Where Are All the Riders City Expected For Its Bike Lanes?

Re “City eyes budget cuts as deficit looms” (Dec. 12):

Since the city has been significantly reducing street parking, the availability of increased funds from the proposed increase in parking fees is far less than its historical potential. At the same time, our city politicians have encouraged the expenditure of tens of millions of dollars to create bike lanes where parking used to exist. Perhaps an appropriate way to increase revenue is to mandate the purchase of annual licenses for bicycles that use these dedicated and expensive street lanes. Just think of the many millions of dollars of revenue that will be pouring into city coffers as our population rapidly converts from motor vehicles to bike lanes for their transportation needs — this was a main rationale of our leaders, to accommodate the massive increase of bike riders once safe bike lanes are available.

By Richard Safrin, College Area | December 21, 2024 | Opinion | San Diego Union-Tribune

Editor's Note: I have seen this rationale over and over again in many cities but the truth remains, there are more vehicles on the roads than there will ever be bicycles. And though our city does not receive revenue from parking, our residential parking is important and adds a cushion of safety. In Bonita, most cyclists drive to the Bike Skills Park or to the end of San Miguel Road to ride Mt. Miguel or the miles of trails. I would rather share a lane with the bicycles than have residents on San Miguel Road give up their parking or move the 10,000 vehicles—with the air and noise pollution they bring—closer to the existing homes.

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