn, and Transportation Director Riveros,
Thank you for the planned improvements for Park Blvd between University Ave and Adams Ave. My family and I appreciate using low-stress bike facilities to get around for our daily transportation needs.
In addition to the section of Park Blvd from University Ave to Adams Ave, we ask that the Balboa Park segment of Park Boulevard’s resurfacing efforts include a new Class IV (protected) bikeway. Park Blvd is a critical corridor between Uptown and Downtown – we are currently seeing a large volume of self-reported bicyclists using this path on a regular basis, according to open source heat maps such as Strava and Ride With GPS. Currently, micromobility users are expected to share this 2-lane roadway with parked vehicles and those driving 40+ MPH. Ideally, this road would be reduced to a single general-purpose lane traveling in either direction, a transit lane, and a protected bike facility.
Similar improvements have already been scoped out in the 2012 Bicycle Master Plan, which proposed building out a Class II (i.e. painted bike lanes) bikeway along the entirety of Park Blvd from Upas St to B St. The Balboa Park Master Plan also prescribes a bicycle trail along Park Blvd, and while a Class II bike lane would be a step in the right direction, pivoting to a Class IV protected bike lane would provide safer and more accessible infrastructure for all ages and abilities and align better with NACTO guidelines. Similar to how building more highway lanes induces greater vehicular traffic demand, building safer bicycle infrastructure induces greater bicycle traffic demand.
Besides inducing greater demand for bicyclists, safe bicycle infrastructure reduces carbon emissions within the park, slows down vehicular traffic, and improves pedestrian safety. Encouraging an increase in bicycle trips between significant commercial and residential cores (Uptown, North Park, and Downtown), as well as the numerous educational and cultural institutions along the corridor gets San Diego closer to its Climate Action Plan (CAP) goals of hitting Net Zero emissions by 2035. This upgrade is also in alignment with the 2021 Parks Master Plan which aims, among other things, to provide easy access to parks by walking, biking, and transit. Finally, by reducing speeds and protecting non-vehicle users, these improvements support the city’s Vision Zero goals.
Sincerely,
_____________
Action Item: Send a Letter to Demand Immediate Improvements to the Bicycle Network in Response to the Increasing Frequency of Preventable Deaths
Action Item: Join BikeSD and seven partner organizations in demanding immediate improvements to the bicycle network in response to the increasing frequency of preventable deaths; 25 miles of protected bike lanes per year
On Monday, July 26th, BikeSD, San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, Climate Action Campaign, Circulate San DIego, and a number of other partner organizations held a Press Conference at Bird Park in North Park, close to where Laura Shinn was killed while biking to work, and demanded that bike projects stop being delayed as well as the construction of 25 miles of protected bicycle lanes in the City of San Diego every year.
BikeSD and partner organizations also wrote a policy letter detailing these demands [PDF].
You can join us in demanding immediate improvements to the bicycle network in San DIego to prevent more serious injuries and deaths, achieve our Vision Zero goal of zero deaths by 2025, as well as address our Climate Action Plan’s modeshare goals of 18% of San Diegans getting around via bike or scooter in Transit Priority Areas, by sending a letter to Mayor Todd Gloria, SANDAG Executive Director Hasan Ikhrata, as well as your San Diego city councilmember (table available at the bottom of this page with their email).
EVEN BETTER:
Write your own personal message to MayorToddGloria@sandiego.gov, hasan.ikhrata@sandag.org, as well as your city councilmember according to the table at the bottom of the page, and and please BCC: campaigns@bikesd.org. Modify this sample letter and copy/paste to your personal email app:
Mayor Todd Gloria, Executive Director Hasan Ikhrata, and City Councilmember ______,
I support the letter sent by eight community-based advocacy organizations demanding the immediate improvement of the bicycle network in San Diego in response to the recent wave of bike rider deaths. These deaths were completely avoidable and it would be unacceptable for us to maintain the status quo, which would only guarantee the continued loss of our neighbors, friends, and family members.
San Diego must quickly expand the rate in which it is building protected bicycle lanes and paths, expedite bikeways already in the pipeline such as those part of the SANDAG Early Action Plan, decrease speed limits on dangerous roads, and fully fund and finish the mobility action plan. San Diego must do these things in order to ensure that we meet our Vision Zero goals of zero traffic deaths by the year 2025, as well as our Climate Action Plan goals of 18 percent of trips being completed by bikes or scooters in transit priority areas.
Sincerely,
_____________
San Diego City Council Districts and Councilmembers
| Council District | Councilmember | Councilmember Email |
| District 1 | Joe LaCava | JoeLaCava@sandiego.gov |
| District 2 | Jennifer Campbell | JenniferCampbell@sandiego.gov |
| District 3 | Stephen Whitburn | StephenWhitburn@sandiego.gov |
| District 4 | Monica Montgomery-Steppe | MMontgomerySteppe@sandiego.gov |
| District 5 | Marni von Wilpert | MarnivonWilpert@sandiego.gov |
| District 6 | Chris Cate | ChrisCate@sandiego.gov |
| District 7 | Raul Campillo | RaulCampillo@sandiego.gov |
| District 8 | Vivian Moreno | VivianMoreno@sandiego.gov |
| District 9 | Sean Elo-Rivera | SeanEloRivera@sandiego.gov |
Use this map to find out which city council district you are in.
