BIKE LANE UPDATE from City Council Member Dan O’Donnell

AugAug/FriFri/2025202520252025

At the Vista City Council meeting on Tuesday, June 24, I brought forward a discussion on the newly added bike lanes—continuing a conversation we began during the May 27 meeting. At that time, I had introduced a motion to remove the berms and delineators along the stretch of road from Shadowridge to Dawson, as well as all berms extending to the Southern City Limits. However, I felt it was important to pause and allow time to gather further public input, consult with stakeholders, and conduct a thorough ex- pert evaluation before moving forward.

Since then, I’ve met with engineers from multiple agencies, representatives from SANDAG, EDCO, the San Diego Bike Coalition, Swami’s Cycling Club, local cyclists, firefighters, traffic deputies, residents, city staff, and the Principal of Rancho Buena Vista High School. After carefully reviewing all the input and expert feedback, I made a decision grounded in both expert evaluation and the day-to-day realities shared by those who use and manage these roads.

Following these conversations and evaluations, I moved to:

  • Remove all berms on South Melrose south of Hacienda Drive to the Southern City Boundary
  • Remove all berms on Sycamore Avenue.

Delineators (the white posts) will remain in the following areas:

  • From Sunset Drive to Buena Vista Avenue
  • From Shadowridge Drive to the Southern City Boundary, except for a 575-foot segment both north and south of Green Oak Road
  • All existing delineators on Sycamore Avenue will remain in place

The motion passed with a 3-2 vote. (O’Donnell, Fox, Franklin)

This decision was not made lightly. It reflects extensive engagement with cyclists and advocacy groups, public safety officials, local organizations, and residents. My goal throughout this process has been to find a balanced solution that serves everyone who shares our roads—and I believe we have accomplished that.

I appreciate all of the resident communication and involvement over these past couple of months. Your feedback and concerns played an integral part in the overall conversation and de- cision that was made.

As always, I welcome your thoughts and encourage you to reach out to me directly regarding issues in our community at [email protected].

Kind regards, Dan O’Donnell

Vista City Council – District 4