Debate over Melrose protected bike lanes turns to safety, emergency access and cost

A heated, hours-long discussion of Vista's new protected bike lane project centered on safety, emergency access and whether the city should remove recently installed asphalt berms that separate bicyclists from traffic on stretches of Melrose Drive.

Councilmember Joe O'Donnell moved to remove all berms and delineators from Shadow Ridge to Dawson on both the north and south sides of South Melrose and to remove berms from Dawson to Faraday; he said the change would reflect resident opposition in his district and save money. "Remove all berms and delineators from Shadow Ridge to Dawson on both the north and south sides of the Street," O'Donnell said in presenting the motion.

That substitute motion failed in a roll-call vote recorded in the minutes: two in favor, two against and one abstention (the record shows Councilmember O'Donnell abstained on that vote). The council then considered alternate language and additional requests for targeted changes.

Deputy Mayor Melendez, who supported continuing the protected-bikeway work citywide, urged a data-driven approach…