A 73-year-old bicyclist sustained an open leg fracture in a collision in north-eastern OB Thursday, July 17. (Some call it “Point Loma Heights”)
San Diego Police Department officers responded at approximately 1:47 p.m. to the 4500 block of Voltaire Street when the driver came to a complete stop in the roadway before backing into the driveway of his residence.
The victim, who was traveling east on Voltaire Street in the bicycle lane, failed to slow down and struck the side of the 67-year-old man’s vehicle, San Diego Police Department Officer Jose Perales said.
The bicyclist suffered an open tibia/fibula fracture and was taken to a hospital. Alcohol was not a factor in the collision, police said.
The department’s Traffic Division will be investigating the collision. Anyone with information related to the collision was asked to call the division at 858-495-7800 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
– Times of San Diego – City News Service
This is interesting. Voltaire Street is inclined going east from Froude. The man hit a car while peddling uphill? Or was he on an electric bike and was not peddling?
I live near here and will never understand why people ride on Voltaire when there are quiet residential streets that parallel Voltaire.
I had some of the same thoughts. Perhaps it happened where Voltaire briefly flattens out at the top of the hill.
Maybe, but that wouldn’t be the 4500 block, if that information was correct.
Hi Geoff,
The quiet residential streets that parallel Voltaire are what exactly? If we are thinking about travelling east here are the options.
On the north end we have Greene Street which unfortunately ends at Mendocino, although from a realistic routing standpoint it ends at Bolinas. Both the Mendocino and Bolinas intersections are much more difficult to safely cross Voltaire at due to visibility, so Froude is the best option and then onto Voltaire.
On the south end we have the very narrow and steep hills of Muir and Long Branch. Not an option unfortunately. Voltaire is much easier to ride up and feeds directly into Wabaska/Nimitz facilities which take you downtown.
In summary, although there are parallel streets there is no other reasonable option for a cyclist. If anything, it would make more sense to re-route vehicles onto these parallel streets as they are less affected by steep inclines.
Greene Street to Banning to Whittier takes you to Famosa, right by the Voltaire/Catalina Blvd. lighted intersection.
Muir and Long Branch are not appreciably steeper than Voltaire at the same places. Narrow? Yes for cars but not for bikes and there is far less traffic and slower traffic if any.
I guess we differ on what would be “reasonable options.” For me, reasonable would be safe.
I have to admit Geoff, as much as we agree on almost nothing bike related, I was wondering the same thing as far as the rider going up hill. Yeah maybe he was on an ebike using the throttle or possibly max pedal assist? Class 3s assist up to 28 (faster than max throttle which legally can only to to 20).
On a separate note, what streets are parallel with Voltaire going the full length?
Mayor Falconer’s Bicycle Master Scam .. placing these newly designed bicycle Lanes in pre-existing infrastructure designed for the car has only created death and destruction around the San Diego area ESPECIALLY ON VOLTAIRE STREET IN OCEAN BEACH.. KILLING A DOZEN PEOPLE in 2021 around the San Diego County…
OUR City’s POLITICIANS are more concerned with a quid pro quo in order to fill their pockets rather than the safety and well being of the Citizens that they are supposed to be serving and protecting.
In regards to using Muir or Long Branch, at the 4500 block of Voltaire, between Froude and Guizot, a cyclist should route onto Muir or Long Branch as it has a similar elevation profile but then where do they go after that? Guizot to Venice is in no way shape or form a similar elevation profile to Voltaire. That is not a doable route without some form of strong electric assistance or the use of a motor vehicle.
The Banning to Famosa route is more interesting but quite circuitous and introduces an interesting elevation gain on Whittier. I just walked that street but don’t commonly do so. Would need to go down there again to see if it is doable or not.
If you have to go farther, then cross at Froude and go up Greene Street and the aforementioned route.
I don’t think riding one block north to Greene St. is circuitous. But, it would be safer.