Fullerton is looking to overhaul road safety features along Associated Road for both bicyclists and drivers after two Cal State Fullerton students were injured, one fatally, at an intersection along the road in September.<\/p>\n
Additional lighting, detection systems, traffic signal timing and cameras were some of the changes proposed at the Dec. 2 city council meeting for the Yorba Linda Boulevard and Associated Road intersection.<\/p>\n
A Class II bike lane will also be applied, meaning that a one-foot buffer would be added for the bike lane.<\/p>\n
It was not recommended that the bike lane be updated to a Class IV \u2013 meaning that there is physical separation between the bike lane and a road with posts, curbs or other barriers \u2013 due to the limited road space.<\/p>\n
The council voted unanimously to approve the changes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fullerton Public Works Director Stephen Bise provided a presentation detailing incidents<\/a> along the road, splitting Associated Road in half: Yorba Linda Boulevard to Bastanchury Road, and Bastanchury Road to Imperial Highway.\u00a0<\/p>\n The reports included accidents occurring with pedestrians, vehicles and bicyclists.<\/p>\n In the first section of the road, there have been 29 collisions since 2020, with 24 injuries being reported, and no fatalities, though there is a note stating that the fatal collision involving CSUF students was not included in the report.<\/p>\n The following section reported 35 collisions with 46 injuries.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat if it was your mom? What if it was your kid?\u201d said Fullerton resident Dominic Moonheart during public comment at the Dec. 2 meeting. \u201cThe city has done nothing and someone died. So please fix it, because this will be you one day.\u201d<\/p>\n These changes come after two Cal State Fullerton students riding e-scooters were hit and critically injured, with one dying from her injuries, at the intersection of Associated Road and Yorba Linda Boulevard.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really disheartening to see how many e-scooter riders don\u2019t utilize the bike lanes. I will say, I\u2019ve noticed a marked improvement in that area since this horrible accident and I\u2019m sorry that that\u2019s the catalyst that had to bring awareness to the issue,\u201d Councilmember Shana Charles said at the meeting.<\/p>\n On Sept. 27, two women, later identified as CSUF women\u2019s soccer players, riding scooters at the intersection of Associated Road and Yorba Linda Boulevard, were critically injured after being hit by a vehicle, according to the Fullerton Police Department<\/a>.<\/p>\n Both of them were transported to critical care units, where one of them died in October, according to the Cal State Fullerton Athletics women\u2019s soccer team<\/a>.<\/p>\n OC cities crack down on e-bikes<\/p>\n Cities across the county are regulating e-bike usage<\/a> as injuries and fatalities continue increasing, specifically in younger residents.<\/p>\n Newport Beach and Yorba Linda are all among the list of cities introducing legislation to improve safety of e-bike and e-scooter riders.<\/p>\n In Newport Beach, a teen died after a solo e-motorcycle collision in September, according to the Newport Beach Police Department<\/a>, leading the city to consider options for new rules for e-bikes.<\/p>\n At a November city council meeting, council members approved citywide regulations requiring helmets for riders under 18 years old and introducing new violations, following the fatality in the city.<\/p>\n Yorba Linda also introduced an ordinance in August aimed at young adults and kids who are misusing e-bikes and scooters, by imposing a speed limit on the vehicles: 10 mph on trails and 25 mph on streets.<\/p>\n [Read: Yorba Linda Joins OC\u2019s Growing E-bike Crackdown<\/a>]<\/p>\n These all come after the state introduced two new bills, AB 544<\/a> and AB 545<\/a>, requiring a red reflector or light on the back of the vehicle and preventing bike riders from modifying their vehicles to increase speed capacities.<\/p>\n [Read: Cracking Down E-bikes: Orange County\u2019s Battle for Safer Roads<\/a>]<\/p>\n Additionally, the Orange County Board of Supervisors adopted e-bike regulations<\/a> applying to county trails and roads, following resident concerns of e-bikes misuse in the county.<\/p>\n Michelle King is a Voice of OC reporting fellow. Contact her at mcaitlin254@gmail.com.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n \t