2021 Ride of Silence
San Diego's annual Ride of Silence is a solemn group ride to honor those injured or killed while biking. This ride has reached a global scale that now takes place in over 20 countries on the third Wednesday in May, with thousands of people riding their bikes to remember, support each other, and heal collectively.
This ride is a no-drop yet silent group ride that is appropriate for all ages and abilities. During the ride, we will stop to lay flowers and observe a moment of silence at the sites of recent biking fatalities and honor those we have lost while spreading the message that people who bike represent precious lives.
While we may not know the names of everyone who was injured or killed on a bike or as a pedestrian last year, we are all deeply affected when we lose someone in our community. Together, we will ride, remember, and reflect.
WEARING A MASK IS REQUIRED!
Meet up will be at the County Administration Building Fountain on Harbor Drive, facing the water.
7:50 PM: Meet-up
8:10 PM: Roll-out
San Diego's Ride of Silence Ride should take around 2 hours
Register on EventBrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2021-ride-of-silence-san-diego-tickets-155744310425
Map: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1553130?units=miles
The Time is Now
We cannot fear change, we must adapt.
In the swell of pivoting to ensure small businesses survive the ever-changing landscape of pandemic-related restrictions; the City of San Diego temporarily eased restrictions on establishing parklets.
Let’s make temporary permanent. Let the parklets stay.
As San Diegans, we are accustomed to and often prefer opportunities to dine outdoors. With our average 75-degree and sunny weather, San Diego is in the perfect climate position to encourage and support parklets.
This also provides a perfect climate position to encourage and support cycling. The dedicated bike lane on 30th Street is an integral part of the North Park of the future.
Close your eyes and imagine a vibrant, people centric, 30th Street with fewer cars, more people meandering between establishments and more people riding up to their favorite restaurant - imagine 30th Street busy, but with far few car horns.
Since the shutdown a year ago, there are now over 450 businesses leveraging parklet space as business space to serve their customers. It is a wonderful sight to behold and is one many would like to see in San Diego permanently. We love it and believe it is a healthy, vibrant, wonderful future for our business districts.
Unfortunately, there is a conflict on 30th Street between a long anticipated paving project and the parklets we wish to remain in operation. We believe there is a solution for these businesses’ parklets to stay permanently after businesses are opened to indoor dining. Timing is everything. If we do not act swiftly, we will lose the majority of the parklets that we have learned to love and enjoy.
Among the parklet designs available from the City San Diego, BikeSD is advocating for an option that is a win for everyone. We spoke with several North Park business owners regarding this particular parklet design and received a majority of enthusiastic and optimistic responses. There was also an overwhelmingly positive response to the upcoming bike lane, too.
This alternative design moves the parklet to the sidewalk while providing a safe ADA walkway in the street right of way. This eliminates people walking through business patrons and allows for a continuous business. No wait staff weaving through tables and pedestrians. It creates a cohesive environment where customers can hear the music, see the televisions and feel like part of the venue while enjoying the outdoors. Lastly, but critically, it provides the space for a continuous bikeway that avoids conflict zones. This is a solution that can support businesses to continue outdoor dining past the pandemic and into a more vibrant people centric city.
We want to continue supporting our North Park businesses. Join us and ask city staff and Mayor Gloria to work on a solution for all, quickly and efficiently as we support the upcoming resurfacing project and want businesses to adapt and be prepared for the spring and summer season.
Let’s act quickly and efficiently so we can support the upcoming resurfacing project, allow businesses to retain their parklets and be prepared for the spring and summer season.
Let’s be bold. Let’s take this opportunity to construct 30th Street for all of North Park, to be a leader for the rest of San Diego.
Who is ready for bike parties on a parklet filled 30th Street? We are ready.
Win for Bikes on Washington Street
Win for Bikes on Washington Street
On Thursday, February 11, 2021 the City of San Diego implemented a temporary protected bike lane. Some parking that forced bicycle riders into a shared traffic lane with cars traveling up to 50 or 60 miles an hour were removed and a restriping and flex posts were installed. This is a big symbolic victory for the bicycle community in San Diego which has been asking for safety improvements here for nearly a decade.
It was unfortunate that it took a tragic loss of life at this site to force change to happen. Many in the bicycle advocacy community have been advocating for safe bicycle lanes on Washington Street for nearly a decade as far back as 2013. The bike lane on the shoulder was painted over at some point around 2014 at the bottom of the hill at the India Street intersection to accommodate free parking. This dangerous condition existed for years after until on August 22, 2020 a bicycle rider was struck from behind and later passed away from the injuries. The City of San Diego's new Mayor, Todd Gloria, has demonstrated that there is a new administration in town, one that takes the safety of all street users into consideration. Will there be more like this to come?
In September 2020, BikeSD submitted a joint letter to the City Council and held a press conference calling on the city to install protected lanes on Washington Street. This victory is small but represents a potential shift in the City's actions to make our streets safer for all users.
