voiceofsandiego.org: Opinion... Lead Feet and the Pershing Onramp

Wednesday, June 25, 2008|Three bicyclists -- that I know of -- have been hit just before the Pershing onramp to the 5 North, by which I ride my bike five days a week.

The first accident occurred a couple of months back during the morning commute. As I rode past, I saw a towel soaked with blood and a driver who was inconsolable on the side of the road. I was told later by a friend that the cyclist was killed.

This morning, also during the commute, the onramp was again shut down with forensics and police, the ambulance long gone. I spoke with the officer on the scene, Officer Bernard, who was visibly upset. Bits of bicycle reflector littered the street and splotches of liquid were covered in chemical agent.

This was the second accident in this spot in as many weeks, Bernard said. The cyclist this time had survived.

This is a particularly treacherous road for cyclists. Morning drivers are intent on their commute and this onramp provides very little room for acceleration before merging almost instantaneously with freeway lanes. So their impulse is to gather speed here.

So what do we do?

In the short term, I think a big, flashing sign indicating bicycle traffic well prior to the onramp may get drivers to think twice and keep their eyes open. Couple this with a reflective-paint path across the lane exclusively for cyclists. Think of the pedestrian signs in Del Mar. The onus of awareness -- ever-present among serious cyclists -- must be shared with drivers.

What really must happen over time, in San Diego and everywhere, is our cities must cease to put cars at the forefront of roads projects and civic improvements. Gas is only getting more expensive and its social costs are high enough as they are. Tragically, I fear this spate of accidents might be a result of people dusting off the bike to give the gas-guzzler a rest.

There are many such hazards for cyclists around San Diego. I was recently the victim of a hit and run (less than a mile from where these accidents have occurred), but because damage to me and my bicycle was minimal, I felt the police didn’t really pursue the case. I was told by an investigating officer that unless an ambulance is dispatched or traffic interrupted, San Diego police don’t respond to bicycle accidents. From bicycle lanes that simply vanish to laws that are written for cars and car-on-car accidents, riding a bike is dangerous.

I have had several friends seriously injured by cars while riding their bikes. In each case, the driver was making a last-minute merge or turn, as well as speeding. Drivers, please beware that cyclists are very vulnerable and drive as though there are bicyclists are around you, even if you don’t see them.

If you have been thinking about riding a bike, don’t let me talk you out of it. It’s great fun and exercise, and despite the danger inherent, I would recommend it to just about anyone. The very reasons drivers are dangerous -- their lack of attention, their hurry, their aggression -- are reasons to ditch the car and pick up a bike. With a climate like ours, why sit pent up in your car? Get out; breathe the air!

But choose your routes carefully, wear a helmet and lights, and obey traffics signs as if you were a car (because, under the law, essentially you are). And importantly, make sure drivers are aware of your presence. Ride respectfully, but assertively. As they say, it’s a two-way street.

But as safely as we operate, tragedies such as those I’ve witnessed on Pershing will continue to occur as long as drivers have the run of the road. It’s high time our driving culture checked itself in the rear-view and took its foot from the gas. The social costs are too high.

Crawford Coates is a North Park resident who always makes sure to look both ways before crossing the road. Send a letter to the editor and start the debate on your own terms.

Hello Crawford, good for you and anyone else who has decided to make bicycling part of your daily lifestyle. As a frequent motorist around the Allied Gardens area, I often see bicyclists, in groups, touring Zion, Twain, and other side streets in the area. These are bicycle riders that appear to have all the gear and equipment that would lead one to believe that they are club type riders. So, I am suggesting that they aren't casual bike riders. Anyway, with no offense intended towards your important observations---the bicyclists never stop at a stop, at a stop sign. No exaggeration, I mean never. I've watched this for years. The motorist is always on the defensive. The biking community deserves the road respect that you describe in your commentary. However, bikers can't have it both ways during their excursions--too many are scofflaws.

Posted by Dale Peterson | reply to this comment
June 25, 2008 5:56 am

Why was the speed limit on Pershing recently raised from 45 to 50 MPH? Its a park. Should be 35. I will say that far to many bike riders completely ignore stop signs and other rules of the road. Its a two way street, yes?

Posted by Larry in North Park | reply to this comment
June 25, 2008 6:07 am

I agree completely! Here we are at the very end of the age of the lead footed obese driver, and our brilliant urban planners can only think cars, cars and more cars! As a cyclist and a driver I am almost daily shocked at the excessive speeds, lack of attention and overall self-absorption of most drivers. Two days ago I was walking my dogs across a busy intersection, with the light, and a young female driver making a left turn came screaming through, within a foot of killing me and my dogs. And the worst of it was she was laughing! After suffering a lifetime of dangerously boorish behavior at the hands of the zombie mob I am so glad to see gas prices going up. Really. Hopefully people will start living much closer to work, riding bicycles and buses. Horses and buggies!

