Bike Coalition In the News
Advocacy
Member Q&A
Letters of Support
Thank You Letter to Mayor Gloria for Supporting SB79
Advocates thanked the City for supporting SB 79, a policy that allows more housing near transit while protecting tenants and preserving affordability standards. The letter highlights the success of recent transit investments, the urgent housing affordability gap, and broad regional support for SB 79 as a way to reduce car dependence, strengthen transit use, and ensure communities across San Diego County share responsibility for housing working families.
Micromobility, Equity, and Vision Zero: What Chula Vista’s E-Bike Ordinance Is Missing
Our Advocacy Manager, Ian Hembree, recently spoke at the Chula Vista City Council to address concerns with the proposed e-bike ordinance. In his remarks, Ian called for a more comprehensive, equitable, and data-driven approach—one that doesn’t just penalize riders but actively improves safety through infrastructure and community engagement.
Dash-cam: Bicycle collides with police motorcycle in Carlsbad (CBS8)
Kevin Baross, Education Manager with the San Diego County Bike Coalition, viewed the video and commented on the incident. "Obviously, it's important to look where you're going. I think it'd be silly to say anything else," said Baross.
Advocacy Manager Ian Hembree on Bike Talk Podcast
Vista, California’s Mayor John Franklin says a fully installed protected bike lane is evidence of an “anti-vehicle agenda.” San Diego Bicycle Coalition Advocacy & Community Manager Ian Hembree sheds light (13:44).
Public Comment on Draft 2025 Regional Plan
The Bike Coalition and Vision Zero partners submitted a letter urging SANDAG to strengthen safety, equity, and climate action in the 2025 Regional Plan. Recommendations include prioritizing core transit, advancing active transportation, improving regional bikeways, and supporting interoperable micromobility systems.
Read the letter
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.
Two fatal hit-and-run crashes in Pacific Beach have sparked urgent calls for safer streets. Families for Safe Streets, city leaders, and advocates urge speed reductions, protected bike lanes, and traffic calming. Chloé Lauer of the Bike Coalition emphasized that speed is the root cause, calling for safety-focused street design to prevent future tragedies.
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