Letter from San Diego Researchers to Mayor Todd Gloria Dear Mayor Gloria, We, the undersigned biologists, write to acknowledge and encourage your efforts to support multi-modal transportation, especially bicycling. We dedicate our lives to improving human health and we understand that the best cures for the illnesses that afflict us are not in the form of a pill, but in the form of a lifestyle change. Active transportation has been shown to promote weight loss better than any exercise program or medication our researchers could develop. As we are located in the epicenter of some of the worlds leading research, we want to remain competitive with other cities that are focusing on creating the sort of place that attracts the young professionals drawn to the urban landscape. Current trends show that urban professionals are making career choices based on transportation mobility and the sort of place they want to live in. Cities like San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, New York City and even Seattle have been making some bold changes to their streetscape in order to attract this talent. We want you to capitalize on the incredible momentum that has risen lately on redesigning our city to utilize the full array of mobility options and continue by being bolder and more visionary. We urge you to continue the discussion by setting ambitious goals for how our streets and public spaces can help make all of San Diego more healthy, safe and attractive. Caltrans upcoming Genessee Interchange project, that will replace the Genesse Avenue bridge over Interstate 5, gives us an opportunity to remake North Torrey Pines Road as a corridor that is visionary and transformative. North Torrey Pines Road currently experiences heavy traffic during rush hours. Caltrans’ three year long construction project will exacerbate this problem unless we can get some drivers out of their automobiles and onto bicycles. A physically separated bike lane on North Torrey Pines Road will help to reduce congestion during construction and beyond. The mesa will soon be filled with construction signs and cones. We propose that the city install cones along the length of North Torrey Pines Road to create a physically protected bike lane along this important corridor. Currently, the right hand travel lane is 15’ wide in both directions. This provides ample room to create a buffer and physical barrier to make the bike lane more inviting and attractive to potential bicyclists. This opportunity will help pave the way for a city that breathes cleaner air and will improve the physical health of our residents. Commuting to work by bicycle or increasing the distance of daily walks has been shown to promote weight loss better than any exercise program or medication our researchers could develop. As you shape your legacy, please continue to make safe, complete streets part of the prescription for a healthy San Diego. Sincerely, [your name] Current signers: John Young, Professor, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Posted on: Fri, 17 Jan 2014 18:34:13 +0000
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