Local Emergency Declared For Traffic Safety

After an apparently huge increase in the number bicycles being hit by cars (233% increase since 2019) the City of Carlsbad, California has declared a local state of emergency. Here’s how City Manager Scott Chadwick explains it.

“The exponential increase in ridership, especially among young people, has significantly changed how people are using Carlsbad’s roads,” Chadwick said. “In addition to adding miles of new bike lanes, we’ve passed new laws, promoted awareness and ramped up enforcement. Despite these efforts, we continue to see collisions, including two tragic fatalities within the past 17 days.”

As much as the Carlsbad Police Department seems to like blaming bicyclists for these collisions, the truth is that the distracted driving of automobiles plays a very large part. While the digital sign board on Carlsbad Boulevard reminds people that the Police are “enforcing all bicycle laws,” there is much more that needs to be done to enforce all laws of the road, including the 3-foot rule that protects cyclists.

We will all need to work together to make Carlsbad’s streets safer for everyone. If you drive, put your phone down and drive slower. If you bike, do you best to be visible and make your intentions known ahead of time. And it great that the City is taking action.

For the official word from the City of Carlsbad, please click the link.

[Link: City of Carlsbad]