Saftey Issue on the Strand

By Jeff Duclos

Enforcement works. It creates public awareness and a sense of consequence for unsafe actions.

I represented the sole dissenting voice from the community to this recommended change. Let me share with you a part of my written comments to Council regarding this motion:

The Police Department's own monitoring has demonstrated that wheeled traffic on the Strand is moving at an average of more than 13 MPH, with some traffic traveling at as much as 25 MPH. Feeding into the Strand is more than a mile of narrow walk streets. Reaction time for wheeled traffic at speeds in excess of 10 MPH is reduced proportionate to the speed at which the traffic is traveling. This is a key consideration when establishing basic speed laws.

Consider this scenario: Racing bike enthusiasts riding side by side on the Strand, two or more, with two or more riders right behind them at speeds in excess of 13 MPH. Not an uncommon sight. Now consider another scenario: A small child, entering the Strand from a walk street, breaks away from its parents, and runs out into this mixed use area. If such an event were to occur coincidental with one of these packs moving down the Strand, the danger is obvious -- regardless of the amount of activity on the Strand at the time.

It is why I strongly disagree with the report's conclusion that there are times when 15 MPH is a safe speed on the Strand. It is a mixed use area where, by law, pedestrians have the right of way. If the City Council wants to deliver the appropriate message to wheeled traffic on the Strand, then I recommend considering lowering the speed limit to 8 MPH, which is consistent with the speed limit established by other beach communities, San Diego being an example, for mixed use paths along the beach...

Though I was successful in convincing the City Council to not only uphold the speed limit, but to reduce the posted speed to eight miles per hour, it was only seen as a first small step in addressing an escalating safety issue in the City.

I also went on to call for a stronger Police Department presence along the Strand, including periodic interception and ticketing for speeding and reckless behavior. When the San Diego City Council mandated such actions by its police department along its mixed use Mission Beach Boardwalk, speeds and accidents along the Boardwalk decreased. Enforcement works. It creates public awareness and a sense of consequence for unsafe actions. If you would like to see my entire rationale, my 2004 memo is attached.

These actions were never taken. I pledge to you that this will change, when I am elected.