Community Corner

Officials Address Bike Safety at CDM Town Meeting

Attendees voiced their concerns about the dangers pedestrians, motorists and bicyclists face on streets throughout the village.

The issue of bicycle safety, which has been in the spotlight in Corona del Mar for months, got more attention Wednesday night at the Annual Town Meeting.

Nearly 200 people gathered at Sherman Library & Gardens for the event, which included a volunteer expo and presentations from the Corona del Mar Business Improvement District and the CdM Residents Association.

Newport Beach Police Chief Jay R. Johnson, who with Councilwoman Nancy Gardner talked about bicycle safety and answered questions from residents, said he's giving a priority to making the roads safer for bicyclists.

Find out what's happening in Newport Beach-Corona Del Marwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"It's a concern because we have close to 100 reported bicycle incidents per year in Newport Beach," Johnson said. "I would like to see that number come way down."

The most recent death was that of triathlete Amine Britel, who was killed in February by a suspected drunken driver while cycling on San Joaquin Hills Road near Spyglass Hills Road. In light of the cyclist fatalities over the last year-and-a-half, the Newport Beach bike safety committee was created to help figure out how best to keep cyclists safe. Some of their proposals include "sharrows"—shared lane markers, signs, color-coded maps that highlight different cycling routes and areas where cycling is prohibited.

Find out what's happening in Newport Beach-Corona Del Marwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Everywhere you go in CDM, you see people walking and cycling," Gardner said. "The mission of the committee is to make cycling safer and more enjoyable for every level of cyclist and every age."

Also at the Meeting

CDM Chamber of Commerce President Linda Leonhard discussed the benefits of the CDM VIP Preferred Customer Value Card, which came out in 2009 to help stimulate the local economy.

"If you dine or shop in Corona del Mar, you should be a cardholder," she said. "Present the card at participating businesses and they will offer a discount."

To see a list of participating businesses and deals, click here.


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