[SDCBC] Bogota vs. San Diego

[Gene Carman]

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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