No longer the sleepy village by the sea.
As San Clemente approaches its Centennial this one time little village now hosts over 60,000 residents. It’s not your typical OC beach town, but resides on rolling coastal bluff tops which offer bicycle challenges of their own.
This year a bicycle and pedestrian advocacy group, PEDal, was formed to lead San Clemente into the human powered 21st Century. Chaired by Brenda Miller, this citizens committee is represented on both the city’s General Plan Advisory Committee and the Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan committee.
Chief accomplishment so far: winning from the City Council that the the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan will be adopted into the General Plan– key wording. If the plan were “accepted” or “approved” it would not have the effect of law; when “adopted” it becomes part of the city’s General Plan and cannot be easily dismissed by officials planning future projects.
From Vera Cruz, upper right, to North Beach, lower left, the Pico Shared Use Path will provide off-street beach access for thousands of local residents. Separate pedestrian and bicycle lanes are anticipated.
The Pico Corridor and improvements to the Pico/El Camino Real (PCH) intersection is now being discussed. In addition to planned widening of the I-5 bridge to accommodate bike lanes scheduled for 2013, a new shared use path, a.k.a. “Class 1″ bike trail is being studied, to parallel Pico from Vera Cruz to North Beach.
Running primarily in the channel of the Deschecha Segunda creek, tunneling will be needed under the I-5 and Pico. Proponents are inspired by the efforts of Los Angeles advocates to naturalize the LA River.
Hey, Icargo- how’s it goin?
Shared Use Paths– what that “corridor” legally is– are OK, provided people play by the rules. Problem is, there are no rules on a SUP– the vehicle code doesn’t apply there.
Kids under 12 need help and guidance riding on the street. Adults need to learn safe cycling on the street, too. Engineering doesn’t give them that. What will they do when the k-rail runs out?
San Clemente residents need to know that is SUP is a recreational amenity only. They should also know that as many people are sent to the ER because of collisions with other bikes as with cars. Join the discussion– sign up for the next class 11/19 & 21.
I’m looking forward to the new corridor, and safe bikeways in San Clemente, so more people will bike rather than drive. Especially school kids, they need a safe route, which is why it’s important to have advocacy for them.
Thanks, Mike.
Yeah… go Brenda.
Keep up the great work in San Clemente. Cyclists are finally getting the recognition we not only need but to be a more BFC and to be a more prgressive city. Go Brenda!
Mike Lee
President OCW