UPDATE: Residents upset with accidents and speeds on Sunset Cliffs Blvd want some kind of action
The OB Rag was contacted by persons who are organizing tonight’s convergence on the OB Town Council, and stated:
There are a few of us that live on SUNSET CLIFFS (2000) Block that have had our cars, in some cases totaled by speeding drivers coming into OB, we are working on getting some sort of traffic solution to this problem.
There is no SPEED LIMIT SIGN from W. Point Loma to the SCHOOL Crossing Sign right before Santa Monica.
It is nearly impossible to cross the street on foot or by car.
In the last 12 months alone there have been six reported traffic accidents, two of them involved 7 parked cars plus the the two cars that caused the accidents.We just feel that as the main thoroughfare into our community we want to influence how we want both our visitors and residents to drive while in our community. We would like to at minimum have a interactive speed limit sign (one that show how fast you are traveling) a stop sign or traffic light at Brighton and an interactive cross walk, (type that flashes lights when someone is attempting to cross.)
Certainly know everyone has there own views on these types of situations, and we understand that we who live on Sunset Cliffs, are more prone to problems because of our situation, however as a community we feel that too many people are speeding and driving recklessly on a short stretch of roadway, where many people walk, where families take there kids to town and the beach and we want to get some help in solving this problem.
We will be a the OB Town Council meeting tonight a 7pm at the Masonic Hall.
OB Town Council Meets Wed., May 28th at 7pm at the Masonic Lodge
OCEAN BEACH, CA. Some Ocean Beach residents have posted fliers in the community asking residents to approach the OB Town Council about the dangers of crossing, riding a bike or parking along Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. Residents upset or concerned about the dangers of the main avenue into the community are being asked to attend the Town Council’s Wednesday night meeting, which is on Wed., May 28th at the Masonic Lodge at 7 pm. The Lodge is located at Sunset Cliffs Blvd and Santa Cruz Avenue.
Apparently the precarious efforts experienced in either crossing Sunset Cliffs or riding a bike down it have raised the ire of sufficient locals, that they are taking the matter to the Town Council. The Town Council, of course, is a self-appointed, well-meaning institution and has no legal or jurisdictional authority. It has and does good things for the community and it can take “stands”, or positions on matters or issues, and lobby for its views. It seems, though, that actually the OB Planning Board is really the place for these types of issues.
What can be done? I don’t bike down Sunset Cliffs because of the tightness with traffic, except on the sidewalk. Crossing it can be hazardous to your health. But what is the solution? More traffic lights? Flashing lights? Slower speed limits? Please: no one-way streets. One-way streets tend to carve up a community, and erect human-made barriers to the flow of people and things.
We tried to contact the email address on the yellow flier that was visible on the telephone pole near my house. The email came bouncing back and there was no goggle result to goslowsunsetcliffs@gmail.com
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I try to avoid Sunset Cliffs Boulevard all the time.
I had my truck (and back and knees) totalled in a 4-car pile-up on Sunset Cliffs. I was leaving OB on the part between West Point Loma and Nimitz. Now I avoid it all the time too and take Ebers and Nimitz instead.
People come into OB faster now since the OBCDC got a 2nd lane put in all the way to WPL.
The Planning Board is the place to go with these concerns.
Email address given at the OBTC meeting tonight was slowdownsunsetcliffs@gmail.com.
It would be nice to have a dedicated crossing somewhere between Voltaire and Santa Monica, maybe a four-way stop at Brighton as was suggested might work, especially for pedestrians and local traffic. Of course, that raises concern about how bad through traffic would back up at peak times, and whether Brighton or another street one might choose to place a four-way stop at might experience more congestion…
While spending some time visiting my son in Santa Cruz recently I noticed that they strictly enforce the pedestrian crossing right of way. Cars actually stop, even on the main street Mission Blvd. ( Highway 1 ), any time a pedestrian or bike rider steps off the curb. It has become a habit for motorists there because the crossings are wide, well marked, and there are signs everywhere saying It’s the law, STOP for pedestrians. This would seem like no brainer to me, and would cost hardly nothing to mark the crossings like they are at Sunset Cliffs and Saratoga, big yellow and hard to miss. Most of all having the police actually enforce it by giving out tickets for a month or two until the word gets around, STOP or PAY.