San Diegans who like would like their city to be more bike-friendly! Attend the Uptown Regional Bike Corridor Meeting this evening! (I would go if I were still there—but as i’m not, it’s up to you!! :] sry late notice, though)

June 12, 2013. 6 – 8:30 p.m.
Santa Fe Room, Balboa Park Club
2144 Pan American Road West. 

University Ave. spans multiple neighborhoods —Mission Hills, Hillcrest, North Park, City Heights—yet has no safe cycle infrastructure to connect them. There is no parallel west-east residential street that would work as a “bicycle boulevard” because they get cut off by canyons and freeways, plus all the destinations are on University. Root for cycle tracks on University Ave!

A horrible, dangerous intersection on University Ave. at Sixth Ave in Hillcrest. I used to live two blocks away. The pavement is bumpy here, and if you didn’t already know the layout in this area, you could have accidentally right-turned down into the freeway. NOT KIDDING.

cycle tracks in Rotterdam, NL. (for Dutch standards, Rotterdam is considered a pretty car-centric city, but they still put in cycle tracks so it’s bike-friendly)

read more: SDGLN, 12.06.13.

but even if you can’t make the meeting this evening, you can still show your support by joining local nonprofit advocacy group BikeSD and/or by sending an email to your councilmember and/or SANDAG.

On the last day of our trip we walked to Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, a green oasis in the middle of the bustling city. Full of trees and formal gardens, the park is centered around a water basin feature fronting the Luxembourg Palace. What struck me were the number of people parked on chairs throughout this core part of the gardens. The chairs offered respite from the long walk we had just undertaken, and many visitors lingered on them the whole time we were there:

After we returned I cycled through Balboa Park and took this picture of the fountain in front of the Fleet Science Center:

Chairs are planned for the Plaza de Panama under Mayor Filner’s proposal to convert this parking lot to pedestrian use. Why should we limit them to just one square? Well, money of course, so maybe it’s time to start a civic crowdfunding project or park-backed fundraiser – how about a plaque on the back of each chair bearing the name of its benefactor? Let’s get creative and elevate Balboa Park to the realm of the world’s great public spaces.

Another impressive feature of London and Paris was their walkability, and not just in pockets, but rather neighborhood after neighborhood, all linked by efficient public transit…

Imagine if “What about parking” stopped every new project in London, Paris, Vancouver or other vibrant, walkable cities. They’d look a lot more like the parking lot-rich streets of San Diego. Instead, let’s ask, “What about walking?”, since those surface lots often kill the pedestrian experience.

sdurban, 04.06.13.

photo by vicki estrada

Work crews today began demolishing the old Robinsons- May/Planet Hollywood building at Westfield Horton Plaza in downtown San Diego to make room for a new public park.

Officials behind the $14 million project hope to create a 37,000-square-foot civic gathering space that will hold more than 200 events per year…

“This is going to be for our citizens, this is going to be for our tourists, this is going to be for all of us,” Mayor-elect Bob Filner told several hundred people on hand for a special event to mark the beginning of demolition.

Gary Smith, an advocate for downtown residents, said the area’s population has ballooned from 7,000 a couple of decades ago to around 40,000 now, and they need activities.

According to Westfield, which will manage the park and book the events, potential events include concerts, summer movie series, block parties, cultural festivals and holiday celebrations.

The area had been looked upon as a kind of dead zone in the downtown area, used more by the homeless than shoppers. One downtown resident told the City Council last year that the area was an embarrassment.

interview with san diego district 2 councilmember kevin faulconer on kbps, 29.11.12.

artist rendering.

sorely needed public space in downtown san diego. balboa park is more like running or cycling distance, the water is a few blocks away.. where you gonna sit and chill and eat your take-out lunch while it’s still hot?? 

also, my thoughts on why the lack of such a public space was a strong deterrent for the occupy movement in san diego

San Diegans! Come out on Sunday to Balboa Park!

Ride your bike, skateboard, go on a jog, walk your dog, pack a picnic, bring a frisbee… go have fun!

i know at first it looks kinda useless.. closing a road inside a park.. but then part of Golden Gate Park in SF is always closed to motor vehicles on sundays, and I think Central Park in NYC, too. time for SD to move along.

There is also the “All Clubs Summer Kick Off Bike Haul in Picnic, Grill, and DJ Social 2013!!!!”

Meet up at North Park Bikes (3022 N Park Way) at 11am Sunday, ride through Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Balboa Park for the Mini CicloSDias, and end back up at Presidio Park. $5 to take part in enjoying a keg of good craft beer. Jeremy will be bringing his dj gear setup. You can bring some grillable food to share.