[SDCBC] El Cajon Bicycle Boulevard

Tue Apr 1 19:58:14 EDT 2008

For what its worth, 25 years ago I lived and cycled in the area
between University and El Cajon.  Orange/Howard was generally the
east/west route I would take, for all the reasons Kathy enumerated,
plus the fact that it's lanes are relatively wide through most of its
length.

Tom
thomas.treynolds at gmail.com

On Tue, Apr 1, 2008 at 4:24 PM, Kathy Keehan <execdir at sdcbc.org> wrote:
> I vote for Orange/Howard - it's relatively flat, has few stop signs, and not
> too much traffic. It's strategically placed between University and El Cajon
> with good connectivity to both. It also has great freeway crossings for both
> 805 and 15. I think we could traffic calm it the length of the street (from
> 54th to Park) and have a wonderful east west connector.
> Not that I have a definite opinion or anything... ;-)
> Kathy
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: sdcbc-bounces at bikesandiego.org [mailto:sdcbc-bounces at bikesandiego.org]
> On Behalf Of Jim Baross, Jr.
> Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 4:12 PM
> To: jwstump at cox.net; Derek Hofmann
> Cc: SDCBC
> Subject: Re: [SDCBC] El Cajon Bicycle Boulevard
>
> 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>B
> icycle
> >
> >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
> > >>>_______________________________________________
> > >>>You are subscribed to the SDCBC mailing list as
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> > >>_______________________________________________
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> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>--
> > >>Thanks,
> > >>
> > >>Derek Hofmann
> > >><mailto:derek.hofmann at gmail.com>derek.hofmann at gmail.com
> >_______________________________________________
> >
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