CMABS News: February 5, 2025
Hey everyone! We hope you’re enjoying this summer weather ☀️ Let’s talk about making our city better for everyone outside enjoying it!
Will NMUSD ban e-bikes on campuses?
At a special meeting last December, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) Board of Trustees directed its Policy Committee to draft clearer rules for student e-bike use after public complaints and a staff safety briefing, which may include banning e-bikes at some public school campuses.
CMABS is drafting a public response to the statements made during this meeting and to this potentially troubling direction, which we will share soon. Our position is simple: creative policy solutions are fine, so long as they do not reduce student ridership or push families back into daily car trips. Policies that make biking to school harder or less attractive can easily create larger problems than they solve.
We’ll continue to push for solutions that improve safety without reducing student mobility and independence.
Student bicycle education continues
Costa Mesa hosted another Community Bike Safety Festival on Saturday, Jan. 24 at City Hall, as part of the City’s Bicycle Safety Education Program. About 50 people participated. Like other similar events, this included a bicycle skills course, safe riding behavior education, free bike helmets, and free bike tune-ups!
The nonprofit that has been running these events—Walk n’ Rollers—also just wrapped up a tour of all public elementary schools Costa Mesan where they provided pedestrian and bicycle safety education.
Let’s Go Costa Mesa expands its service area
The City has expanded Let’s Go Costa Mesa, its free local rideshare service, in response to strong ridership demand. The service now runs Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the service area now includes the east side of Newport Boulevard (18th Street to Santa Isabel Ave.) and Hoag Hospital.
Let’s Go Costa Mesa is one of the City’s few tools that directly reduces car trips while improving access for people who don’t want to—or can’t—drive. Rides are booked through the Ride Circuit app. More details and FAQs are available at ridecircuit.com/costa-mesa.
California updates rules on red-light cameras; will they debut in Costa Mesa soon?
For years, red-light cameras have been politically and legally fraught—high fines, due-process concerns, and widespread public distrust largely sidelined their use in California.
But a new state law, SB 720, changes that. The law creates a revised framework that allows cities to re-establish automated red-light enforcement programs with rules and enforcement mechanisms that address many historical concerns.
In December alone, there were 40 total car crashes in Costa Mesa, injuring 25 people. We believe red-light cameras could bring these numbers down, especially at the city’s most dangerous intersections (we’re looking at you, Newport Boulevard and E. 19th Street!). We expect to advocate in this area in this coming year, so keep an eye out for an action alert.
Fairview Road is making progress!
Construction is obviously underway on the Fairview Road Active Transportation and Rehabilitation Project, between Newport Blvd. and Fair Dr. Curious about this project? CMABS board member David Martinez explains it in this great short video.
While construction has reduced Fairview from three vehicle lanes to two—and at times just one(!)—traffic has continued to move, underscoring a recurring theme: modest reductions in vehicle capacity do not necessarily result in the congestion many fear. This work shows how excess roadway can be repurposed, resulting in more comfortable public space for everyone, including drivers!
Adams Ave construction starting on safety & mobility improvements
Construction is set to begin February 9 on long-planned improvements along Adams Avenue between Harbor Blvd. and Fairview Rd.
According to the City, the project includes new pavement (slurry seal), separated cycle track bikeways, traffic signal modifications, green bike conflict markings, new street lighting, and updates to median landscaping and irrigation. The separated bikeways are designed to connect with the recently completed improvements at Adams Avenue and Pinecreek Drive, creating a continuous bikeway between Harbor and Fairview!
SRTS Workshop 3
Costa Mesa hosted the third Safe Routes to School Community Workshop on Jan. 15 at Kaiser Elementary. The SRTS planning study is gathering parent and community feedback to better understand what safety improvements may be needed for the streets around all 23 public schools that serve Costa Mesans.
There was a decent turnout with about 25 community members attending and providing input.
Residents are encouraged to complete the SRTS survey, which will stay open through mid-February.
That’s all for now. Stay safe!
