Bike Coalition Applauds Implementation Strategy for Bike Master Plan
$312-million plan prioritizes safer biking in low-income neighborhoods
SAN DIEGO, June 2, 2016 – Last night, San Diego’s Bike Advisory Committee announced its recommendations for implementing the city’s $312-million bike master plan. San Diego County Bike Coalition Executive Director Andy Hanshaw, who also chairs the Bike Advisory Committee, says the equitable strategy puts San Diego’s low-income communities at the forefront of bike infrastructure improvements. The committee utilized the statewide pollution-monitoring tool, CalEnviroScreen, and the city’s Vision Zero strategy to identify projects in corridors with the highest air pollution and injury rates.
“The committee members have worked for nearly two years to develop the best plan to make bikes a safe and viable transportation option citywide,” says Hanshaw. “By prioritizing areas that have the most collisions and the most pollution, we’re showing dedication to a healthier, safer future — sooner.”
The committee’s implementation plan identifies six locations as highest priority for infrastructure investments:
- El Cajon Boulevard from 43rd Street to Montezuma Road
- El Cajon Boulevard from Utah Street to 43rd Street
- Fourth Avenue from Elm Street to Island Avenue
- Fifth Avenue from Elm Street to Harbor Drive
- University Avenue from Utah Street to Fairmount Avenue
- University Avenue from Fairmount Avenue to La Mesa City Limit
This news comes on the heels of last month’s announcement of an implementation strategy for the city’s climate action plan. According to Hanshaw, the city worked closely with the Bike Advisory Committee to reflect these recommendations in the recently released climate action plan implementation strategy.
“At the end of the day, both plans exist to make San Diego a healthy, sustainable place,” he says. “And bikes play a very large role in that.”
The committee’s recommendations will now be shared with city transportation staff and presented to the San Diego City Council’s smart-growth and land-use committee, chaired by Councilmember Lorie Zapf.
For more information about the Bike Advisory Committee, click here. To learn more about the San Diego County Bike Coalition, please visit https://sdbikecoalition.org.
