Stay away from PB

San Diego’s City Council approved a blockade of 2.5 miles of Garnet Avenue and two miles of Cass Street to take place next Sunday (March 30).

A group which calls themselves CicloSDias was granted permission for this action. CicloSDias states their goal is to get people out of their vehicles more, and for people to be more active. Their followers are primarily cyclists.

The first CicloSDias proceeding was held in North Park last year at a cost of $75,000. Unlike Seattle’s ‘Open Streets’ event, which is funded by the city’s park and recreation department, the San Diego event used approximately $30,000 of state tax money, doled out through grants from San Diego State and UCSD.

P.B. locals reported mixed feelings.

“So, instead of riding on their own neighborhood bike paths they will be driving in a vehicle to ride in circles in another neighborhood?” asked Emma Stone, the owner of a boutique on Garnet Avenue. “Yet the purpose is to drive less.”

“Something new usually is exciting.” offered P.B. resident Ken Worthington, “however, I question the location. There are 45,000 residents packed into P.B. and few will be at work or school. It reeks of a logistical nightmare as the residents will be blocked in all four directions and unable to run their errands or enjoy their day off. This event might be well-suited in the suburbs.”