Jan Feetz

....Perhaps.
Teeming with traffic? - Daily Pilot

Jed19

^Frigging unbelievable!

mwandaw

Someone who travels along Back Bay Drive almost daily will have better insight, but here's my opinion.

I have ridden bikes through there many weekend mornings and did not see anything that I thought was unsafe, and I would guess that is peak time for the route. In my mind, the Conservancy is overreacting.

If some form of traffic needs to be eliminated, I would suggest that it be the cars. It doesn't seem to me that the route has much value for automobile transportation. Surrounding streets would be much faster. People who don't want to walk or can't walk might say that they should be able to cruise along Back Bay Drive to enjoy the scenery. However, much of the road has a cliff on one side and the view is partly blocked by tall vegetation on the other. It seems to me that existing scenic parking spaces would offer better views.

Pamestique 

This has been an issue for some time and there have been numerous City Council meetings about use and limitations. Right now there is also a dispute between the State and City as to who has control... hopefully politicians arguing for control means no action allowing riders through Back Bay. Worse that can happen, I believe is restricting bicycles one way like they do with car traffic...

trailangel

If they let cars drive this road, they need to allow bicycles as well.

CommuteCommando

Yes. Permitting cars and banishing bikes on a lower speed roadway that also allows pedestrians probably contradicts the CVC.

I did not see where it was specifically recommending banishing bikes. I have only ridden it a couple of times. Both of those times bikes and peds outnumbered cars by a bunch. I would not be surprised if the ultimate finding was to further restrict motor vehicle use.

Inefficiency in government is criticized by many, but may actually be a good thing. Having it be difficult to get things done, limits the damage they can do.

TrojanHorse

It looked like they may restrict bicycle traffic to the same direction only as car traffic.

Totally agree! Conflict also forces them to spend more time analyzing and discussing issues rather than just passing knee-jerk resolutions that have unintended consequences.

Elvo

I agree with making it one way only. I can't imagine how many near misses there are with the weekend MUP racers bombing down the hill into pedestrians with kids/strollers/dogs that are walking 20 abreast in the middle of the road.

bikeme

I'd be happy to ban cars from using it. Bikes are definitely the largest user group. I've had no problems riding either direction on it and would hate to see it one way as I use it both directions depending on the distance/route I'm riding. Oh, yeah--ban earphone use from it too.

Jan Feetz

Earphone users on a bicycle= Bil Gat's ......but that is an entirely different thread.

penderguide

Sorry for the shameless plug, but in my just-published book, enCYCLEpedia Southern California - The Best Easy Scenic Bike Rides, I recommend riding the Back Bay Loop in a clockwise direction to maximize the scenic vistas, ie always being closest to the bay, however I do warn readers about the dangers of the oncoming traffic. I think the biggest danger is from inconsiderate trail users -- if everyone used the trail properly it would be much safer. Last week I was riding in the bike lane in the section against traffic and faced a gauntlet of moms with strollers, three abreast, unyielding in both the bike lane and sticking out into the traffic lane, forcing me to come to a screeching halt to avoid riding head on into an oncoming car. Actually I have found where peds and bikes are not separated on trails, which is the vast majority of the time, it creates a dangerous situation due mostly to inconsiderate peds. The most dangerous stretch is obviously the steep hill down from Eastbluff where you are riding full speed against peds and oncoming auto traffic. You've probably heard that they ended up banning bikes northbound down the steep hill on the access road out of the Torrey Pines Preserve in San Diego, but in that case it's the only vehicle entrance, whereas northbound bikes can use Torrey Pines Rd, not as safe for them, but the only solution.

I can't see them banning cars in the Back Bay because it provides access to the disabled and school field trips, but perhaps they can do what's done in other areas that restrict vehicles (like Grand Canyon W Rim in peak season) and limit it to permit holders, with instructions to yield to peds and bikes. And Newport Beach is surprisingly bike friendly, with lots of designated bike sidewalks and the designated Back Bay loop, so I can't see them banning bikes. As others have predicted the most likely outcome will be to make bikes and cars go the same direction, which I agree would make it much safer, but it really messes up the regional trail system, including the Mountains to the Sea Trail and the link to the San Diego Creek Trail, not to mention my ride instructions! I think they should somehow re-stripe and figure out a way to separate the peds from the opposite direction bikes. While they are at it they should separate the bikes from the peds on the beach promenade!