[SDCBC] What were they thinking?

[Kathy Keehan]

Hi Tom,
I'm not sure about the inclusion of the two right turn only lanes, but I
expect it might happen - they're doing a lot of work in the median right
now. But it might just be that they accidentally used the same signs as for
the eastbound Camino Del Norte interchange, where there are two right turn
only lanes.:-)
There was considerable debate with Caltrans about the configuration of the
street up to the interchange. We pushed hard for that bike lane to be long
so that bicyclists wouldn't be trapped to the right of the right turning
motorists. They didn't want to stripe the bike lane at all, and if they did
they wanted to keep it to the right all the way up to the signal. I think
this is better, although not ideal. I'm not exactly sure what 'ideal' would
be on this six lane 50 mph arterial, though. 
Kathy
P.S. Did you see they restriped Rancho Bernardo Road at the I-15 as well?
They got rid of the shoulder and make it an additional right turn only lane,
with a straight plus right/HOV option. It's a horrible design, especially
since it's dark under the bridge and therefore difficult to see a bicyclist
taking the lane on the fairly long uphill through the interchange. I'm
hoping to convince Caltrans that they don't need the HOV option (since the
actual entrance to the HOV lanes is off West Bernardo Drive) but I don't
anticipate much luck there. 

-----Original Message-----
From: sdcbc-bounces at bikesandiego.org [mailto:sdcbc-bounces at bikesandiego.org]
On Behalf Of Tom Lettington
Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 1:37 PM
To: SDCBC
Subject: [SDCBC] What were they thinking?

http://www.tfl.net/MyPhotoAlbums/CaminoDelNorteApproachingI15FromEast/ 
is a sequence of 10 photos taken as I approached Interstate 15 on 
Camino Del Norte westbound.  This is within the City Limits of San 
Diego in an area where the I15 Northbound on-ramp approach has been 
under construction for well over a year, perhaps longer.  This area 
was recently completed with new striping and new signs and then 
opened for traffic. The right turn only lane for entering the freeway 
on-ramp is quite long with a very early traditional transition of the 
Bike Lane from curb-side to adjacent (to the left) of the single 
right turn lane.  Three signs to the right of the sidewalk 
erroneously show two right-turn-only lanes to the right of the bike lane.

I suppose it is possible that the lane alignment will change to be 
consistent with the signage after the present construction on the 
eastbound side of Camino Del Norte is completed, but I seriously doubt it.

Note the large SDG&E truck is the last photo of the sequence using 
the bike lane to get a head start on a wide right turn.

I ask again: What were they thinking?  It was thoughtful of them to 
place the "Road Construction Ahead" signs in the bike lane - but then 
they almost always do that.  I have submitted a "Service Request" to 
the City of San Diego Street Division.

     - Tom

Note:  Click on the thumbnail photo to get the larger view and access 
to controls for browsing and/or a slide show.

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