The Orange Avenue Corridor Specific Plan - City of Coronado

D. BICYCLING/PEDESTRIAN
CIRCULATION
D.1. Existing Conditions
Coronado is a city well suited for bicycling.
The traditional street grid pattern,
relatively wide streets, attractive
streetscapes, abundant landscaping, mild
climate, and relatively flat elevations
combine with the many sights of Coronado
to create one of the most attractive
bicycling environments found in any city.
The street grid’s high degree of connectivity
gives cyclists a choice of routes and
the ability to easily reach most city destinations.
The wide streets, which operate
at generally low traffic volumes (outside
of Orange Avenue and the Third
Street/Fourth Street couplets) create
“safe zones” for cyclists, who may be
passed safely by cars. The variety of architecture,
landscaping, and scenic views
make cycling in Coronado a visual pleasure
and an interesting experience.
In general, traffic is not a major impediment
to cyclists, except on Orange Avenue
and on the Third/Fourth Street
couplets (or getting across those couplets).
Just the same, there is little to be
recommended for improving bicycle
travel to/from the Downtown. Outside of
special pathways such as the Silver Strand
bike path, the safest place for cyclists is
on the road. The use of alleyways as alternative
routes for bicyclists is generally not
recommended, due to a heightened risk
of accidents. Most motorists do not
expect cyclists to emerge from alleyways
and cross over or merge with traffic.
D.2. Bicycle Racks
The real issue facing cyclists accessing
Coronado’s Downtown is where to safely
leave their bicycles while they take advantage
of shopping, dining, entertainment,
or even employment opportunities. Since
bicycles can bring riders closer to their
destination than a car could, most cyclists
expect to find bicycle parking closer to
their destination than a car driver would
in searching for parking.
Bicycle racks should be provided throughout
the commercial areas, located in
appropriate well-illuminated places to
reduce the possibility of theft or vandalism
but not obstruct pedestrian activity.
D.3. Pedestrian Walkways
Coronado is one of the most pedestrianfriendly
cities in all of Southern California,
and its Downtown is generally very
accommodating to pedestrians. Sidewalks
are wide, storefronts are mostly
continuous and interesting, and attractive
landscaping enlivens the experience.
It is a short, “easy” walk -- approximately
10 to 15 minutes on level surfaces -- from
much of Coronado to the commercial
areas along and near Orange Avenue.
Potential future implementation strategies
to further enhance the pedestrian
environment include:
Expansion of Rotary Park. Located at the
intersection of Orange Avenue with Isabella
Avenue, Tenth Street, and Park
Place, this is the “hinge point” of Downtown
Coronado, where Orange Avenue
turns to the southeast. Unfortunately, the
streetscape edge on the western side of
Orange Avenue breaks down at this key
point, where inappropriately sited buildings
create more of an “auto zone” than
a pedestrian-scaled zone. Perceived distances
on this segment of Orange Avenue
are exaggerated, which affects pedestrians’
decision to continue walking or to
turn back. It also influences the pedestrian’s
feeling of safety, as they must
interact with cars crossing from many
streets and parking lots, and therefore
need to exercise a higher degree of caution.
A redesigned western edge of Orange
Avenue, between Tenth Street and Park
Place, would significantly improve the
pedestrian experience and increase their
willingness to walk a little further to get
Chapter VIII – MOBILITY, WAYFINDING AND PARKING
ORANGE AVENUE CORRIDOR SPECIFIC PLAN Page 95