Santa Barbara committee reviews Safe Streets survey, flags ebikes, hotspots and enforcement needs

The City of Santa Barbara Transportation Circulation Committee on Aug. 20 reviewed results from the Safe Streets for All traffic-safety survey and discussed next steps for enforcement, education and infrastructure upgrades to address speeding, ebike safety and a small set of high‑injury corridors.

Committee Vice Chair Ian Bauke opened the meeting and turned the item over to city staff member Miss Grant, who presented the citywide survey results. Grant said the survey, open May through Aug. 8, drew 853 responses and will inform the engagement chapter of the Safe Streets for All action plan funded by a federal grant of roughly $800,000. She told the committee staff will combine the survey feedback with a collision‑data analysis presented at earlier hearings to recommend targeted countermeasures.

The report showed respondents most often cited vehicle speeding, drivers failing to stop and parked vehicles obstructing sight lines as top pedestrian concerns; distracted drivers, vehicle interactions and lack of protected bike lanes as top concerns for people riding bicycles or ebikes; and other drivers' behavior and roadway condition as top concerns for motorists. Grant summarized three open‑ended questions in the survey that produced recurring themes: calls for ebike education and regulation, requests for separated bike facilities and continued community outreach.

Grant highlighted staff…