The City of Encinitas Mobility & Traffic Safety Commission convened on May 22, 2025, to discuss critical updates regarding traffic safety and mobility, focusing on the impact of the Phase 1 CycleTrack installation on collision data.

The meeting began with a presentation on collision statistics sourced from the California Highway Patrol's California Crash Reporting System (CCRS) and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) dispatch logs. The data analyzed included two segments of Highway 101: one with the CycleTrack and a control segment without it. The CycleTrack was installed in April 2020, and the analysis compared collision data from a 57-month period before and after its installation.

Key findings revealed a significant increase in collisions on the CycleTrack segment, with 18 incidents reported before installation and 27 after, marking a 50% rise. In contrast, the control segment experienced a slight decrease in collisions, from 14 to 13. This data suggests that the CycleTrack may have contributed to the increase in accidents, despite a modest rise in overall bicycle ridership during the same period.

Further analysis highlighted that many solo bicycle crashes, which typically do not generate police reports, were recorded only in EMS logs. A separate list maintained by a commission member indicated over 31 additional crashes related to the CycleTrack, with 21 not captured in official databases. Notably, 19 of these incidents were attributed directly to the CycleTrack infrastructure, including collisions with wheel stops and flex posts.

The meeting included a discussion of specific incidents, including a serious crash involving an experienced cyclist who sustained multiple injuries after hitting a flex post. This incident underscored concerns regarding the safety of the CycleTrack design and its implications for both casual and experienced cyclists.

In conclusion, the commission's review of the collision data raised important questions about the effectiveness of the CycleTrack in enhancing safety for cyclists. The findings will likely prompt further discussions on potential design modifications and safety measures to address the rising collision rates. The commission plans to continue monitoring the situation and will explore additional strategies to improve traffic safety in Encinitas.