Reverse angled parking increases parking while providing additional safety

By Anthony King | SDUN Editor

The City’s Land Use and Housing Committee recommended Oct. 18 the approval of reverse angled parking on 25th Street in Golden Hill, a change that would increase parking in the neighborhood by altering existing traffic patterns. The proposal will now be heard by the full City Council at a yet-undetermined future meeting.

Councilmember Todd Gloria, who serves on the committee, applauded the decision for both the increase in parking and attention to safety concerns.

“Reverse angled parking offers safe access for all users, including bicyclist, pedestrians and motorists,” he said in a newsletter, “and, along with other project design features, establishes the corridor as a complete street.”

The recommendation comes as part of the 25th Street Renaissance Street Enhancement project, a partnership between the City and the Greater Golden Hill Community Development Corporation. The project’s goal is to enhance the streets and sidewalks along 25th Street between F Street and Russ Boulevard.

The reverse angled parking – the first such plan in San Diego – will occur on 25th Street between Broad and B Street, if approved by the council.

“The project increases parking by reducing the roadway to two travel lanes with left turn lanes, providing enough space for reverse-angled parking along the east side of the roadway,” Gloria said, adding that other features for the area include Class II bike lanes and curb extensions at the intersections.

“Although this type of parking is different, it actually may be easier to maneuver than parallel parking and provides additional benefits,” Gloria said, including unobstructed views of oncoming traffic for motorists.

“Safety goes beyond simply pulling out of the parking spot,” he said. “Loading and unloading children into and out of the car is safer. Additionally, loading and unloading of the back of a vehicle takes place on the sidewalk as opposed to a busy street.”