Sharrows will be painted along East Coast Highway in Corona del Mar within a few weeks, but already motorists are getting the word that roads must be shared and that bicyclists may take a lane if necessary.
Police trailers with messages that say “Sharrows Coming Soon,” “Bikes May Use Full Lane” and “All Users Drive/Ride Safely” were placed on East Coast Highway near Hazel Drive and at MacArthur Boulevard, and crews today added 22 banners to Corona del Mar light poles with safety messages.
The City Council voted 5-1 in favor of adding sharrows in July; read our story here. The city’s Bicycle Safety Committee recommended adding the sharrows at a meeting in March; read our story here.
City officials decided to install the sharrow markings sooner than originally planned following the deaths of two bicyclists in September. Sarah Leaf was killed on Coast Highway near Bayside Drive, and Catherine Campion-Ritz was killed on Newport Coast Drive.
More than 500 people have registered for a Memorial BIke Ride scheduled for 8 a.m. Sunday. The ride will begin at Fashion Island near Whole Foods. The city also created a Bike Safety Improvement Fund that will pay for bicycle safety programs and projects in the city, with the city matching private donations in a 3 to one ratio. So far, $46,250 in private donations have been pledged, according to the event website.
Comments
October 24th, 2012
I'm out of the country, so it's great to follow this story. Thanks for the long term coverage of bicycle safety issues.
October 25th, 2012
thank you Corona del Mar. Who was the city councilman that voted against this??
