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<b>Going gets rough with unpaved access to bike path near Route 56
<br><br>
</b>By Ruth McKinnie Braun<br>
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER<br><br>
January 9, 2008<br><br>
<b>THE PROBLEM:</b> The San Diego bike path along state Route 56 from
Carmel Valley to Rancho Peñasquitos is straight and smooth, but getting
to it from El Camino Real is a jarring experience. <br><br>
Mitch Lynn sets out from his home in Mission Hills twice a month for a
ride that loops north to Carmel Valley across to Interstate 15 and then
back home. <br><br>
<img src="http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080109/images/fixit280.jpg" width=280 height=213 alt="[]">
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<b>THE SITE: State Route 56 bike path in Carmel Valley.</b> <br>
Lynn said the 10-mile path beside Route 56 is one of the region's best
rides. He just wishes it was easier to get to. <br><br>
When Caltrans built the path, it included a paved entrance from
southbound El Camino Real, but not from the northbound side. <br><br>
Cyclists have forged a 200-foot dirt trail to the asphalt bike path, but
there are no signs and no curb cuts leading there. Some cyclists, Lynn
said, ride down the somewhat steep trail filled with ruts, but many walk.
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“If you are not a strong rider, you will fall down,” Lynn said. <br><br>
Northbound riders can use the southbound entrance, but that requires
riding against traffic on El Camino Real, cutting across six lanes of 50
mph traffic and a center median or riding to a traffic light more than a
block away and circling back. Lynn and other riders who have contacted
Just Fix It want Caltrans or the city of San Diego to pave the trail and
put in a curb cut. <br><br>
Lynn also said part of the paved path between El Camino Real and Carmel
Creek Road is chronically flooded. <br><br>
<b>STATUS:</b> Just Fix It called Caltrans, which said San Diego is
responsible for maintaining the path. <br><br>
Brad Jacobsen, a city associate traffic engineer, said paving the trail
would cost about $245,000 and is not as simple as it appears. Because of
sensitive habitat near the trail, the city would have to provide
environmental mitigation. <br><br>
The city has unsuccessfully applied for money for the project from the
half-cent sales tax that pays for transportation projects in the region.
Jacobsen said the city will apply again and is looking at other options.
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The flooding is caused by an overgrowth of native plants in Carmel Creek.
Jacobsen said the city is looking for money to install a flood-control
channel. <br><br>
<b>WHO'S RESPONSIBLE:</b> Brad Jacobsen, who can be reached at (619)
533-3126 or
<a href="MAILTO:bjacobsen@sandiego.gov"><b>bjacobsen@sandiego.gov</a></b>
. The city has a bicycle hotline at (619) 533-3110. NEED A PROBLEM
SOLVED: Is there a problem government hasn't taken care of despite your
complaints? Whether it's a missing bus bench or an unkempt park anywhere
in San Diego County, Just Fix It might be able to help. <br><br>
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<img src="http://www.signonsandiego.com/images/utbullets/utbullet.gif" width=5 height=7 alt="[]">
Complaint forms are at justfixit.uniontrib.com, or call (800)
820-8714 to describe your problem. <br>
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