MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

July 2025

At left, 1955 traffic north of La Jolla before freeway Interstate 5 was built (credit City of San Diego Digital archives). Above, I 5 today passing through Carlsbad. (photo by E. Bartlett)

Exploring alternatives to the solo drive to work involve tackling the first mile/last mile problem for almost all of us; the challenge of getting to transit, and then from transit to our final destination. (Graphic by E. Bartlett)

A Commuter Behavior Survey of 4,000 people was conducted by SANDAG in 2018 (LINK). Of those who currently drove alone to work, 56% said they would choose an alternative commute at least once a week under the right circumstances. The factors that would encourage them to do so would be improvements in travel time, accessibility, as well as incentives like discounts. When we look at reducing the number of cars on our streets that can make a big difference. You can read more on Solving the First/Last Mile Problem.

The City of Oceanside’s Smart and Sustainable Corridors Plan outlines strategies along the Mission Avenue, Oceanside Boulevard, and Vista Way corridors for reducing traffic congestion and increase utilization of public transit and other mobility options. You can see the plan HERE and check out some of the design recommendations such as the graphic below.

The City of Vista is Taking Action on the First/Mile Last Mile Front:

Kudos to the City of Vista for getting past the planning stage and implementing this new service launched in May called NCTD+. It offers on-demand rides within a seven-square-mile service zone in Vista. The zone includes vital community destinations and connects to three SPRINTER rail stations and 79 BREEZE bus stops, increasing local mobility and first-mile/last-mile access. 

This is exactly what we need more of! You can read more about the new NCTD+ Service HERE.

The City of Oceanside relaunched its gO’side electric shuttle program for 2025. The shuttle serves a limited area; Downtown Oceanside, South Oceanside, the Oceanside Harbor, and areas East of I-5. It has limited hours that cater to visitors but many locals take advantage of the shuttle. LINK to service.

Above photo shows team leader, GT Wharton, (white tee shirt) with some of the team members. (Photo credit Strong Towns Oceanside).

You can view video of the Team's first ever Walk Audit lead by GT by using the link below. It is very worthwhile, so please check it out. And stay tuned for more audits in the future. Contact Strong Towns Oceanside to get involved.

Going Back to Our Original Question; What Can or Should We Do?

Incorporating multimodal transportation strategies ultimately helps to preserve and protect our natural resources, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

• There will be less need to build major roadways which diminish our open space and bisect natural wildlife crossings.
• Motor vehicles make up the largest source of carbon emissions 
• Fewer cars means less pollution. And while EV cars have lower impact on climate compared with gas engine cars, this doesn't solve the problem.
• Then there is the whole issue of tires that is often overlooked.

The graphic below illustrates the impacts of tires on the environment, including our precious water waterways. (Source)

Incorporating Active Transport strategies ultimately helps to keep us healthy

Active transportation is human-powered mobility, such as biking, walking and skateboarding. And it is good for your health; providing we work to make our streets safe. Active transportation requires a dedicated network of sidewalks, bike lanes, bike paths, overpasses, crosswalks, and bike racks to ensure people can get where they need to go safely and efficiently (Read more)

There is solid evidence showing an improvement in one’s health and well-being when ditching the car in favor of walking or biking to work. According to the World Health Organization, studies specifically investigating impacts of walking and cycling found:

• walking for 30 minutes or cycling for 20 minutes on most days reduces mortality risk by at least 10%; 
• active commuting is associated with about a 10% decrease in risk for cardiovascular disease and a 30% decrease in type 2 diabetes risk; and 
• cancer-related mortality is 30% lower among bike commuters

NCTD has partnered with the Fair and MTS to offer the Fair Tripper combined fare. Fair Tripper tickets are available for same-day sale at ticket vending machines and via the PRONTO mobile app.

Find out about CA statewide funding program that will put 1,000 new, zero-emission school buses on the road. And lobby your local school district and school board. And learn more at the Electric School Bus Initiative.

"The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it."

Robert Swan

Buckwheat above, photo credit Robert James

The Mexican cactus fly, Copestylum mexicanum, is a member of the Syrphidae family. As you can see in the photo, it is quite large; in fact it is the largest flower fly we have in Southern California.

Members of this family are also known as hoverflies. They are aptly named because they can be often observed hovering around flowers similar to bees and they are very effective pollinators.

The marine blue (Leptotes marina) shown above is a common butterfly in our area. It can be identified by its white and brown "tiger stripes" on its ventral wings —which are seen when wings are closed like in the photo.

It gets its name from the blue or blue-purple coloring of the dorsal wings—which can be seen when the wings are open.

Marine blues aren't picky and will generally feed on nectar of whichever small flowers are in bloom.

Above left is a native sweat bee. Sweat bees belong to the Halictidae family; the second-largest family of bees. Although they are not aggressive they got their name because they are attracted to human sweat.

And, at right, the ever present honey bee (Apis mellifera) which was brought to California for honey and beeswax production. As happens with many introduced species, honey bees took over. New research has revealed that honey bees often account for more than 90 percent of pollinators observed visiting flowers of many plant species in San Diego. Read more:Natural Reserve System,UC

According to pollination ecologist Dr. Keng-Lou James Hung, “because of [its] generalist nature, buckwheat could benefit a very large diversity of pollinators that may enter urban gardens.”

As part of Dr. Hung’s thesis work at the University of California, San Diego, he documented insect pollinators of 53 plant species in coastal sage scrub habitats. Of the approximately 400 pollinator species observed, over half of them were seen foraging on California buckwheat. In his experience, California buckwheat “is among the most important plant species in [San Diego] for sustaining both the diversity and abundance of [its] native pollinator populations!”

Read more about it: SD Horticultural Society article.

Another hoverfly—Oblique Streaktail (Allograpta obliqua). Their larvae are important predators of aphids.