The Car Bloat Trap of Laguna Beach

 It's worse than this. When Laguna's planners expect to receive 7 Million visitors arriving with the same bloated vehicles  and park them all.

Courtesy Mark R. Brown AICP CNU at carfreeusa.substack.com

 -LS

2026 City Council Election and Mobility

GOOGLE: nope, nothing to see here

How many elections have we heard Laguna residents ask for "Accountability, Transparency, Representation, Residents First" and City Council candidates echo the same?  Election rhetoric are just words, they do not address issues like Laguna's abysmal traffic safety record.

Laguna's government has structural failures. Without city policy enforcement and consequences it matters little who occupies those council seats. So what do these new candidates bring to their position to repair the damage?  (In a hurry? Scroll to the RESULTS below).

The challengers and their campaign websites are:

Nick Aronoff    nickforlaguna.com 
    
Edward Bayuk   electedwardbayuk.com      

Joy Berry    joy4laguna.com     

Ashley Cintas    ashleyforlaguna.com   

Karen Martin    karenmartin4laguna.com  

What campaign platform are these candidates running on, what do they want to accomplish during their term for Laguna? Lets look at the 2026 candidacy websites for clues. In 2001 Residents established a list of Vision 2030 GOALS for the City to accomplish, the following are Keywords from the Vision2030 GOALS for citywide mobility:

citywide transit system OR urban design PCH OR urban design South Coast Highway OR livable communities analysis OR pedestrians OR bicycles OR pedestrian friendly (downtown) OR  effective parking strategy OR encourage bicycle use OR sustainable mobility  OR environmental stewardship OR marine sanctuary OR pacific corridor 

 These are more Mobility Keywords :

non-compliance OR circulation element OR complete streets OR  AB-1358 OR general plan OR  state mandates OR office of traffic safety OR traffic safety OR collision record OR vision2030 OR mobility modes OR bicycle OR pedestrian friendly OR transit OR laguna streets OR light rail OR parking structures OR tourists OR vision framework OR residents first 

As confirmed by GOOGLE searches these keywords do not appear in the 2026 Candidates websites, this means the topic related to the keyword doesn't appear either. 

Here are results of those keyword searches:

RESULTS

Nick Aronoff
Mobility Keywords- 2
Vision2030 Goals- 0
    
Edward Bayuk 
Mobility Keywords- 0
Vision2030 Goals- 0

Joy Berry
Mobility Keywords- 0
Vision2030 Goals- 0    

Ashley Cintas
Mobility Keywords- 0
Vision2030 Goals- 0

Karen Martin
Mobility Keywords- 0
Vision2030 Goals- 0

Alex Rounaghi 
Mobility Keywords- 0
Vision2030 Goals- 0

The election incumbents are seated Council members and do not have a campaign website to search, Alex Rounaghi is the exception. 

These results make it clear that should these challengers win a seat on City Council, the new council are not prepared to address Laguna's government structural failures, another election term shall pass with no corrections. 

Sorry Laguna Pilgrims, no mobility improvement this decade, none the next.

-LS 

 

Laguna's Whole Foods Drive-In

 
This is the patron seating and ambiance at Laguna's Whole Foods Market at Beach and Ocean Avenue. 

 
 

 

Q: Where did the Whole Foods umbrellas, benches furniture and bike-rack go?  
A: The City of Laguna Beach told Whole Foods management to remove them. 
 
Whole Foods offers a food court with delicious hot and cold entrees;  
Q: Where does a WF patron eat lunch or drink coffee?   
A: Why in their car naturally.   
 
You rogue patrons who walked biked bussed or rode the trolley are missing car-culture, go home. C'mon back with a car so you have a place to sit. The LB City decision to remove the furniture is so wrong headed it defies comprehension. You just spent $9 Million on a hot brick Promenade with furniture, but no car parking. 
 
Whole Foods management (Cory, Jon and Albert) are aware of the missing furniture and working on replacements, a WF HQRs  task team is also aware of the omission and working on solutions.    
 
