Viola Brand

 Think you can ride a bike?

-LS

Zoning Laws are a Choice

"The most safe, walkable neighborhoods are often the most expensive to live in. Why? Because demand is high, but supply is low. Local zoning laws restrict housing development within these places, and simultaneously prevent other places from becoming more like them. "   -Strong Towns

Photo: Re-thinking The Future dot com

That's right, Laguna would rather covet an empty 1932 Sewer Digester and rusting tool-sheds than build a sense of PLACE for community space and multi-use affordable housing.  When will Laguna abandon symbolic, historical metaphorical elements and return to fulfill basic resident and visitor needs, like the Promenade did?

-LS

Why Car-Centric Suburbia Needs Subsidy

When does urban density subsidize car-centric suburbia? When you do the math, mixed-use walkable downtown places outperform car-centric suburbia financially every single time.

In these studies older poorer neighborhoods subsidize newer car-centric suburbanites typically nation wide. Then why does Laguna Beach plan to build 9 spanking new parking structures with the illusion of new city revenue? Density is destiny, unless bankruptcy is your game.

-LS

Cyclist Fatality Glenneyre and Oak Street 7 October 2023

 RIP

Photo Credit LA Tmes.

Photo Credit Nixle Alerts

This is a 4-way stop, the mountain bike is mangled and the preliminary accident investigation reveals:

"one of the parties might not have stopped completely."

Just think about that a while. 

 https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/losangeles/news/bicyclist-killed-small-terrier-injured-in-laguna-beach-crash/

-LS

 

San Diego Plans for Walkable Communities

Fueled by faster, riskier drivers, bigger vehicles and less police enforcement of traffic laws, pedestrian deaths nationwide rose 77 percent to 7,624 deaths from 2010 to 2021, according to federal data. -NYT

In 2013 Phase 4 of San Diego's Pedestrian Master Plan was completed, now a push to include walkable infrastructure ensures the "best possible planning of walkable communities" for new and existing developments. The emphasis seeks to make the city more walkable.

As examples, the 5th Avenue Slow Street and the Normal Street Promenade should be replicated in other parts of the city. Streetscape elements such as street trees, trash cans, bicycle racks, park benches, public bathrooms are anticipated as part of the updated plans to make walking a more enjoyable experience.  

The plans are endorsed by San Diego City CouncilmemberRaul Campillo (@CMRaulCampillo on Twitter)  who proposed funding for pedestrian promenades like the Gaslamp Quarter and the upcoming Normal Street Promenade to be replicated in other parts of the City.  

In 2008 the Laguna Beach Complete Streets Task Force proposed, wrote and delivered a Pedestrian and Bicycle Masterplan to the LB City Council, no action was taken to adopt, approve or read the submitted master plan. At present the city of Laguna Beach produced a PARKING Master Plan but no Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan and no Councilmember to endorse one.

-LS

Preemption of Minimum Parking Requirements

A new federal law HR. 3145 introduced to the 23-24 Congress would preempt State and Local laws that require minimum parking requirements. The Bill named "People over Parking" will remove minimum parking requirements for both new developments and reconstructed or rehabilitated residential and retail construction.  Intent of the law:  

SEC. 2. Preemption of State and local laws requiring the provision of parking spots for new developments.

(a) Authority regarding provision of parking spots.—In the case of a newly constructed or substantially reconstructed or rehabilitated residential, retail, commercial, or industrial structure in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce that is located not more than 0.5 miles from the closest covered public transit point, or a project for such new construction or substantial reconstruction or rehabilitation that has been permitted or otherwise authorized by the appropriate agency of local government to be undertaken, the owner of such structure or project shall have the sole discretion to determine how many automobile parking spots to provide in connection with such structure.

 The intent of this bill is a measure to address climatic changes, GHG emissions and consistent with the Laguna Beach General Plan and Vision 2030 Strategies. Given the cost of added spaces for building nine parking structures at $182,000 per space is a welcome relief from the burden on residents, commercial development and visitors. 

It's time to think different about Laguna mobility and car parking, this legislation is timely relief from 1950 planning and essential for climate goals. 

-LS

Why We Cycle

The benefits from teaching cycling:

 

•  Health and Happiness
• Awareness
• Independence
• Responsibility
• We believe in you and trust you
  

"Cycling is a good metaphor for education."

-LS 

Alameda Elementary Bike-Bus

What is way more fun than a school bus

way more fun than Mom's van........

Another successful Portland bike-bus teaches students the fun of Active Transportation. 

Listen to the fun!

 

-LS

Parking Lot Logic

 

Credit: Car Toons Stock www.cartoonstock.com

Lawsuits deliver for youth, will Laguna Beach?

The Climate Protection Action Plan (CPAP) written in 2008 gave greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets as 7% reduction below 1990 levels no later than 2012 (page v). Laguna Beach baseline emissions are reported on page 7 and reduction targets in Table 3 Appendix C.

Under Policies rhe Laguna Beach General Plan Circulation Element reads "Continue to investigate new techniques which promote the balancing of principles that roads are not just for cars; that residents have a right to the best quality of life, which includes the least noise possible, the least pollution  possible, the safest environment possible and an  environment which fosters a rich community life."  

The Laguna Beach Parking Transportation and Circulation  Committee recommends improving circulation in the city: "Our present trends  toward the excessive use of the automobile must be reversed and the automobile must  begin to be supplemented by more efficient and attractive transportation and circulation  system."   

The Forest Promenade as conceived meets the CPAP emissions target goals and General Plan policy, the 9-parking structures costing minimum $326 million do not.    

COMPLETE STREETS POLICY is consistent with all three recommendations above. Recent legal case law shows the oversight bodies are ruling in favor of GHG reductions. In a recent decision in Montana the court ruled in favor of youth plaintiffs challenging State's failure to recognize GHG's and climate change. From the case:

Based on its findings of fact, the court ruled that the youth plaintiffs have proven injury “resulting from the State’s failure to consider GHGs and climate change, including injuries to their physical and mental health, homes and property, recreational, spiritual, and aesthetic interests, tribal and cultural traditions, economic security, and happiness.”

A key dispute from the case was whether Montana's small fraction of global emissions contributed enough to matter, the state argued cutting Montana's emissions were unimportant. The court definitively rejected the state's claim acknowledging every bit of GHG emission mattered affecting reductions.

 “Every additional ton of GHG emissions exacerbates Plaintiffs’ injuries and risks locking in irreversible climate injuries.” These injuries “will grow increasingly severe and irreversible without science-based actions to address climate change.” 

This finding is vitally important— eviscerating the argument of any country, state, corporation or city actor that their portion of emissions is too small.

Recent case law shows similar judgements to the Montana case:

Dismissal to GHG reduction target 50%  EmpowerNJ vs Department of Environmental Protection

Youth vs State over due process rights Natalie vs State of Utah

Challenge to the City of San Diego's 2022 Climate Action Plan for allegedly failing to include mechanisms to ensure that its objectives would be achieved.  Climate Action Campaign vs City of San Diego

 "On the strongly positive side, however, the clear acceptance of the facts of climate change and the strength of climate science will make future attempts in court cases to dismiss climate science untenable."  -Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

-LS