Posted by Chris in Allied Gardens | reply to this comment
June 25, 2008 7:00 am

Lets face it, we have a whole new society out there that were raised by parents who had no sense themselves. They gave their kids new cars, cell phones, and a credit card and said now go out and have a good time. Now the rest of us are suffering for it. I also ride bike and I to have had incidents where motorists (usually young girls speeding) have come dangerously and unnecessarily close to me and then hear the drivers laugh or flip you the bird. Just look at the rise in hit and runs. Seems there is no remorse. Just another example in the breakdown of our society.

Posted by On Guard Biker | reply to this comment
June 25, 2008 8:10 am

"What really must happen over time, in San Diego and everywhere, is our cities must cease to put cars at the forefront of roads projects and civic improvements." Well Said! I would ride my bike AND walk more if i didn't have to compete with cars and risk being hit...my guess is that others feel the same way. Boulevard strips are a great way to create a buffer between roads and sidewalks. Bike paths like the one along Hwy 56 should be given equal consideration for any urban highway and highway expansion project.

Posted by Eddie M. | reply to this comment
June 25, 2008 9:50 am

I hope that we all get a lot better at sharing the available roads; bicyclists and motorists should be aware of and be operating legally - period. Police should be stopping and citing anyone operating recklessly/illegally Roads and intersections set up like the Pershing Dr ramps to I-5 should be changed to allow/require motorists to yield to pedestrians and bicyclists trying to travel through. The crosswalks there are a joke since motorists approach speeds don't give them time to react and yield. Trying to cross there is like being a bull-fighter facing 50 MPH bulls! I try to merge to a straight-through lane position as I would if using a motor cycle, but slower less assertive riders would find that difficult.

Posted by BIkesAlot | reply to this comment
June 25, 2008 10:14 am

Throughout the county, the free right turns, diverges, merges, and unions at the mouths of freeway onramps and offramps create severe hazards for bicyclists and pedestrians. Ironically, motorists can blast into the mouth of an onramp, only to be stopped at the end of the ramp by a metering signal. It would make far more sense to traffic-calm the mouths of these ramps, making the streets safer for bicyclists and pedestrians, while perhaps eliminating the need for ramp meters. This would have the added benefit of permitting the onramps to act as acceleration lanes, as they are supposed to, particularly for those of who choose to drive underpowered 4-cylinder cars.

Posted by John E | reply to this comment
June 25, 2008 10:20 am

As a native San Diegan and someone who has commuted by bike from North Park to Balboa Park for 15 years, I am horrified and saddened by the deaths on Pershing. That area is SO dangerous that it should be avoided if you aren't 100% aware at all times. I used to ride that way home and stopped due to the danger. Simple common sense. Cars with always be here. Always. We must learn to adapt to one another and RESPECT one another. Observe all traffic signs/laws and don't be in a rush. The beauty of riding a bike is the "joy factor". My advice: Don't ride fast in the city. It will kill you. If you want to ride fast, go where there are no cars, or in a bike lane in the early morning. Be smart, be safe,

Posted by Eileen B. | reply to this comment
June 25, 2008 11:25 am

Even well intentioned drivers seem to be ignorant the challenges facing riders. Perhaps it's because it's been along time since they rode a bike and they have forgotten that if they cut a cyclist off making a right turn, the bike either collides, or is forced into traffic. You are absolutely correct that the rights of environmentally responsible commuters are entirely overlooked by the city's planning advisers. The bike lanes are neglected and unsafe, the construction zones leave no alternate routes for bike traffic, and little regard for incline merging is made in respect to traffic stops. I propose a series of public service commercials could be made if a generous sponsor was found. It could even be suggested that as part of a restitution settlement in the case of a bike/car related accident, that the parties involved could pay for TV spots. Thanks for the article

Posted by e perk | reply to this comment
June 25, 2008 11:29 am

Why do motorists always justify their rude or inattentive driving with the fact that some bicyclist do not obey the law. Have they never rolled through a stop, the tail end of a yellow which was no longer yellow, gone over the speed limit, etc? Is it that the drivers are concerned about their safety and life because the bicycles put them in terrible danger? As a bicyclist and a health care professional I see both sides. I see many stupid bicyclists and the results. This week-end I had numerous bicyclists fly by me as I sat at a red light. It annoys me because, unlike motorists commit as many or more rude and stupid things, bicyclists actions are ALWAYS visible. Then the simpletons who just need more ammunition for hating go on patting themselves on the back for being rude to all bicyclists! Try kindness!