Here is a quick temporary solution; place these bistro tables in pairs at locations around the parking lot. Given the lack of space currently the tables offer WF patrons a brief rest stop for coffee an conversation. 

 -LS

ACTION: Adopt the Vision 2030 Strategic Plan

ATTENTION LB RESIDENTS:  What will Laguna Beach be like a generation from now? In thirty years will we congratulate ourselves on what we have achieved or lament what we have lost? 
 
Have we lost it?   

That was a warning from LB residents 25-years ago.  In 2001 a Committee of Residents, city consultants and city officials asked those questions, nearly three decades have passed and those questions remain unanswered.
 
What can we do to preserve resident core values and the beauty and culture of Laguna Beach?  In 2001 they said: 
 

• Community Character ~ People   We are an eclectic mix of people, we will honor that diversity  
• Community Character ~ Place    We identity as a small artists town with village charm beauty and historic character, a recreation beach magnet for swimming, surfing, biking and hiking. 
• Resident and Visitor Mobility      A safe and enjoyable mobility system to get around by walking, biking, transit and smooth traffic flow.  
• Environmental Responsibility     We protect and preserve our Marine Sanctuary, beaches, hillsides and honor  environmental sustainability. 
• Arts and Culture      We are known for the arts and cultural programming.  
• Economic Sustainability      We ensure that our business community is healthy and adaptable , built upon the aesthetic charm consistent with historic character and natural features of Laguna Beach. 
• Governance and Civic Participation    Our residents are informed about community affairs, we foster greater participation and ownership of local government policy. 

 
To preserve our town, our City Leaders and Staff need to know what to do.  They need legal instructions committed to complete goals because legal rules tell them to do so. Adopt the Vision 2030 Strategic Plan into legal rules.
 
What kind of town do we want Laguna Beach to be?  In 2001 community residents, city consultants and city officials wrote a strategic plan to prepare Laguna Beach for the year 2030.  Then, the final plan was set aside and ignored, never approved, adopted or implemented.  
 
A comprehensive REVISED plan (150pg) is available and ready for city adoption.  Write to your Laguna Beach City Council and tell them to review, approve, and adopt this REVISED Plan.   
 
Link to REVISED Vision 2030 Final Strategic Plan 
 
Write: LB City Council

 Phone: City Clerk AnnMarie McKay  949 497 0705 
Phone: Community Development 949 497 0712 
Phone: Front Desk 949 497 3311

 

-LS 

OTS Collision Data thru 2023

 The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) collects vehicle collision data in each California city.  The State monitors and ranks vehicle collisions in thirteen categories, Laguna fails every one of them. Here are comparisons of collision fatalities and injuries for three beach cities: San Clemente Dana Point and Laguna Beach. For a smaller population and much lower Daily Vehicle Miles Traveled, Laguna holds an abysmal safety record compared to DP and SC. Collision rankings expressed in percent are a safety ranking, the greater the rank the better. 

Population 

 

DVMT 

 

Total Fatality and Injury 

 

Rank Total Fatality and Injury 

 

Rank Pedestrians

Rank Bicycles

 

Rank Motorcycles 

 

Rank DUI Arrests 

 

Rank Alcohol Related 

Rank Speed Related

This safety record is not news,  shown early as 2012 the poor record persists yet nothing is done. Technical safety add-ons like cameras and widgets are street furniture but not city mobility policy. For street safety shortfalls this large, city policy must address the issues with mobility policy not solutions with gimmicks. 

 

There is one category Laguna Beach is really good at, and that is DUI Arrests ranking 100% every year. In Laguna we get our man,  DUI's is good business. 

 

-LS

A Consultant's Warning

In a 28 October 2013 meeting with Let Laguna Vote, Urban design consultant Andrew warned participants "get this wrong and you will really mess this up".   

Well Laguna Beach you didn't listen to Andrew and you messed this up. Go check your notes.

Laguna's Brick Oven: The Forest Ave. Promenade

 -LS

Summer Dress Attire

 Don't you love the smell of a fresh new T-Shirt?

