By Megan Burks
City Responds to Fatal Accident With Improved Bike Lane
A neon-green bike lane went in on Montezuma Road this month in response to a fatal bike accident in April, KPBS reported. Charles Raymond Gilbreth died after being struck by a car on the fast-moving thoroughfare near San Diego State University. The new lane helps to better notify drivers turning south onto Collwood Boulevard that cyclists may merge to continue on Montezuma.
The incident, along with fatal accidents earlier in the year, mobilized local cyclists to demand the city do something about dangerous road conditions for cyclists. We shared a report by Tom Fudge about the growing contention and what tools the city could use to improve safety. High visibility bike lanes like the one installed on Montezuma was one of them.
Since the accident, cyclist safety has grown into a political talking point for San Diego’s mayoral candidates and become a bigger issue for city workers and public officials. The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition recently released a bike plan for San Diego’s business improvement districts. Bike San Diego, a community created by City Heights resident Samantha Ollinger, was brought on as a city-based bike advocacy group.
Follow the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition @SDCBC.
Restrictions on Homegrown Food Businesses Eased
The Los Angeles Times reported Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law a bill that eases restrictions on food businesses based out of people’s homes. The move is good news for the many City Heights residents who are growing food businesses in their kitchens.
Under the law, entrepreneurs no longer have to rent commercial kitchens to cook items, as long as they don’t include cream or meat products. They must still take a food processor course and label their goods.
Follow the Los Angeles Times @latimes.
City Heights to be Represented at Saturday’s Politifest
City Heights residents will join San Diego’s political scene this weekend at Politifest. The second annual event will bring together civic-minded residents, politicians and local media for discussions, debates and the usual festival fare—bouncy houses, games and a beer garden.
City Heights youth and Reality Changers President and Founder Christopher Yanov will participate in the Idea Tournament portion of the day. They’ll take the stage to pitch their ideas for making San Diego a better place to live. Attendees will then vote on the winners.
See the Junior Idea Tournament submissions here. See Yanov’s idea here.
Politifest is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Liberty Station in Point Loma. Sponsors include Voice of San Diego, KPBS, NBC 7 San Diego and others.
Follow Politifest happenings on Twitter by following @politifest and #politifest.
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