Consider asking Gov Newsom to veto SB 1216

[karlos]

Jesmond Dene is a popular cycling connection between north Escondido and the I-15/395 corridor. It is a quiet, rural road with a speed limit of 45 mph. Long ago cyclists were sometimes harassed and honked at by locals. Since ~2015 this is now a designated Class III bikeway with even BMUFL (Bikes May Use Full Lane) signage. During the time this designation and signage has been in place, I cannot recall being honked at or harassed by the motorists who change lanes to pass at high speed and I ride this segment a couple dozen times per year. If SB 1216 had been in place back in 2014, I doubt if this additional cyclist awareness would exist. There clearly is no room for any kind of Class I, II, IV infrastructure. This designation and signage has clearly made it more safe. Let's not remove a tool that says at the very least, "Bikes belong!".

Although the main objectives of SB 1216 are laudible - lower speeds and funding the best infrastructure for the context - let's not "go back" by removing tools that work and make bicycling safer on roads like these.

This is still on Gov Newsom's desk, unsigned since Sept 9th. It is not too late to send a letter to Gov Newsom asking for his veto of SB 1216. Feel free to use all our 35 mph sharrows along Hwy 101 and even Jesmond Dene as examples of providing safety for cyclists and clarity for all road users that "bikes belong."

Here also is a short video clip from the cyclist's view:
https://youtu.be/13TucnHSqZ0

I hate to use the analogy of the Supreme Court Dobbs ruling which rescinded rights that had been in place for 50 years, but it is really wrong in my mind to take away something we have been successfully using without any data to prove that making contextual decisions about where to place sharrows and what to designate as Bike Routes has been bad practice.

-- Karl

Photos attached below in order of encounter, Jesmond Dene southbound downhill:
Class III bikeway designation
45 mph speed limit
Bikes May Use Full Lane