HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-24-2018 Item 2 - Brooks
Purrington, Teresa
From:Lea Brooks <leabrooks332@gmail.com>
Sent:Wednesday,
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:To Planning Commission re Froom Ranch Specific Plan
Attachments:LOVR Froom 1.JPG; LOVR Froom 2.JPG; LOVR Froom 3.JPG
Dear Planning Commissioners:
I plan to speak at tonight's Planning Commission meeting on the Froom Ranch Specific Plan, but am sending you three
images in advance showing the intersection of Froom Ranch Road and Los Osos Valley Road to underscore the danger
facing people on bicycles riding through this corridor.
Background: On Nov. 29, Will Benedict, a former president of the San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club, was riding southbound
on LOVR when he was hit by a motorist turning right onto Froom Ranch Road. Will was badly bruised and his bicycle
destroyed..
The attached images were caught by my handlebar-mounted video camera on Dec. 7. I was southbound on LOVR just
north of Froom Ranch Road and noticed the driver of a Ford white pickup seemed to be waiting for me before making a
right turn. I rode slower and slower to allow the driver to turn right. The driver finally made the turn but traffic backed
up and other drivers became impatient.
This is a problematic intersection that will only get worse with traffic generated by San Luis Ranch and other
developments, including Froom Ranch.
This intersection’s current configuration, no right turn only lane and a bike lane that “merges” with the right hand travel
lane, poses safety issues for people on bikes. There's no room to carve out a right turn only lane with a Class II through
bike lane.
My understanding is that the approval of San Luis Ranch included no improvements to this intersection to make it safer
for pedestrians and people on bikes because of concern over costs to the developer and ultimately new homeowners.
Regarding the Froom Ranch Specific Plan discussion: The intersection of Auto Parkway must be designed with full right
turn lanes and through Class II bike lanes both north and southbound. The full intersection should be protected for both
people on bikes and pedestrians, including four crosswalks. Consideration should also be given to requiring the
developer of Froom Ranch to contribute toward widening the Froom Ranch Road/LOVR intersection to make it safer for
people on bikes and pedestrians. Major safety improvements are needed to encourage people to ride bikes rather than
drive or the City of San Luis Obispo will not achieve its 20 percent trips-by-bike goal or sustainability goals.
I will be raising other issues tonight.
Thank you.
Lea Brooks
San Luis Obispo
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