[SDCBC] specific information about Encinitas community meetings re: Coast Highway

[Stephan Vance]

The idea of a bike path along the railroad right of way has been around for
a long time, and considerable work has already been done in some areas. It's
called the Coastal Rail Trail The problem for Encinitas is that the North
County Transit District is requiring that a fence be constructed along with
the bike path, and many Encinitas residents who are used to crossing the
tracks to get to PCH and the beach oppose the path for that reason. The city
council, caught between a rock and a hard place have sided with the
residents. There are solutions, but it will take al lot of work and
political will to either get legal crossings approved or to get everyone to
agree that the bike path is not going to increase illegal track crossings so
a fence shouldn't be required.

 

Showing up and letting them know you care is an essential part of the
process of finding a solution.

 

Stephan Vance

 

  _____  

From: Danette Hoffert [mailto:danettehoffert at gmail.com] 
Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2008 8:24 PM
To: John Eldon
Cc: Kathy Keehan; sdcbc at bikesandiego.org; sdcbcboard at calvin.ucsd.edu
Subject: Re: [SDCBC] specific information about Encinitas community meetings
re: Coast Highway

 

John E. and Kathy, 

My 3 cents worth.

So glad you will be attending.  I will try but often work late.

1. Riding a bike along the coast is a very desirable ride by all types of
bicycle riders. Bicyclist are a reality of the PCH!

2. The PCH from North to South is dangerous.  

*	Sometimes the bike lane just vanishes and a bicyclist is caught in
the "gauntlet."  It reminds me of the crazy motorcyclists flying in between
lanes.  Yet I have no choice and am put in a crazy motorcycle type position.

*	 I have traffic on my left and parking on my right. If you are
dealing with SUV, trucks, buses, tourists driving on the left, you have
enough to contend with.  The mirror on a RV once came within inches of my
head.  This is the reality of the ride along the PCH especially in parts of
Encinitas.
*	Traffic on the right is even more dangerous.  Car doors, runners,
pedestrians, strollers, pets, etc..  I used to try the three foot rule for
avoiding the car doors which swing open at random, but you need the five
foot rule for some of the bigger trucks and SUVs.  I attempt to look at
cars/trucks to see if someone is in the drivers seat and may swing open a
door, but with tinted windows, cars hidden behind SUVs/trucks, this is often
difficult. This then makes the cars on your left angry so some come
dangerously close or stay behind and get angry.  It is a lose/lose.
*	I saw a bicyclist with a camera on her helmet riding along the PCH.
I think a picture is worth a thousand... you know.  If we could find someone
to video tape the riding experience through Encinitas on a week-end morning
they might get an idea of the chaos and danger.  I think it would be
powerful.
*	Vulcan offers a lot to planners.  There is an option for a huge bike
trail along side Vulcan and the dirt along the railroad tracks.  San Diego
has so much to offer.  We could create a hundred mile loop if we created a
decent bike path up and down the coast and linked it to some of the others,
56 to Hodges Bridge, etc..  I am dreaming a little big here.  But what a
draw and money maker for San Diego, a city that offers year-round cycling.  

Some ideas for the upcoming meetings.  Thank you!

 

Danette Hoffert  

On Feb 11, 2008 1:34 P , John Eldon <j.eldon at sbcglobal.net> wrote: 

I'll attend at least the Saturday morning workshop, and possibly one or both
evening events, as well. If anyone who cannot attend has any concerns or
requests, please forward them to me. This week's meeting is probably the
least important of the three, in the sense that public input will not be
heard -- there will be just a brief project background briefing for the city
council. 

I am pushing hard for reducing the speed limit from 40 or 45 mph to 30mph
and for avoiding door zone bike lanes. I am wary of the proposal to install
parking on the north (railroad frontage) side of the coast highway.

John E. 

Kathy Keehan <execdir at sdcbc.org> wrote: 

I hope many of you can attend, and encourage your bicycling friends to do so
as well! There are three meetings, and we need bicyclists at all three -

 

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