Opposition has formed to the city’s plans of reducing the traffic lanes on a section of West Point Loma Blvd in the Midway District from 4 lanes to 2 lanes. Right now the opposition is in the form of two identical petitions on change.org.
Both are headlined:
Please tell Dr Jen Campbell you oppose W Point Loma Blvd bike lanes in place of two lanes!
Dr Jen Campbell, of course, is the City Councilmember for the area. As of this writing, 105 had signed the first one and it appears 105 people have signed the second one (whether they’ve been merged somehow is unknown here).
Both petitions were started by Dana DeLuz on Monday, April 22. There are a few limited comments on the petition page, and both petitions have the exact same ones.
In addition, there’s a rumor that the petitions were developed in response to OB Rag writer Geoff Page’s report on the recent meeting of the Peninsula Community Planning Board where they endorsed the city’s plan for the reduction of traffic lanes and parking on that section of West Point Loma Boulevard between (between Nimitz Boulevard and Sports Arena Boulevard). His report was posted on Monday, the 22nd.
Here is the text of the petition(s):
Please tell Dr Jen Campbell you oppose W Point Loma Blvd bike lanes in place of two lanes!
Dear Dr. Campbell: We strongly oppose four lanes on West Point Loma Blvd., (between Nimitz Boulevard and Sports Arena Boulevard), being turned into two lanes, thereby leaving hundreds of residents without on-street parking for their adjacent homes. This will cause more traffic and huge parking problems, as people are already holding up traffic with the four lanes trying to parallel park if they’re lucky enough to even get a spot after work, as many homeowners and residents in this area only get one parking spot, if any, on this street. These two lanes will permanently be lost, and thereby cause a lot of traffic, parking, and safety issues. Apparently the Penninsula Community Planning Board approved these two Class IV protected bike lanes based on an inaccurate survey that was taken on a Wednesday, during street sweeping day. Please hear our voice. We will have nowhere to park, and traffic will be horrendous, on an already congested street.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Concerned Residents and Patrons of Ocean Beach and Point Loma.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
I was under the impression that there would be no decrease in the amount of parking spaces, and that the two car lanes will me modified into bike lanes. Am I missing something here? There is a median that can be reduced to double yellow lines, which would aid to do no harm to anyone.
Two lanes with street parking mean we’ll have traffic repeatedly completely stop while people parallel park.
I support bike lanes where ever possible. I even think Newport between Abbot and Cable should be permanently made car-free like we have for special events and farmer’s market.
However, that area just wasn’t designed very well. The apartment complexes along WPL don’t have enough parking, tons of 2 bedroom apartments with 1 parking spot. And contrary to the city report, that street parking on that part of WPL is usually 90% full and has cars parking and leaving constantly, often taking awhile and blocking the right lane because the spaces are so tight.
WPL is basically the only non-freeway route from OB to elsewhere in San Diego. And the Sunset Cliffs route out is routinely backed up with 100s of cars waiting to get onto the 8 or Sea World Drive. This change would also be a disaster for people on Voltaire as it is a 2-lane alternative route that might end up faster than a modified WPL that is two lanes but constantly blocked by street parking.
Mr. Rational, there will be a significant reduction in parking along the road according to the city’s presentation at the PCPB meeting. For example, one graphic showed a small reduction of spaces if the exposed lane was implemented and a reduction of 58 spaces if the protected lane was implemented. And, that was just in one area. That was the reason for the parking study, to see how much it was used and the study was flawed. The parking that will remain will mean parallel parking essentially in the middle of the street without a curb to guide the driver, only striping. And, to do it, the driver will have to stop traffic in the one travel lane.
Hi guys, I own a place at the west end of Cape May in OB. I do own a truck, however when possible I ride a bike to support the City’s Climate action and Vision zero plans. There are currently bike lanes at the west and east end of Point Loma Blvd. Running through OB and then again in the Sports Arena corridor. It’s the middle or Famosa Slue area that’s not served with bicycle lanes. The speed limit is 35mph, but some folks drive like a freeway up to 50 and even 60 along there. With no bike lanes it’s extremely challenging to navigate this corridor for a bicycle commuter, a recreational cyclist or grandfather like myself. I support safe alternative transportation. Bicycle lanes do not cause traffic. Too many people in one area, over population and families having two and three cars create traffic congestion, not bicycles. What are you doing to create a better safer community for the future?
Do you see the irony in being a “grandfather like yourself” and complaining about overpopulation?
Hello Michael, not a complaint simply a factual observation. Here is some newly released air quality information if you’re interested. I’m sure you would agree that motor vehicles and alternative transportation play a role in our overall air quality in the region .
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Lung-Association-says-San-Diegos-Air-is-Among-the-Nations-Dirtiest-480194823.html
Air travel is the world’s fastest growing source of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, which cause climate change.
See this.
important subject for the future. Sorry for the peeps that Love their cars and trucks, but because the designers/builders of the past made mistakes doesn’t mean we need to keep enabling these mistakes. The safe bike use of these corridors to the beach, the airport, the downtown city, the port and elsewhere will be a good thing… people with cars, get a clue, get a job closer to home, get a smaller car, bitch at the SD public transportation system, which sucks, instead!!!! please.
micporte, the designers and builders of the past did not make mistakes, they designed and built for a world that people wanted, in southern California, that world meant cars. Times change but that doesn’t mean blame can be cast upon the past because times have changed. The world today is much more crowded and the change in overall affluence resulted in an explosion of cars. When I grew up, most families could only afford one car, now everyone in a family can have one. That doesn’t make it right or wrong, it just is what it is. Now, we are all feeling the pressure of all those automobiles and the new reality is to find ways to do with less of them. Mass transit is the solution and we have failed miserably in that area. If we had a better mass transit system, people would leave their cars at home and there would be more room for bikes. The only thing you said that made sense in what you wrote “people with cars, get a clue, get a job closer to home, get a smaller car, bitch at the SD public transportation system” was the last suggestion, the first two were just insulting and lacked empathy.
He’s right people should get smaller cars. The “crossover” trend is bad for the environment and bad for pedestrians and other drivers.
Yes, smaller cars is part of the solution for sure, both for road space and for gas mileage. I don’t understand why we don’t have dealers selling things like the tree-wheelers and small vehicles they use all over Europe and Asia. No good for the freeways but fine for everywhere else.
Leaving Ocean Beach for jobs during daytime shifts, how easy is it now? Do you ride your bike to Scripps Ranch? To Chula Vista? If you drive, how is the traffic for you with existing car lanes?
Maybe if you are “old” you get to drive and have your car and park conveniently for free and if you are “young” no car allowed for you but you get a free bike, tuneups for your bike and can ride share, taxi, uber. No sense trying to teach old birds new tricks :-)
… while insolent millennials remain near-motionless on their bellies as the perpetually exhausted generation.
I like your idea! All problems solved. Change the law so that only 55 (50?) and older can drive cars. Everyone younger gets bikes, scooters, or if they are not able, public transportation. Think of the environmental impact!