Bike Coalition In the News
Advocacy
Member Q&A
Letters of Support
Include Bike Parking - 2025 California Green Building Standards Code
A coalition of bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations submitted formal recommendations to California state agencies urging stronger bicycle parking standards in the 2025 CALGreen code. The letter calls for clear definitions, safer and more accessible bike parking for all bike types, alignment with national best practices, and clarity on how new state legislation may affect implementation of these long-awaited safety improvements.
Member Q&A #1: Designing Safer Bikeways
Craig asked why we support parking-protected bike lanes, expressing concern about hazards like dooring and pedestrians on the Cardiff Cycle Track. Ian responded by affirming that parking-protected bikeways are recommended by experts and increase safety, but must be well-designed to avoid common issues. He explained how better daylighting, wider buffers, curbs, and sidewalk space can address concerns about visibility, dooring, and maneuverability. The problems seen in Cardiff are not inherent to the bikeway type but rather reflect compromised design. We continue to advocate for lane reductions on Coast Highway 101 to allow space for safer, more functional protected bikeways for all road users.
Del Mar approves bike, e-bike ordinance that aligns with Solana Beach and Encinitas (Union Tribune)
“Regulations in accordance with the other cities would make the law clearer for both cyclists who are traversing all three cities and law enforcement whose responsibility it is to enforce the law,” Ian Hembree, advocacy and community manager for the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, said during public comment.
Vista’s Protected Bikeways: A Case to Keep Them
We recently rode the new Class IV bikeways on Melrose Drive in Vista and found them to be safe, comfortable, and well-designed. Protected lanes offered a dramatic improvement over unprotected sections, where people often resort to sidewalk riding. Concerns about pinch points and access proved largely unfounded. Yet despite broad public support, Vista’s City Council voted to remove the asphalt berms that provide critical separation from fast-moving traffic. This decision—made without safety studies or rider input—undermines the project’s success. Rather than removing protection, Vista should be expanding it to create a truly safe, connected bikeway network for all.
Vista's Protected Bikeways: Safer Streets, Healthier Communities
Vista’s new protected bike lanes, especially along Melrose Drive, are under fire—not because they’ve failed, but because they’re succeeding. These Class IV bikeways provide proven safety benefits by separating cyclists from fast-moving traffic, and were approved with strong public support. While some opponents claim they’re inconvenient or unattractive, research shows they reduce crashes by over 50%. Removing them would ignore years of planning and jeopardize progress toward Vision Zero and safer, more equitable streets. Ongoing support is essential to protect this investment in a healthier, more bike-friendly Vista.
Mr. Kevin Represents San Diego Cyclists at the National Bike Summit!
Visiting Washington, DC for the 2025 National Bike Summit was an eye-opener — a city where protected bike lanes, leading pedestrian intervals, and micromobility are fully normalized. Locals use bikeshare not because they’re “cyclists,” but because it’s the easiest way to get around, showing that good infrastructure drives behavior. What feels radical in San Diego is already reality in DC — proof that safer, more accessible streets are entirely possible.
California Has a Chance to Stop Dangerous Drivers in Their Tracks
Speeding is a major factor in traffic deaths, and current methods like license suspension fail to stop dangerous drivers. California Assembly Bill 981 offers a smarter solution by installing Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) technology in the cars of high-risk drivers, physically preventing them from exceeding safe speed limits. Supported by advocates across the state, AB 981 is a targeted, life-saving approach that California urgently needs.
101 Bikeway
The Bike Coalition and safety partners submitted a letter urging Encinitas to conduct a full analysis of the 101 Highway cycle track before considering its removal. Priorities include accurate data, thorough evaluation, improved maintenance, community engagement, and safer design.
Letter to Active Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Supporting Equitable Reforms
The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition submitted a letter supporting proposed reforms to Community Parking District policies, urging the City to adopt changes that ensure equitable community representation, needs-based spending, and greater transparency. The Coalition emphasized that parking districts manage public funds and should better reflect and serve the full diversity of their communities through inclusive governance and public oversight.
Speed Limits are About to Drop (Union Tribune)
Lower speed limits save both lives and money, says Ian. Reducing speeds has been proven to decrease crash severity and insurance costs, but speed limits alone aren’t enough. True safety comes from better street design—including narrower lanes, speed bumps, raised crosswalks, and protected bike lanes. With traffic fatalities still too high, these infrastructure changes are key to creating safer, more livable streets for everyone.
The San Diego County Bike Coalition and regional partners are building momentum for a docked e-bike share network across San Diego County, addressing past failures from dockless systems that created sidewalk clutter and safety issues. The proposed system would feature designated docking stations, electric-assist bikes to tackle San Diego's hilly terrain, and funding sources that would not require new taxes or large user fees. The coalition is actively recruiting cities, agencies, and community organizations to join a regional MOU coalition to make it happen.
Read the Article