CARLSBAD, Calif. — In 2022, Carlsbad declared a State of Local Emergency because of skyrocketing bike and e-bike crashes.
Now, Carlsbad is finding ways to make walking and bike routes safer to keep future accidents from happening especially for kids.
The City started the “Safe Routes to School” program to promote safe and convenient travel to and from school campuses. Their initiative is first focusing on Jefferson Elementary School and Sage Creek High School in Carlsbad.
"We are looking at ways to improve safety primarily for kids that are walking to and from school. So, it includes both projects. So, those would be street improvements, such as adding additional bike lanes, adding sidewalks, whereas needed, and adding safe crossing facilities," said Nathan Schmidt, Transportation, Planning and Mobility Manager for the City of Carlsbad.
Schmidt says this initiative first started because of the increase in e-bike crashes.
Nick Wilson lives across the street from Jefferson Elementary School. He says this program is needed and will be beneficial.
"People drive pretty quick around here. Adding crosswalks will be good and slow it down a little bit," said Wilson.
Alan Lewis is a volunteer coach at Sage Creek High School. He says there needs to be more enforcement for e-bikes and for drivers driving in bike lanes.
"There's something to accommodate the changing traffic environment. Ten years ago there were few bikes, now there's fast powerful e-bikes and we need to adapt the process and traffic control so that’s good," said Lewis.
Education for students is also part of the safe routes program.
Right now, the City is collecting community feedback to learn where improvements are most needed. The input will be used to create a safe routes school plan that will include short and long term infrastructure improvements directly around schools.
After that, the City plans to expand this program to other schools.
Click this link to submit your input. You have until January 21.
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