[SDCBC] status of Torrey Pines Rd. bike lane Friday morning

[John Eldon]

Greetings all,

I just got back home from a ride to the top of the Torrey Pines hill. The northbound bike lane is fine, essentially unobstructed by "no parking" signs. The southbound lane is clear all the way to the top of the grade, but the bike lane is completely obstructed by cones from the top of the climb to the second traffic signal. The cones leave three travel lanes and no bike lane. Since there are two sharp driveway cuts for some sort of employee or VIP parking, it is probably just as well that the bike lane is blocked, as using it would set one up for a couple of particularly nasty right-hook scenarios. Taking the right lane is the only option -- easy with a mirror in light traffic at 6:40 a.m., but probably less fun as the day wears on and the traffic volume builds. 

If I were the traffic czar, I would have added some "bike lane closed -- bicyclists use right lane" or "share the road" signs, for the edification of any motorists who don't get it and who are accustomed to seeing bicyclists use what is otherwise a very good bike lane. Another option would be to put the cones in the center of the right lane, essentially turning it into a 6-foot-wide bike lane, widened back to full lane width on each driveway approach. Alternatively, the right lane could be pinched to by cones into a narrow 9' outer lane, to be shared by bicyclists and motorists driving slowly and preparing for a right turn.  

All the best,

John E.
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