By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–San Diego Association of Governments Vice Chair and City of San Diego Council President Sean Elo-Rivera was joined by local leaders, community members, and bike advocates on Saturday morning to celebrate the official grand opening of the Pershing Bikeway.
The new 2.3-mile bikeway includes a two-way bikeway and a pedestrian path that is convenient and comfortable for everyone traveling the area. The Pershing Bikeway starts at Utah Street and Landis Street in North Park, continues through Balboa Park along Pershing Drive, and ends at C Street in Downtown San Diego, serving surrounding cultural institutions and Naval Medical Center San Diego.
“Everyone deserves to have safe and affordable options to get where they need to go. The new Pershing Bikeway expands opportunity and safety for my constituents and many more San Diegans,” said SANDAG Vice Chair Elo-Rivera. “Built with the community’s input in SANDAG’s regional bike early action program, our community members have far more freedom to travel safely and affordably, all while helping to improve air quality.”
The Pershing Bikeway includes a set of road improvements and new features that benefit everyone. With features like a diagonal crossing at B Street and 19th Street, bicyclists can continue through the intersection while all other traffic is stopped. Another unique feature of the project is a 75-foot bridge installed to allow pedestrians and bicyclists to cross over Florida Canyon Creek.
“The new Pershing Drive represents the best kind of urban planning—it’s visually appealing and welcomes people to get out of their cars and enjoy a walk or a bike ride,” said Congressman Scott Peters, who represents the district. “Projects like this help San Diego meet its climate goals and I look forward to seeing more bike boulevards in the city’s future.”
Additional features include a 65-foot diameter roundabout with a camphor tree at the intersection of Pershing Drive and Redwood Street which improves traffic flow. The project also added five new pedestrian intersections and 70 path lights that improve visibility for all.
“Today’s long-awaited opening of the Pershing Bikeway is cause for great celebration,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. “Every San Diegan deserves to travel safely through our city, and I am committed to working with other local leaders and agencies like SANDAG to develop and support projects like the Pershing Bikeway that prioritize safety on busy roads and improve quality of life.”
The Pershing Bikeway is part of the Regional Bike Plan Early Action Program, an initiative approved by the SANDAG Board of Directors in 2013. The initiative aims for a more bike and pedestrian-friendly region to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled, and improve air quality, public health, and livability. With the completion of Pershing Bikeway, SANDAG has opened 27 miles of new bikeways as part of the early action program and expects to start construction on 16 additional miles soon.
“This project grows our regional transportation system beyond highways and roads and adds to San Diego’s bicycle network—increasing opportunities for alternate modes of travel,” said Everett Townsend, Caltrans Acting District 11 Director. “And just as important, this Class IV bikeway helps to ensure the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians—as it will help prevent conflicts with other modes thereby preventing serious injuries or worse.”
Landscaping along the Pershing Bikeway is another unique aspect of the bikeway. SANDAG worked closely with Balboa Park horticulturalists and park designers to strategically choose the landscape and plants based on their suitability, hardiness, drought tolerance, and appearance to enrich the beauty of the surrounding park.
Construction of the $14 million Pershing Bikeway project was funded by TransNet, the regional half-cent sales tax for transportation, administered by SANDAG.
