[SDCBC] Anyone notice the commentary in the Union

[Gene Carman]

Sadly, I tend to agree that the US, and California in particular, is 
no where near being a ped/cycling culture.  And the newest bike path 
in the Bonita area really reminds me of this:

path begins at Bonita Mesa Road: http://www.efgh.com/bike/pb1.jpg
path crosses Sweetwater River:   http://www.efgh.com/bike/pb2.jpg
tunnel under Plaza Bonita Road:  http://www.efgh.com/bike/pb3.jpg
path ends on Bonita Road:        http://www.efgh.com/bike/pb4.jpg


Compare the above to some pics I took while in Oulu Finland, where 
they don't have the wonderful year round cycling weather we have in 
San Diego, yet manage to have over 20% cycling ridership for 
transportation.  All ages bicycle for various reasons from shopping 
to work commuting in Oulu, just south of the Artic circle.  Of course 
here in the US we have the most bicycles of any nation...  residing 
and rusting in garages.

This first link shows a path that is below the road grade...  compare 
it to the "tunnel shot" of the Bonita path, 
above.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgUkNxUE0wc

This second link shows a path that is at grade, and parallels the 
road and a sidewalk.  Of course an at grade path has to cross the 
road...  well, let's just say motorists are quite a bit different in 
their treatment of cyclists there than 
here.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnEP8Yzennc

Now what do I really want from all of this?  Oulu like paths; respect 
from motorists...  Complete Streets... ??   Heck, I think if we could 
at the very least get curb cuts for all the paths in San Diego 
county, where they intersect roads... that would be a nice start down 
the "proper path."

One of the nicest paths here in San Diego county is the 56 bike 
path...  paralleling hiway 56 for roughly 8 miles.  And yet as 
wonderful as this path is, the western end still lacks proper curb 
cuts, and proper signs.   Other paths around the county suffer the 
same fate... lack of proper curb cuts to allow cyclists to easily, 
smoothly access the paths (if they can even find the paths).

I don't think we are going to get anywhere near Complete Streets for 
some time to come, but if we could only remove the small "barriers to 
entry" at the local paths, that alone would be an improvement, and 
along with the curb cuts, a few signs to point to the paths, so 
cyclists could be made aware of their existence...  I think that 
would be a nice start.

Can we somehow make curb cuts a priority for the county, or at least 
the local cities?

Bicycle sensing traffic lights would be nice too... but heck that 
might just be pushing things a bit too far.  GRIN.

At 06:02 PM 12/13/2007, Abulifia wrote:
>Considering the 'tude/hostile, aggressive driving exhibited by 
>::MOST:: motorists towards anyone on a bike or on foot, not to 
>mention the idiot factor as evidenced by the eternally distracted 
>who are busy yakking on the cell phone, the Complete Street Movement 
>will need more than luck in getting this program off the 
>ground.  It's going to take a complete and total ::PARADIGM:: change 
>of society, and I, quite frankly, don't see that happening.  The 
>U.S. is not bicycle and/or pedestrian culture and won't be until gas 
>is $10.00/gallon.
>
>
>
>Gene Carman wrote:
>>Taking a new look at streets and sidewalks
>>[]
>>
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