[SDCBC] avoiding the right hook, was Re: Gilman / I-5 interchange

[JonIsaacs at aol.com]

In a message dated 2/20/07 11:51:46 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
bikes.alot at cox.net writes:

> It's more fun and productive to do this than to try to describe what 
> happens.... and traffic situations vary. 


Jim et. al.:

Thanks for taking the time to reply.  This seems to be the same approach I 
use.  I guess all those years trying to kill myself on a motorcycle had some 
purpose after all.  :-)  

My concern with the SB Gilman to SB I-5 Bike Lane is that it encourages 
riders to place themselves to the right of motorists who are likely to turn right.  
And unlike many intersections where the motorist has to slow down to only a 
few mph, the right hook here can be executed at 20mph or more. So in my mind, 
that Bike Lane just doesn't make sense.   

I have  neighbors and co-workers who are door zone hugging, gutter loving 
cyclists and they will blindly ride in that bike lane even after being hit or 
nearly hit.  My attempts at educating them seem to have been futile.  I think 
that Bike Lanes need to be aimed at such riders because trained/skilled riders 
will ignore the bike lane if necessary.

My primary concern here is that there is no easy way around the Gilman I-5 
interchange and it is the prime route between UCSD and PB as well as between 
North County and San Diego.   Getting to the Rose Canyon bike path has 
difficulties from both Gilman and La Jolla Colony.  LJC has no proper bicycle access to 
the path and I have already discussed Gilman.   (The best solution to this 
region could be to put in a left turn lane for bicyclist from LJC to the Rose 
Canyon BP)

What this means is that while I am a great believer that cycling is a safe 
mode of transportation, I also recognize that for a casual cyclist who maybe 
interested in commuting, these sorts of issues are daunting and that a situation 
like Gilman-LJC-I5 means they will likely never even consider hopping on their 
bike and riding to work.  Indeed, with the current conditions, I am reluctant 
to encourage my co-workers and friends who live in PB and to the south to 
ride their bikes to work, I figure anyone with the skill and confidence to ride 
I-5 Gilman already is riding....  I do encourage people to get training but 
that is a lot easier to do once they are on the bike and realize the need.  

So, I think the underlying reason I would like to see the I5-Gilman-LJC made 
bicycle friendly is because I believe this one area is a major reason why 
there are not more people riding their bicycles to UCSD and surrounding areas.  
And until something is done about these problems, I don't really see that it can 
change or even should change...

Jon


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