Caltrans District 9 – Covering Mono and Inyo Counties as well as a portion of Kern County, has come out with a new bicycling map which details many of the routes in the region and alternates to roads closed to bicycling. The region is a great place to ride when the weather is conducive. Just beware of high winds and high heat at times.
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/4bcd2ab33819484596004b2a13c3a06c
Many cities throughout the US have implemented a “slow streets” program to help make it easier for people to get out and exercise during this crisis. In San Diego, this has taken on the form of a “light” closure of some roadways. This means that the roadways aren’t closed entirely to motor vehicles, but through traffic is discouraged by the use of signs and barricades at various intersections. In doing so, bicyclists and pedestrians are given more room on the street.
I strongly encourage everyone to check these out in your city. If you think the program should be expanded, let them know! I know the ones here in San Diego have been helpful. We’d love to hear your thoughts as well.
For the City of San Diego:
https://www.sandiego.gov/tsw/programs/slow-streets-program
For the City of Los Angeles:
http://ladot.lacity.org/coronavirus/apply-slow-street-your-neighborhood
In the course of doing research on old US 395 and I-15 in the Miramar area, I came upon a very interesting set of plans. In 1979, a bicycle path was constructed along what is now Kearny Villa Road from Harris Plant Road to Carroll Canyon Road. While there are some details about this path still missing, such as why it was built, who was able to use it (being in a military base), and when it was closed. In time I hope to find these things out. In the meantime, I have the plans for the path itself.
Starting at Harris Plant Road, bicyclists were directed from Kearny Villa Road, across the freeway, to Altair Road. About 1/4 mile north on Altair Road, the Class I bicycle path began. It followed Altair Road for a short distance, crossed under the freeway at San Clemente Canyon, and then followed the east side of the freeway. Once it joined with Ammo Road, it was basically a Class II bike lane. The lane followed the shoulder of I-15 from near Miramar Way all the way to Carroll Canyon Road, where it exited the freeway and terminated.
Much of the Class I sections of the path remain today, albeit closed off. I had seen the roadway many times before in aerial photography and from the ground while inspecting the old freeway. I never knew what it was, other than a rather narrow roadway. The path was the first instance of bicycle specific infrastructure in this area. It wouldn’t be the last, as the current Kearny Villa Road freeway still retains a buffered bike lane today. While it is not yet known what prompted this path to be built, it does show that Caltrans has at least been trying to help cyclists in this area for quite some time. I do find it rather interesting that the path was built just a few years before this section of freeway was bypassed. I suspect, though do not officially know, that the path was abandoned not long after the bypass in 1983. A bit more research is still necessary to determine that.
After months of delays, it would appear that San Diego has finally joined the list of cities with a Bike Share program. I had posted earlier on this site that the system was to be implemented in November. Delays with the actual installation of the docking stations, mostly due to local site requests, have mostly been dealt with. Now, 20 stations around the downtown area have opened, with a few in the south end of Balboa Park.
San Diego will join a growing list of US cities that has a Bike Share program in October. The bikes will be available to anyone that has a membership in the program, for a fee. Most of the stations will be in the downtown area, with the remainder in the central city area, such as North Park, Hillcrest, and Old Town. The bike share program is planned to start on October 30, 2014. I look forward to seeing this adding to our growing bicycling community here in San Diego as well as helping tourists around in “America’s Finest City”.