[SDCBC] FW: bike safety and good neighbor relations

[Kathy Keehan]

Please forward to your bicycling friends. I'm not sure who in their right
mind is riding four abreast on Del Dios Highway, but they might want to
rethink that.

Kathy

 

 

Hi. I live in Solana Beach and drive frequently to Escondido via Del Dios
Highway.

I know that in Solana Beach, the designers of the future improvement of our
section of Highway 101 have worked and will continue to work with the
Bicycle Coalition regarding bike lanes and parking, as it relates to the
bicyclists.  However, in order to get consideration for ones cause, it is
necessary to give consideration to the public non-cyclist. On busy 101 I
will often encounter bicyclists, 2 abreast, one in the bike lane, one in the
traffic lane.  That just does not work on a well traveled street, just as it
would not work if the cars were to drive into the bike lane. I know the
bicyclists get really annoyed with cars, and the biker is the far more
vulnerable, but if a bike is concerned for his own safety, please, ride
single file in the bike lane. 

Just this Saturday, along Del Dios, there was a group of cyclists, 4 wide,
on that curvy downhill road, creating a really dangerous situation. How can
any of them think they are riding safe? Maybe they think they are making
themselves more visible that way, but it seems so very unsafe to me. 

I often see similar riding on Del Dios and can not imagine that it is
regarded as the safe way to ride. I always try to be considerate of the
bicyclists, but I find it more than annoying to come upon a 4 wide string of
bicycles as I round a right hand down hill  curve; it is downright scary. 

I do not know what the solution is, maybe posters reminding the riders of
safe riding that would be given to the bike shops. But I do know yours is a
strong group of voices and activism. 

Another point of contention is where the groups park to gather on the
weekends. Now that there is little beach parking and more crowded conditions
at the train station lot in SolanaBeach, I see large groups gather in the
lot across from the Post Office. They have their bikes spread out there,
getting instruction, putting on the wheels etc. I know it is a public
parking lot, but it is now all we have for the beach goers and those using
the new bluff top park and nearby restaurants. Could you spread the word
that there are 3 more public parking lots on South Sierra that are all
underutilized. There are 2 on the west side of Sierra and one on the east,
all beyond that one across from the Post Office. The 2 on the west side are
marked with signs, but are not that visible because of bushes either on the
sides or in front of the lots. 

Help bicyclists become friendly considerate neighbors by gathering at the
less used lots. It would help the overall perception by the non-biking
public.

Please correct me and let me know if riding abreast (I do not mean when a
faster rider is trying to get at the head of the pack) is recommended. 

Thanks for your time,

Jane Morton
p.s. I read on your site about the Kids I and Kids II classes. How often
does that happen?





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