A unidentified man rides an electric Lime Scooter down the Cultural Trail in Indianapolis on Tuesday, July 30, 2019. 0074 Thescoots4gallery
San Diego, California – In a bold and unanimously supported move, the San Diego City Council has approved its first-ever Mobility Master Plan, a sweeping initiative to get residents out of their cars and onto bikes, buses, and sidewalks.
The 132-page plan prioritizes 380 transportation projects, including new bike lanes, neighborhood shuttles, roundabouts, sidewalk expansions, and dedicated bus lanes. Together, they represent a transformative shift in how the city envisions future mobility — safer, more accessible, and more sustainable.
“This mobility master plan is a key step toward making our streets safer while protecting our environment,” said Councilmember Stephen Whitburn. “It moves us closer to being a city where everybody can walk, bike and use transit easily and safely.”
The plan, which tripled in size since its 2023 draft, introduces performance indicators to track progress. These include metrics such as traffic deaths, car travel mileage, bike lane miles completed, and — crucially — “mode share,” the percentage of residents who choose biking, walking, or transit over driving.
San Diego’s Climate Action Plan calls for non-car commutes to reach 36% by 2030, up from just 13% last year — an ambitious target that this new plan hopes to help meet.
Importantly, the plan doesn’t force residents out of their cars but incentivizes alternatives through smart land-use decisions and better infrastructure. “We’re not mandating anything,” said Councilmember Kent Lee. “But we can absolutely plan for a future where people have real options.”
Environmental and business leaders praised the plan. Carina Contreras of the Climate Action Campaign called it “a good framework,” while Evan Strawn from the Chamber of Commerce noted that expanding transit connectivity would boost access to local businesses.
The plan also features creative and far-reaching projects — from a cycle track along Market Street to a pedestrian promenade in Hillcrest, a transit-priority corridor in La Jolla, and even a proposed aerial skyway linking Mission Valley to Hillcrest.
While Councilmember Marni von Wilpert lamented the lack of projects in her car-dependent District 5, she voiced hope for expanded shuttles and EV charging to help reduce emissions.
With this plan, San Diego takes a decisive step toward a cleaner, more livable future—one in which the car no longer dominates every commute.
