Committee Continues Work on Cycling Safety

Installation of road markers, new signs and more sharrows were at the top of the Newport Beach Citizens Bicycle Safety Committee's agenda this week.

At the committee's Monday meeting, members discussed options to continue making the roads in the city more bike friendly. Among the proposed improvements were new signage, speed radar devices, bike racks, road markers and possibly adding more sharrows—shared lane markers—to sections of Corona del Mar.

Councilwoman Nancy Gardner, who is also the committee chairwoman, said that before any projects are launched, "we need to do community outreach. It could take a long time."

But some improvements have already been made. In October, the city placed sharrows along Bayside Drive between El Paseo Drive and Carnation Avenue. Gardner said the sharrows have been effective in making motorists aware of the cyclists on the road.

"We have had no complaints about where the sharrows are placed," she said.

At the meeting, subcommittees were formed to work on additional projects, including updating bike maps and trails and brainstorming community outreach ideas.

The push to increase bicycle safety throughout the city was prompted by the deaths of three cyclists. Michael William Nine, 43, of Santa Ana, was struck and killed on Spyglass Hill Road in July; Darryl Benefiel, 43, of Newport Beach, was fatally struck on Ridge Park Road in July 2009;  and Donald Murphy, 49, of Irvine, died in December 2009 after he was struck on Jamboree Road.

The city is already working on designing "Share the Road" signs that will be placed throughout the city and serve as a reminded to both cyclists and motorists. Gardner said these projects may be added to already scheduled road improvement projects.

Gardner invites anyone interested in improving cycling safety to attend the task force's next meeting Monday, Jan. 3, at 4:30 p.m. The location has yet to be determined. For more information, contact Gardner at gardnerncy@aol.com.