Car Storage for a Few Trumps Safe Streets for All in San Diego
A major street safety campaign in San Diego is running up against the fierce territorial instinct that only on-street car parking can instill.
After a two-year public process, a plan to create safe biking and walking access to Hillcrest and other neighborhoods reached a local advisory group called Uptown Planners. The plan calls for adding bike lanes on major thoroughfares, and business owners have objected to the loss of 130 parking spaces. The opponents have also spread misinformation about how the plan will affect car traffic on local streets.
Uptown Planners play an advisory role in local government. At its meeting earlier this week, the NIMBY contingent prevailed, writes Sam Ollinger at BikeSD:
While many of us were out last night testifying and desperately pleading for safer access through along University Avenue to a board that ignored all public testimony for safer streets, except for the comments on using public spaces for private vehicle storage, a 74 year old woman crossing Camino Ruiz in a marked crosswalk suffered life threatening injuries after being hit by an SUV. No word yet on whether the driver has been charged.
Earlier this month, our endorsed candidates Michael Brennan and Kyle Heiskala were successfully elected to the Uptown Planners at the Community Planning Group election. But last night’s meeting was a special meeting and Brennan and Heiskala haven’t yet been seated -- so they were unable to vote on the issue.
Uptown Planners ended up voting 10-0 against the proposal, essentially saying that bike lanes should go elsewhere and calling for the project to start from scratch, with "mitigation for any loss of parking." Ollinger says the outcome disregarded plenty of testimony at the meeting:
...by the end of the evening, after the Uptown Planners voted, it was clear that the meeting was orchestrated to reject the hundreds of supporters for safer streets and push for a bizarre delay tactic that would somehow result in a singular safe route to bike on that would preserve all vehicular parking for perpetuity.
Amelia Anderson who stood up with her four year old daughter, Eva, and testified in tears about wanting to both live a healthy and environmentally friendly life and be safe on our streets – was completely ignored.
Elsewhere on the Network today: BTA Oregon is rallying members against a bill that would require cyclists to wear reflective clothing. And The Chicago Bicycle Advocate discusses how driverless vehicles could affect liability in pedestrian and cyclist collisions.
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Are Friday’s Headlines the New Normal?
Transit ridership hasn't come all the way back from the pandemic, and they're going to need more federal help, along with other changes, says Governing magazine.
Friday Video: How to Make Places Safe For Non-Drivers After Dark
A top Paris pedestrian planner, a leading GIS professional, and Streetsblog's own Kea Wilson weigh in on the roots of America's nighttime road safety crisis, and the strategies that can help end it.
OPINION: Congestion Pricing Will Help My Family Get Around As We Navigate Cancer Treatment
My partner was recently diagnosed with cancer. Congestion pricing will make getting her to treatment faster and easier.
Talking Headways Podcast: Money is a Lot of Different Things
It's Part II of our discussion with Jim Kumon!
If Thursday’s Headlines Build It, They Will Come
Why can the U.S. quickly rebuild a bridge for cars, but not do the same for transit? It comes down to political will and a reliance on consultants.
