Need Seen to Recycle County Thinking About Safe Bicycle Commuter Routes

The letter (Feb. 16) by Ken Roth, chairman of the Huntington Beach Transportation Commission, concerning the story (“New Traffic Lanes to Cut Into Bike Paths,” Feb. 3) on bicycle traffic on Pacific Coast Highway is misleading and cannot go unanswered.

While a designated bicycle lane (a striped lane at least four to five feet wide) does not exist on that part of PCH, bicycles are permitted on all streets and highways (except most freeways). Therefore, in a practical sense, curb lanes are always bicycle lanes. The reality of the situation is that for a curb lane to be safe for bicycle travel, it must be at least 15 feet wide. By narrowing the curb lane on PCH, Caltrans may not be eliminating a bike lane, but is creating a hazardous situation that will result in greatly reduced bicycle traffic.

The off-road bicycle path at this point is not a suitable alternative for bicycle commuting or high-speed recreational bicycling, so Huntington Beach has for some time sought to discourage bicycle travel on this path. It is unsuitable for commuting because it is has an unrealistically low speed limit and often has too much foot traffic. When uncrowded, it provides a pleasant, leisurely ride, but this is no place for commuting or riding for fitness.

The unfortunate situation on PCH is only one of many actions taking place throughout the county that will virtually eliminate bicycle commuting. Foremost of these is the network of planned “super-streets.” Although most of these streets are currently popular with bicycle commuters, none have provisions for bicycle lanes or wide curb lanes in their planned configurations. Also, cities throughout the county are creating four- and six-lane streets by drastically narrowing curb lanes. State College Boulevard in Fullerton and Yorba Linda Boulevard in Yorba Linda are just two examples.

Given its climate and topography, Orange County could be one of the prime bicycle commuting areas in the nation. What is lacking is a network of safe commuting routes. Few individuals will commute by bicycle on streets that are unsafe, slow or indirect.

Bicycle commuting should be encouraged because of the contributions that it makes to clean air and reducing traffic congestion. More traffic lanes clearly generate more traffic; and more bicycle lanes will generate move bicycle traffic. Which is preferable?

J. VINCENT BUCK, Fullerton