[SDCBC] El Cajon Bicycle Boulevard

Tue Apr 1 19:12:23 EDT 2008

At 06:30 AM 4/1/2008, jwstump at cox.net wrote:
>Jim & All,
>
>What do you think of a El Cajon Bicycle Boulevard
>
>It seems to have everything going for it:
>
>Excess East West road way (Commercial area declining for 40 years)
>Parallel to two East West Freeways (I-8, SR-15)
>Crossed by two Freeways (I-805. SR-15)
>Major current Bus Route
>Connects major urban populations from La Mesa to Hillcrest (SR-163)
>Adjacent residents correct Bicycle demographics
>High School Bus Ridership Routes
>Connects to City Heights Transit Plazas above SR-15
>Connects to Balboa Park & Downtown cultural centers
>
>What do you think?

As a potential Bike Boulevard? Not much. It's a useful corridor but 
not especially suited for bicycling other than providing a direct 
connection. It'd make a good BRT route though.... especially if the 
busses would carry significant number of bikes.

One of the most hilly east-west routes across Mid-City
Many many cross-streets, driveways and intersection conflicts
Many signalized intersections - I'd rather keep rolling; maybe timing 
them for 10 to 15 mph traffic?
Not a "comfortable" mileau - busy, lots going on, etc.
Relatively high ADT - numbers of motor vehicles
Lots of on-street vehicle parking
Major bus route - bicyclists must negotiate for the same space
Freeway on/off ramps encourage oblivious entry/exit by motorists.

Though not serving the same full length of El Cajon Blvd. how about 
Upas, Meade and/or Orange.

And, John, have you heard about the City Height CDC organizing a 
Candidate Forum re: Mid City Mobility. Call me is you'd want to get involved...