 

 -LS

CALIFORNIA BICYCLE 3-FOOT PASSING LAW

In the event of oncoming traffic the California bicycle passing law does NOT allow you to pass within that 3-Foot space.  The vehicle code says SLOW DOWN and PASS WHEN SAFE. 

 

The Vehicle Code says:  

2025 California Code
Vehicle Code - VEH
DIVISION 11 - RULES OF THE ROAD
CHAPTER 3 - Driving, Overtaking, and Passing
ARTICLE 3 - Overtaking and Passing
Section 21760.

c) A driver of a motor vehicle shall not overtake or pass a bicycle proceeding in the same direction on a highway at a distance of less than three feet between any part of the motor vehicle and any part of the bicycle or its operator. The driver of a motor vehicle overtaking or passing a bicycle that is proceeding in the same direction and in the same lane of travel shall, if another lane of traffic proceeding in the same direction is available, make a lane change into another available lane with due regard for safety and traffic conditions, if practicable and not prohibited by law, before overtaking or passing the bicycle.

(d) If the driver of a motor vehicle is unable to comply with subdivision (c), due to traffic or roadway conditions, the driver shall slow to a speed that is reasonable and prudent, and may pass only when doing so would not endanger the safety of the operator of the bicycle, taking into account the size and speed of the motor vehicle and bicycle, traffic conditions, weather, visibility, and surface and width of the highway.

 

-LS

Memorial Day MONSTER Trucks

CAPTION CONTEST

Some possibilities: 

1. Where's my Parking WAAAAAH!  
2. Parking for PATRIOTS
3.  Looking for Fresno 
4. Wretched Excess
5. Der Uberbaron und Die Minimalist

 

Which vehicles do Laguna Residents wish to see on their streets? Do these images challenge our LB City status-quo (do nothing) mobility plan, or does it reassure LB Residents the status-quo is working?  

-LS 

MAY IS BIKE MONTH

Let's enjoy Bike Month by riding our bikes. Let's be smart about eBikes, they can kill and riders can be killed. 

Boost your knowledge about operating eBikes;

 

START SMART

RIDE SMART

 

 

learn riding techniques and road safety among automobiles. Learn these critical skills by taking this eBike Safety Course from People for Bikes and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.  

-LS 

The Deforest of Laguna's Forest Avenue

TOLD YA SO.

A city renewal project without Project Requirements  (preserving heritage trees and sense of Place) lacks definition and contingencies.  When authorities deny Arborist's discovery and sufficient planning to manage unexpected events like public safety, the city council members are forced to make decisions that lead to results worse than expected. 

The Deforest of Forest Avenue

Now Laguna has a new sense of Place, thank you Council for the GAZA look. 

The most difficult question for an LB Council member:   "Am I true to myself"? 

"When you don't know where you're going, you'll end-up somewhere else."

-LS 

CALTRANS SHARROWS in Laguna Beach

 SHARROWS are pavement markings that indicate the roadway is shared by motor vehicles eBikes and pedal bicycles. 

Consistent with their Deputy Directive 64 for a transition to multi-modal mobility, the California Department of Transportation CALTRANS placed Sharrows on South Coast Highway at Woods Cove, pictured is 'PCH' at Moss Street. In a town experiencing a wretched excess of automobiles the use of more cycling complements the 2012 LB bike route. Like the bike route and LB Trolley these interventions are a welcome alternative to motorist traffic in Laguna Beach. 

THANK YOU CALTRANS, Department of Transformation.

Cyclists: The posted speed limit remains at 30 and 40mph, first adopters will learn to pedal harder.

SOUTHBOUND 

PCH Southbound at Moss St.

"May use full-lane" well mercy good for that.

OH SHIZ what's that ahead?

A Bikelane, perfect place to park a Semi

Why not two Semi's, nobody will notice.

Somebody  didn't get the Caltrans Memo

NORTHBOUND

 

30MPH on a bicycle?  Uphill?  No problem.

OK now what?  Guess I'll go back?

Thankyou Caltrans!

-LS

Promenade IV Street Art

 What-if the new Promenade IV offered Street Art? 

 -LS