PB Pathways is moving forward with plans to make the beach community more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly.
“In June, city workers Ray Fanua and Louie Martinez started rolling out PB Pathways pavement wayfinding markers along with destination signage,” noted Chris Olson, a PB planner and member of beautifulPB, a public nonprofit charity formed by Pacific Beach residents, businesses and property owners to help maintain and create a more sustainable and beautiful community.
The current focus for beautifulPB is PB Pathways, a network of safe neighborhood routes encouraging people to walk, bike or skate to their destinations with traffic-calming measures and other safety features. The nonprofit is working to implement a number of community projects and programs with the goal of realizing a Pacific Beach eco-district. An eco-district is a long-range plan that incorporates methods aimed at making the area more environmentally sustainable and economically viable.
PB Pathways routes are being implemented in phases. The proposed routes are still being vetted through community outreach.
Phase one pathways installation is now complete on two north-south corridors on Cass and Fanuel streets and two east-west corridors on Law Street and Reed Avenue/Pacific Beach Drive.
Phase two pathways are being planned as well as more infrastructure improvements to improve safety for pedestrians, bikers and skaters. A detailed map and information is available at beautifulpb.com.
On Saturday, Aug. 8, volunteers worked for two hours to support future investments in the PB Pathways and pedestrian and bicycle safety initiative. Volunteers were assigned locations along Cass Street and Garnet Avenue to count and survey pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
“BeautifulPB coordinated traffic counts at 16 locations to document not only motorists but every human-powered method of movement, from skaters to baby strollers,” said Olson. “This will give us baseline data to compare with over time and help to justify future infrastructure improvements as we apply for grants and other sources of funding.”
Asked how PB Pathways is going to work, Olson said, “The wayfinding signage and road markers not only helps lost tourists find safer routes but alerts motorists that they are driving on a route designated for bikes, skaters and pedestrians. As use of these routes increases, the sheer numbers will help establish a priority for nonmotorized transport and justify further improvements.”
Olson said the next step in the process will be to “expand the pathways to include more routes while enhancing all routes with infrastructure improvements to encourage more human-powered mobility and make it safer.”
Regarding how PB Pathways is to be funded, Olson said it will be via “any legal method we can find. “BeautifulPB has the professional capacity to advocate for funding from the city of San Diego and other sources. We also have experts in marketing and a local brewer on our board.”
“This is about educating people about how to ride bikes and skate safely,” continued Olson, adding, “We recently held the (inaugural) PB Pathways Ride N Stroll. It started with a safety talk and free helmets for those who didn’t have one. We had a great time rolling down the PB Pathways on the way to Sip N Stroll.”
Regarding how PB Pathways is to be funded, Olson said it will be via “any legal method we can find. BeautifulPB has the professional capacity to advocate for funding from the city of San Diego and other sources. But we also have experts in marketing and a local brewer on our board.”
Olson said Alex Pierson, the owner of Amplified Ale Works, is working with other local brewers to create a “community brew” called beautifulPB.
“The beer will be featured in selected local restaurants, and a portion of the sales will be donated to a fund designated for PB Pathways,” Olson said. “This is a concept that has been successful in other progressive communities as it allows local businesses and patrons to learn about – and contribute to – a local cause in an innovative way.”