Part 1.5: Request for Sharrows on Cliff Drive

Please join the community to voice your support for bike lanes.

You may have read our earlier post from a Laguna Beach resident who put in an "official" request to the PTC (Parking, Traffic and Circulation Committee of Laguna Beach) for bike lanes and bicycle shared access (Sharrows) on Cliff Drive in Laguna Beach, CA.

A PTC meeting will address the public request on Thursday, April 28, 6 pm at the Senior Center.

The requests for these improvements are here:
http://lagunastreets.blogspot.com/2011/03/part-1-request-for-sharrows-on-cliff.html

The city response for these improvements is here, see item 5, Agenda:
http://www.lagunabeachcity.net/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=7164

Map of the proposed area to place sharrows on Cliff Drive:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=206081808123476062630.0004a0baa371986ff9451&z=1

Show your support for a balanced mobility plan for Laguna Beach and attend this meeting!

  

More Support for 20 mph Streets: Kids Safety

New research by Royal Holloway College, London University, studied the perceptual limitations of children and concluded that they had difficulty detecting cars approaching at speeds over 20mph. 

Would you commit to driving 20 mph in town to save lives?

Read the entire article

This great photo from Preventable.ca. Great media ideas for safety.

Moulton Meadows to Old Top of the World Trail

The Complete Streets Task Force of Laguna Beach (CSTF) is working with community leaders to extend a trail from Moulton Meadows to the Old Top-of-the-World neighborhood. The current trail is not much more than a goat path and is not safe or even easy for anything with wheels--namely bikes and strollers, nor is it very safe for kids to use unless accompanied by a very able-bodied adult to push or pull them up the trails steep and treacherous passage.
 
The new trail would be a viable and car-free option for elementary children to ride or walk to TOW Elementary School. It will allow for both neighborhoods to have access to Moulton Meadows' beautiful trails, playing fields, courts and playgrounds.When the CSTF has had informal discussions with neighborhood families the response has been overwhelmingly positive for the new trail. One neighbor simply stated, "It is silly that there is no safe access between our neighborhoods. Our kids play together at school and then to get back to MM to practice on the soccer fields, it's a 4 mile drive each way."

Currently, the MM fire road ends at the private, gated road Sommet du Monde. From our understanding, the owners of the six houses on this road have refused to grant pedestrian and bike access to the community. There has been some investigation into whether the city would have any right to open this up as a public through way, but an attorney speaking for the property owners has threatened litigation if the city were to press for eminent domain. In order to simplify the issue and preserve community harmony another option was chosen to avoid the "private" community.

Thus, Plan B is to build a bike and stroller accessible route for the trail, with some necessary easements from TOW residents. The CSTF is working to determine the route, costs and other options. The old trail will be returned to its natural condition and absorbed by the surrounding reserve.

If you are interested in joining CSTF to work on this project, please use the contact information for this website: lagunastreets@gmail.com or write to the task force directly at CSTF@verizon.net. Meetings of CSTF are held the second Tuesday of the month 4-6 pm at the Community Center downtown.

Improving Bike Safety in Corona del Mar

Newport Beach painted Sharrows on Bayside drive to improve bike safety. READ the letter from the city managers office. 

No Joke, April 1 LA City Council voted to approve $5.4Million for Safe Routes to Schools

Safe Routes funding, the council unanimously approved $2.67 million for bike lanes, bike racks and bike-friendly pavement markings. Full Article NBC-LA