Some of the impetus for the Coast Highway “road diet” comes from the state of California which, with SB 743 and other measures, is trying to coerce local governments into making it harder to use automobiles in the name of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
LA’s War on Cars
One city that has gone above and beyond the state mandate in its war on cars is the City of Los Angeles, including imposing its own road diet in at least 40 roads across the city. The first area affected was the Playa del Rey neighborhood north of LAX, which suffered rush hour gridlock after the diet was implemented earlier in June.
In response to the Playa del Rey road diet, local residents filed two lawsuits. One by members of a condo association citing potential delays for emergency responders. Another lawsuit, by a new community group, “Keep LA Moving”, cited the increased traffic congestion, reduced access to beaches and homes, loss of revenue for local businesses and an increase in accidents.
Last week, city officials reversed themselves and agreed to undo the diet on four streets. Instead, the city will add flashing beacon crosswalks and other less drastic traffic calming measures. On YouTube, local activists describe their successful efforts.
The decision came as residents prepare to gather signatures to initiate an election to recall Mike Bonin, the L.A. councilman who led the road diet efforts.
Implications for Oceanside
There are several implications for South O residents. First and foremost, it shows that organized citizen action can make a difference and get the attention of city hall, even in a city of 3.8 million (let alone one 20x smaller like Oceanside).
Second, it points out the illogic of the state’s contradictory policies that on the one hand seek to shift California from internal combustion to Zero Emission Vehicles — while making it harder for taxpayers to use those vehicles. Highly urbanized job centers like San Francisco and downtown L.A. may be accessible via mass transit, but most of the state was built out in the last 70 years for the majority of residents in suburban and rural portions of the state.
As the Oceanside’s population continues to grow, Save South O will continue to push to make sure the city provides adequate roads and parking for new and existing Oceansiders — who like so much of the state — depend on their cars to get to work, school, shopping and other destinations.
Save South O 