Posted by DynamicDeebytheSea | reply to this comment
June 25, 2008 12:19 pm

Thank you for this article and great responses. In some areas of town have been stuck at a red light for several cycles (no pun) because my bike would not trigger the light. There are many variables to consider. As vehicles have gotten bigger, I need to be further in the road to avoid the door zone. As to the arguments that SOME bicyclist do things wrong, which I agree with, it just makes even more sense to drive carefully and responsibly, as in school zones. For example, I know that young motorcyclists can be carefree, unsafe and reckless. What do I DO to deal with it? I do not write posts against them when one of them dies. I use that info to drive as defensively as possible to protect THEM. I have watched a young motorcyclist die in the road.

Posted by DynamicDeebytheSea | reply to this comment
June 25, 2008 12:36 pm

I am one of the bicycling instructors for the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition (www.sdcbc.org). We offer nationally accredited bicycling instruction courses to help people deal with the too often hostile to bicycling infrastructure in the USA... as well as information about bike types, maintenance, handling, shifting, etc. One quick recommendation - choose your routes carefully to fit your abilities; unfortunately too often that means using an out of the way quieter/safer/easier route and/or not using a bicycle for that trip. More opportunities and more direct/faster routes will become available and safer for you as your abilities improve. * But, roads should be built and operated for all people not just for people in cars!

Posted by Jim Baross | reply to this comment
June 26, 2008 8:13 am

Thank you Coates for writing your piece. As a cyclist for over 20 years, I have come to the realization cars do not see cyclists, and are often annoyed by our presence on the road. I have come to the conclusion it is my responsibility to bike with caution, be aware of my surroundings. This includes not riding fast while commuting to work, obeying the laws, and not wearing head phones while biking (yes, I have seen cyclist on my commute to work downtown wearing head phones...really dumb). I ride the same route Coates rides to work, and have seen the wrecks he writes about. Due to the recent accident on Tuesday, I have made the decision to change my route to work. I made this decision to be safe, because I know a cyclist challenging a car will only lose in the end.

Posted by Ann | reply to this comment
June 26, 2008 10:42 am

I try to be a good courteous driver. I really do. But the problem with bikes is that they are not really subject to any traffic control rules. A bike operates in a grey area--not a pedestrian; not a vehicle so a driver never really knows what a cyclist is going to do next. They may be in the road, or on the sidewalk, they may pay attention to traffic signals and signs, or they may not. And I also believe that some cyclists tend to have an aire of superiority about them; "I'm helping the climate and saving energy" so they will openly taunt drivers. Just this past Thursday, I was driving through Flordia Canyon in a line of about half a dozen cars stuck behind two cyclists who remained in the middle of the lane. If cyclists want to share the road with cars, they should be subject to the same rules.

Posted by Steve | reply to this comment
June 28, 2008 5:29 am

Thanks for getting this particular problem to light, Crawford! I know this onramp well, both as a morning driver and bicycle commuter. Drivers must reduce their speed considerably just to negotiate the sharp turn immediately past the onramp opening that actually leads to the 5N merge. So why the impulse to gather speed here? It's a drag race from approaching intersection only a few hundred yards back! Drivers line up in the left lane there and attempt to outmanoeuvre others in that short distance to gain the onramp, resulting in high-speed merging just where the bicycles must cross. Warning lights and painted lanes are good, but I think we can do more in the short term. Force earlier merging with flexible pylons to extend the onramp lane, just like the Barnett exit on n.b. PCH, and remove the "competition" at this point!

Posted by jd | reply to this comment
June 28, 2008 5:46 am

I concur with Jim Baross about planning your routes carefully to be safe. You can also combine your ride with bus and/or trolley to avoid some of the more dangerous legs of your journey. I commute from Normal Heights to SDSU daily, and the level of danger varies depending on time of day, even day of the week. Most of the time I avoid El Cajon, taking Meade and Monroe Sts east to El Cajon & 54th. I don't hesitate to climb on the bus to avoid the rush hour traffic after 5 PM on El Cajon. And I simply won't ride up Montezuma hill anymore, even though I love that workout--drivers roar past you at 55 mph, sometimes faster, and the bike path there simply leaves you wide open to getting hit.

Posted by Jill H | reply to this comment
June 28, 2008 5:01 pm

One other person made the observation that this route is in a park, Balboa Park. The fact that we're worried about 50 mph speeds and weaving means that this road is way over designed for a street through a park. This is true of Pershing all the way through the park--it drives like a freeway, and then lets out into the grid of residential streets in North Park, where spead limits are 35 mph. That extra 10 mph over the half mile or so through the park shaves three minutes off the drive. Is there a traffic engineer out there who can tell me how many bicyclists' lives and how much peace and quiet for Balboa Park users these three minutes are worth?

Posted by Marc K | reply to this comment
June 29, 2008 5:25 pm

Lead Feet and the Pershing Onramp

By Crawford Coates