Letter to the Editor

It is time to slow down traffic on Fuerte Drive and make it safe for bicyclists. It is better for our community and better for our environment.

The two-mile stretch of Fuerte Drive from Severin Dr. to Avocado Rd. is a heavily used thoroughfare from La Mesa to El Cajon and, more importantly for this purpose, to the unincorporated Mount Helix area which is home to over 18,000 residents. Not one of the three local government entities, the City of La Mesa, County of San Diego, and SANDAG has included this area in their bike-ability plans. All three have robust Climate Action Plans that include a push for walkable and bikeable communities and accessibility to public transit. And yet, none mention how to address getting residents of this community past the first two miles in order to access the transit stations at Grossmont or Amaya.

Most cars use Fuerte Dr. to access Interstate 8, but motor vehicles can just as easily access the freeway from Highway 94/125 to the south and from Chase Ave to the north. Additionally, cars routinely travel at speeds reaching 50 mph in this 35-mph residential zone. Bicyclists have no safe route to get from east of Avocado to the La Mesa Trolley stations.

Reducing and enforcing the speed limit on Fuerte Dr. to 25 mph and creating shared bike lanes would ensure multiple benefits.

While the obvious advantage is safe passage for bicyclists from unincorporated areas into the city, other significant benefits exist. Slower speeds mean a safer road for all residents. More bicycles mean fewer vehicle miles traveled, and better access to public transit, which translates to fewer emissions not only for the County as a whole but specifically within the Mt. Helix community.

And finally, this action would show residents of this unincorporated area that they are an integral part of our larger region.

Lori Tuller

Mt. Helix

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