August 2022

Carlsbad Taps $2 Million For Traffic Safety

by The Editors on August 31, 2022

Have a problem that needs a solution? First thing you need is money. And thanks to a vote by the Carlsbad City Council last night (August 30, 2022) the City of Carlsbad, through its “state of emergency” proclamation, now has $2 million more to put toward making our streets safer for everyone. . . even entitled, belligerent drivers who believe that anything on the road that is not a speeding car is a nuisance.

According to the City, the money will be immediately spent on the following:

Increasing traffic enforcement by the Police Department
Buying more message boards and speed feedback signs
A new traffic safety training program offered by the city
A safe driving and riding education program
Projects to change the striping on roads to allow more space for bikes and increasing the visibility of bike lanes and crosswalks

Sure, some will argue that emergency proclamations simply allow a city to get around all kinds of red tape when it comes to spending money, but it is great to see the City moving forward on street safety. And really, who doesn’t want more money going to the hard working men and women of law enforcement? For the official word from the city of Carlsbad, please follow the jump.

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Local Emergency Declared For Traffic Safety

by The Editors on August 23, 2022

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]

 

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