Pacific Highway in Old Town is Repaved and Restriped with Buffered Bike Lanes
In January this year, I noticed new buffered bike lanes on Pacific Highway. However, the asphalt was of very poor quality that desperately needed to be fixed.
Last week, I noticed that the streets were being repaved and markers were placed where the new stripes would be painted.
As of today, Pacific Highway in Old Town now features smooth roads with those same buffered bike lanes on most stretches of Pacific Highway.
Have you had a chance to ride on Pacific Highway since the street was repaved and restriped? How was your ride?
Remaining Slurry Seal for Santa Fe Street will be Completed by Month-End
Councilmember Sherri Lightner in District 1 had asked for Santa Fe Street to be repaved back in November 2010.
The street was repaved recently but very poorly done which was immediately noticed by everyone riding the street. I received a series of emails and complaints about the poor quality of repaving that was recently completed on Santa Fe Street - the street that is a major thoroughfare for those heading up to UCSD and Torrey Pines. Here is one (of many) emails I received about this problem, this one from Forrest Roberts:
Santa Fe North of Balboa has recently been paved. It looked great, but when riding a bicycle on it, it was more like a total rumble strip. What happened? Bicyclers usually are delighted to ride on a newly paved road because it is smooth. Last week the City (or contractor) placed more material on the roadway to help with the roughness. It helped a lot. BUT they did not cover the bike lanes and they are still like a rumble strip all the way. What happened? Watching bicyclers now, they do not ride in the bike lane, but ride in the traffic lanes because it is rideable. This takes away the safety for the riders and detracts from the auto drivers when they see cyclers in the roadway. Would you pleas pass this on to the City Bicycle coordinator to find our what happened and can a fix be made.??? Or should we contact our City Councilperson in that area, Lori Zapf, or maybe even the Turko File. This is a heavy traveled Bicycle route, used by UCSD students, commuters, and recreational riders.
The City Bike Coordinator, Tom Landre, rode over to check out Santa Fe Street earlier this week and responded that the remaining slurry seal for the entire stretch of Santa Fe Street will be completed by 28th and 29th of July.
I haven't had the time to check out Santa Fe, but if you'd like to send in photos, please send them to sam@bikesd.org
Edit: I neglected to thank Alex Bell from Councilmember Lorie Zapf's office who was also responsive to some of the questions I had on Santa Fe. Santa Fe Street is part of District 6 represented by Councilmember Zapf' until December after which it will become part of District 2 represented by Councilmember Kevin Faulconer.
San Diego Hit and Runs
Last Friday night a fellow rider, Andy, was a victim of a hit and run collision. The collision happened on the 3500 block of Nimitz Boulevard at around 11:30 pm, according to NBC San Diego. The 50 year old was pedaling north in the 3500 block of Nimitz Boulevard when he was struck. As of now, Andy appears to be in critical condition and the driver and his passenger who struck Andy still remain at large. The vehicle that struck Andy is a white Hyundai and the suspects are described as having, "short, dark hair and light skin"
If you have any information contact the San Diego Police Department or leave a comment here.
---
While looking for information relating to the case above, I came across an update to another hit and run that occurred earlier this year on March 11.The victim, a student named Sho Funai, was walking when he was killed by a driver who later turned herself in. Despite pleading guilty to striking Funai and admitting to being under the influence of drugs and alcohol, the driver may only be charged with probation. In response to the verdict, Funai's friends appalled at the ruling have started an online petition to demand justice for the death of Funai.
Confusing Bike Lane Striping - Fixed!
Fellow bike advocate, Chris Crosby, has done good and gotten some confusing bike lane striping fixed.
In February, the bike lane looked and was treated as a parking lane:
Now, the striping has been fixed and looks much clearer on where one can safely ride on Pacific Highway by Old Town.
Thank you Chris for being so proactive.
Photos of the Mike Gotch Memorial Bridge - From Beginning to Finished Project
A reader, Joan Ward, left a comment a few days ago stating that she had photos of the entire construction process of the new Mike Gotch Memorial Bridge, the proper name of the new Rose Creek Bikeway and Pedestrian Bridge Project that officially opened a little over a week ago.
I met Joan yesterday and she provided me with a CD containing the photos she'd taken from her balcony which affords us all the perfect view of the entire construction project. This is such a wonderful gift. Thank you, Joan.
The Mike Gotch bridge now provides a valuable connection between the bay and the beach communities. I've had an opportunity to ride on it a few times and it is truly a well designed, and aesthetically pleasing gem.
The bridge, named after a former councilmember, was dedicated on April 20, 2012.
