An example of a Class IV bike lane.
Editordude: In the interests of furthering the discussion about the plans for West Point Loma Blvd, here is local bicycling enthusiast Nicole Burgess’s take. We welcome any other viewpoints on this issue.
A Wonderful Transformation for West Point Loma Blvd
by Nicole Burgess
Yay – I will finally be able to safely ride my bike down West Point Loma Blvd to get ice cream at 31 Flavors. And I can stop at Barons and Grocery Outlet for some groceries. And the next day, I might hit the bank and enjoy a yoga class. A short bike ride to local businesses is a great amenity for all of us.
I am truly grateful for the community of Ocean Beach and Point Loma for supporting this amazing opportunity to repurpose our streets as they are resurfaced. Many thanks also to Council Member Campbell for supporting a Class IV bikeway to provide a safe facility for all ages and abilities. Repurposing our streets as they are resurfaced is a very cost-effective approach to making our streets safer while providing an option for more people to bike, walk, and roll. And West Point Loma is a perfect example.
The segment along West Point Loma Blvd from Nimitz Blvd to Sports Arena Blvd will be going on a “road diet” or shall we say it is being transformed to accommodate all users of the road. Vehicle lanes will be reduced to one lane in each direction but the choke points at the west and east end will not be changed. Reducing the number of vehicle lanes will provide the space for a safe and comfortable bikeway, also referred to as a Class IV Bikeway or Cycle Track.
The reduction of lanes will create traffic calming to foster safer driving behaviors. Speeds will be reduced but the average travel time through this corridor will be relatively the same (approximately a 4 second delay). This small few seconds is well worth the safety benefits for all. We applaud the City of SD for implementing a true Vision Zero Solution for Safety as the recommended treatment and support the City’s goals for safety to be a top priority.
There are other benefits to the neighborhood, such as, home values will likely increase, parents can let their kids get to their neighborhood schools by foot or bike, and more people will be out and about visiting local business and being social. This all creates a more vibrant, healthy, and enjoyable place to live, work, and play.
Just in time for summer, our neighbors to the east of Nimitz, can now safely hop on their bike and safely pedal to the beach and best of all, they will not have to worry about parking a car. They will now have the best front row parking on the sand. I look forward to sharing smiles with new riders in the neighborhood. Thank you again, to all of you, for supporting a healthy lifestyles and a healthy future. Ride on…
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Ms. Burgess,
Can you provide the support for this statement in your piece?
“Speeds will be reduced but the average travel time through this corridor will be relatively the same (approximately a 4 second delay).”
Of course not. You can’t reduce 2 lanes to 1 on a 5 minute route and only slow down a trip by 4 seconds (out of about 300).
There will be like 20 people who can get to Barron’s more easily by bike and will actually do so. The 25,000 people in OB, however, not so much. I’m curious about what the owners of businesses along the route think.
If the city really wants a bike lane, it is going to have to eminent domain a strip of land on the side of WPL. Fortunately the setbacks are pretty large there.
Those sidewalks are in the public right of way, so eminent domain not required. Tthere’s certainly a lot of room there to work with if anyone is willing.
When do bikes start getting taxed to pay for taking away infrastructure that motorists paid for?
What do you mean “motorists paid for”? They barely pay for half of road costs: https://usa.streetsblog.org/2013/01/23/drivers-cover-just-51-percent-of-u-s-road-spending/. The rest comes from general funds we all pay into.
I agree Christo. Wasn’t there a state proposal a few years ago that would tax the number of miles you drive rather than taxing gas?
It seems to me that if we are going to start building additional infrastructure for bicycles, they should have to foot the bill via registration and usage taxes. Just sayin’