(North County Beat) – Encinitas is lowering speed limits on many streets to enhance safety, but the change has sparked confusion among drivers and cyclists. On Coast Highway 101, for example, the street is marked with a 30 mph limit, while the adjacent bike path sign reads 35 mph. This discrepancy has left drivers like Robert Siracusa puzzled. “Do I go 32 and a half and split the difference?” Siracusa asked.
Despite the confusion, residents like Siracusa and his wife, Robin Strom, support the new law, which reduces speed limits by 5 mph on numerous streets. Strom commented, “We’re all out here to enjoy the beauty. You don’t want to see anyone hurt.”
The speed reduction discussion gained momentum after a 15-year-old died in an e-bike accident in June 2023. Later that year, Assembly Bill 43 was passed, allowing cities to lower speed limits on certain roads. Encinitas implemented its reduced speed ordinance in July of this year.
Encinitas Mayor Tony Kranz explained that the inconsistent signage is a budgetary issue. “We’re trying to do this in as cost-effective a manner as possible, so we are moving some signs from one location to another in order to keep from having to make more signs than we need,” Kranz said.
The overall effort is part of a traffic calming initiative designed to reduce vehicle speeds and protect pedestrians and cyclists. “For every 10 miles an hour slower that people drive when there’s a crash, the likelihood of surviving goes up exponentially,” Kranz emphasized.
On Coast Highway 101, where speeds were 30 mph or more, limits have been reduced by 5 mph. Residential streets will see reductions to 20 mph, and safety corridors—areas with a high number of crashes or those within a quarter mile of a school—will also have lower speed limits.
This news is welcomed by cyclists like Pete Levine and his son, Hayes, who often ride their e-bikes around town. “I think that’s great. Anything to make it safer for families,” Levine said.
According to Kranz, all correct speed limit signs should be up by the end of August, with increased enforcement starting in October after the signs have been posted for 30 days. The entire project is expected to cost the city around $120,000.