>All the best
>John Stump
>
>---- "Jim Baross wrote:
>
>=============
>But having to stop offers opportunities to "put the pedal to the
>...." well, to get some practice at accelerating, right?
>
>More seriously, have you discovered the concept/practice of Bike or
>Bicycle Boulevards?
>
>
>
>  From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
>
>(Redirected from
><http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bicycle_Boulevards&redirect=no>Bicycle 
>
>Boulevards)
>
>A bicycle boulevard is a shared roadway which has been optimized for
>bicycle traffic. In contrast with other shared roadways, bicycle
>boulevards discourage cut-through motor vehicle traffic, but
>typically allow local motor vehicle traffic. They are designed to
>give priority to cyclists as through-going traffic.
>
>Bicycle boulevards cater to would-be, inexperienced, and young
>riders. As such, bicycle boulevards can be considered "stepping
>stone" facilities that help recreational riders (for example) move
>from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_path>bicycle paths and
>trails onto shared roadways.
>
>Bicycle boulevards use a variety of traffic calming elements to
>achieve a safe environment. For instance, diverters with bicycle
>cut-outs at mid-block allow motorists to enter the block in order to
>park or otherwise access a property, and allow cyclists to continue
>to the next block as well, but do not allow motorists to continue.
>Typically, these modifications are thought to calm traffic and
>improve pedestrian safety as well as encouraging bicycling.
>
>The purpose of a bicycle boulevard is to improve
><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_safety>bicycle safety and
>circulation by having or creating one or more of the following conditions:
>     * low <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic>traffic volumes (or
>bike lanes where traffic volumes are medium);
>     * discouragement of non-local motor vehicle traffic;
>     * free-flow travel for bikes by assigning the
><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic#Right_of_way>right-of-way to
>the bicycle boulevard at
><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersection_%28road%29>intersections
>wherever possible;
>     * <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_light>traffic control to
>help bicycles cross major
><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arterial_road>arterial roads; and
>     * a distinctive look and/or ambiance such that cyclists become
>aware of the existence of the bike boulevard and motorists are
>alerted that the roadway is a priority route for bicyclists.
>  >>>>
>These seem to certainly be cheaper to develop than Bike Paths,
>provide more comfortable riding conditions without requiring or
>encouraging non-vehicular movements for bicyclists, etc. I could see
>bicycling on Meade Ave benefited by this treatment through Mid-City.
>Where else?
>
>Jim (bikes anywhere it's legal) Baross
>
>At 06:17 PM 3/31/2008, Gene Carman wrote:
>
> >The biggest problem with the "bike route" idea is still the energy
> >wasted by the cyclist while having to stop for each and every
> >traffic control...  that is the advantage of a bicycle
> >hiway...  preserving inertia...  you maintain your pace for the
> >whole distance.  Imagine a route free of stoplights...  Well such a
> >thing exists if you are a motorist... but cyclists have no such a
> >thing.  (this is one reason some cyclists "jump" lights)
> >
> >A nice wide bike path, similar to the path that exists along 56,
> >along each of our local main freeways would offer interconnectivity
> >and inertia savings that would make it far easier to persons wanting
> >to cycle vice drive.   Why should cyclists be burdened with the
> >traffic control system set up for motorists?
> >
> >How many of us go out into the country for nice long rides...  only
> >to come into the city and have to deal with congested roadways and
> >traffic control geared for motorized traffic?
> >
> >
> >
> >At 09:09 AM 3/31/2008, Derek Hofmann wrote:
> >>As a short-term, possibly cheaper alternative to building new fully
> >>separated bike paths along freeways, how about creating "official"
> >>bike routes that roughly parallel freeways, using existing streets
> >>and new signs pointing the way? For example, the SR-52 bike route
> >>could use Clairemont Mesa Boulevard for one leg of the route.
> >>
> >>On 3/30/08, Gene Carman
> >><<mailto:gcarman at san.rr.com>gcarman at san.rr.com> wrote:
> >>Actually a bikepath "hiway" along the same routes of the existing
> >>freeways would probably serve the largest population in the area
> >>due to population growth that tends to occur along
> >>freeways.  Cyclists want to go to the same locations as drivers.
> >>In many cases, there is a wider amount of land dedicated to the
> >>freeway right of way then is actually used for freeway...  a single
> >>bikepath can be created in less space then 2 new lanes on a
> >>freeway, and along the same right of way.   Adding a 10 foot wide
> >>bikepath can reduce the traffic load on a freeway more then adding
> >>two 10 foot wide lanes to a Freeway can reduce congestion.
> >>Funding should come from the same agencies that fund
> >>Freeways...  bike transportation facilities are simply another form
> >>of public transportation.
> >>OK, I've answered all the questions...  when do we get started?
> >>
> >>At 10:13 AM 3/30/2008, Jim Baross, Jr. wrote:
> >>>I'm happy and supportive of Eric's inspirations! Speaking in
> >>>generalities, this sounds and could be wonderful... though you are
> >>>likely to read responses about how it couldn't or shouldn't be done.  :-(
> >>>To seriously act on the inspiration - one that isn't BTW new to
> >>>many of us - something besides dreaming and typing needs doing, right?
> >>>Now, a few task suggestions. Figure out exactly where you think
> >>>such a proposal would work in the San Diego area; a Bike Path or
> >>>maybe a Bicycle Boulevard or ? ... connecting what and following
> >>>or creating what route... then maybe think about/research an
> >>>estimate of costs 'cause besides location, cost matters big time!
> >>>You might be ready then with a proposal that SDCBC, an individual,
> >>>or ? would propose to the site-owning agency for funding. Sound
> >>>exciting? Good, then do it.
> >>>It's sort of useless to debate the generalities between facility
> >>>types when it's the specific site and uses that make for bigger
> >>>differences, IMHO. Let's get specific.
> >>>* Ban all but bikes, transit and delivery vehicles in a downtown
> >>>area?... or impose single-occupancy vehicle use taxes for downtown
> >>>like London has?
> >>>* Create a Bike Path/MUP/Bike Boulevard linking Mid City or
> >>>UCSD/SDSU or ? to Downtown or University Town Center/La Mesa or ?
> >>>* what?
> >>>Jim (likes dreams, lives reality) Baross
> >>>At 01:52 AM 3/30/2008, Eric Converse wrote:
> >>>>I've been inspired.  These recent discussions on bicycle paths
> >>>>have led me to create the following blog entry:
> >>>>San Diego and Bogota Columbia (a bicyle path comparison):
> >>>><http://www.ativsolutions.com/cblog>www.ativsolutions.com/cblog
> >>>>In short, you'll notice that Bogota (serving a much larger, and
> >>>>poorer, population) does a couple of things we don't do
> >>>>here.  Their bicycle paths are contiguous and are routed through
> >>>>major population centers.  While many of our bicycle paths, while
> >>>>pretty (riding next to the water mainly),are often fragmented
> >>>>with huge gaps between them.  What we need are long continuous
> >>>>paths (much like our freeway system) that provide a backbone for
> >>>>this city's bicycle transportation network.  Needless to say we
> >>>>won't always be on a bicycle path no matter how good we make the
> >>>>system, but we can provide a network that links the city together
> >>>>and serves vastly more people.
> >>>>Can't we do at least as good as a poor city in a third world country?
> >>>>Eric
> >>>_______________________________________________
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> >>
> >>
> >>--
> >>Thanks,
> >>
> >>Derek Hofmann
> >><mailto:derek.hofmann at gmail.com>derek.hofmann at gmail.com
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