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Sadly, I tend to agree that the US, and California in particular, is no
where near being a ped/cycling culture. And the newest bike path in
the Bonita area really reminds me of this: <br>
<br>
path begins at Bonita Mesa Road:
<a href="http://www.efgh.com/bike/pb1.jpg" eudora="autourl">
http://www.efgh.com/bike/pb1.jpg<br>
</a>path crosses Sweetwater River:
<a href="http://www.efgh.com/bike/pb2.jpg" eudora="autourl">
http://www.efgh.com/bike/pb2.jpg<br>
</a>tunnel under Plaza Bonita Road:
<a href="http://www.efgh.com/bike/pb3.jpg" eudora="autourl">
http://www.efgh.com/bike/pb3.jpg<br>
</a>path ends on Bonita Road:
<a href="http://www.efgh.com/bike/pb4.jpg" eudora="autourl">
http://www.efgh.com/bike/pb4.jpg<br><br>
<br>
</a>Compare the above to some pics I took while in Oulu Finland, where
they don't have the wonderful year round cycling weather we have in San
Diego, yet manage to have over 20% cycling ridership for
transportation. All ages bicycle for various reasons from shopping
to work commuting in Oulu, just south of the Artic circle. Of
course here in the US we have the most bicycles of any nation...
residing and rusting in garages. <br><br>
This first link shows a path that is below the road grade...
compare it to the "tunnel shot" of the Bonita path,
above.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgUkNxUE0wc" eudora="autourl">
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgUkNxUE0wc</a><br><br>
This second link shows a path that is at grade, and parallels the road
and a sidewalk. Of course an at grade path has to cross the
road... well, let's just say motorists are quite a bit different in
their treatment of cyclists there than here.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnEP8Yzennc" eudora="autourl">
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnEP8Yzennc</a><br><br>
Now what do I really want from all of this? Oulu like paths;
respect from motorists... Complete Streets... ?? Heck,
I think if we could at the very least get curb cuts for all the paths in
San Diego county, where they intersect roads... that would be a nice
start down the "proper path." <br><br>
One of the nicest paths here in San Diego county is the 56 bike
path... paralleling hiway 56 for roughly 8 miles. And yet as
wonderful as this path is, the western end still lacks proper curb cuts,
and proper signs. Other paths around the county suffer the
same fate... lack of proper curb cuts to allow cyclists to easily,
smoothly access the paths (if they can even find the paths). <br><br>
I don't think we are going to get anywhere near Complete Streets for some
time to come, but if we could only remove the small "barriers to
entry" at the local paths, that alone would be an improvement, and
along with the curb cuts, a few signs to point to the paths, so cyclists
could be made aware of their existence... I think that would be a
nice start. <br><br>
Can we somehow make curb cuts a priority for the county, or at least the
local cities? <br><br>
Bicycle sensing traffic lights would be nice too... but heck that might
just be pushing things a bit too far. GRIN. <br><br>
At 06:02 PM 12/13/2007, Abulifia wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""><font face="Verdana" size=2>
Considering the 'tude/hostile, aggressive driving exhibited by ::MOST::
motorists towards anyone on a bike or on foot, not to mention the idiot
factor as evidenced by the eternally distracted who are busy yakking on
the cell phone, the Complete Street Movement will need more than luck in
getting this program off the ground. It's going to take a complete
and total ::PARADIGM:: change of society, and I, quite frankly, don't see
that happening. The U.S. is not bicycle and/or pedestrian culture
and won't be until gas is $10.00/gallon.<br><br>
<br>
</font><br>
Gene Carman wrote: <br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""><b>Taking a new look at streets
and sidewalks<br>
</b>
<img src="http://www.signonsandiego.com/images/black.gif" width=442 height=2 alt="[]">
</b><br>
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