I recently emailed a very similar version of the following letter below to the Del Mar City Council and was wondering what you all think of my concerns. Do you think my suggestions should be implemented in other coastal cities with narrow sidewalks and dog beaches?

“I have been visiting Solana Beach and Del Mar in the summer for over two decades and regularly walk along the beaches and streets of both cities. During this time, the number of dogs I observe getting exercise on the streets and beaches leashed and unleashed has increased, creating hazards for pedestrians and other beach goers. My concerns are not motivated by any dislike for dogs, but rather for safeguarding non dog walking citizens from danger, risk or injury that improperly trained or behaved dogs may pose. The barrier sidewalk on the western side of Highway 101 that goes from Dog Beach across the San Dieguito River for example, does not provide adequate safety space for a pedestrians to remove themselves from a feisty dog, especially when the sidewalk is crowded. If one jumps on the barrier and continues in an eastbound direction to escape an aggressive dog that the owner has poor control over, then the pedestrian risks running into a southbound cyclist or automobile. Along the river portion of the sidewalk, there is obviously no safe westbound escape route. There have been occasions where I have been walking northbound (thankfully) on the sidewalk and a dog or two that are leashed, but not reigned in tightly enough will bark and lunge toward me even though I have done nothing to provoke such behavior. I have had to climb up on the concrete barrier to get out of the way. Even if a friendly and well behaved dog veers toward you because it’s curious, someone who is afraid of dogs or who doesn’t trust dogs in general will be bothered by this and have no where to get out of the way. The width of the sidewalk is so small that even a dog on a very tight leash might lunge toward another pedestrian walking by. One also can’t assume that certain breeds of dogs will be docile when you pass by. There is no way for a pedestrian to know the temperament of a dog beforehand. Non dog walking pedestrians are taking on an unnecessary level of personal risk by walking on the western side Highway 101 sidewalk, in the event of ill-behaved dogs and/or irresponsible dog owners, and they shouldn’t have to share the sidewalk with them. I think the only prudent way the city can address this issue is by not permitting dogs on the sidewalk. Extending the sidewalk would be too costly and would take up the bicycle lane. If someone where to get attacked or bit by a dog on the sidewalk , there is no safe immediate place to stop and render aid during a busy period of time, without impeding other pedestrians and cyclists. It would also be unfortunate it someone were to become the victim of a “bite and run.” Should someone become the victim of a dog attack, a “bite and run” on this sidewalk or from an attack by an unleashed dog at Del Mar’s Dog Beach between June 16 to Labor Day, it is possible that he/she might sue the city over the design of the sidewalk or file a negligence lawsuit for the lifeguard not ticketing the offending unleashed dog’s owner . I am not a lawyer and do not have a legal background, but I am raising these possibilities so the city can perhaps take steps to prevent a future lawsuit from coming about. I have the same concerns with the sidewalk on the western side of South Sierra Avenue from Fletcher Cove to Border Avenue. The narrow sidewalk with knee high bushes from the apartment complexes on the western border and a long row of closely parallel parked cars to the east make getting out of the way, even when doing so for an abundance of caution to avoid a situation, difficult and inconvenient.
Each year, I seem to notice more unleashed dogs at Dog Beach between June 16 to Labor Day as I’m walking southbound on the beach at low tide between Solana Beach and Del Mar. . Although there is more room to remove oneself from an feisty unleashed dog at Dog Beach, irresponsible dog owners and ill tempered dogs should not inconvenience or bully beach walkers. I think there should be a zero tolerance policy for unleashed dogs at Dog Beach between June 16- Labor Day and aggressively ticket scofflaws. The plethora of unleashed dogs at Dog Beach in the summer not under proper control by their owners can be an unpleasant impediment to an otherwise beautiful walk.
I understand that Del Mar and Solana Beach are dog friendly communities and many people look forward to bringing their dogs to the beach and walking them in town. However, the right of pedestrians and beach goers to walk on the sidewalks and beaches of Del Mar free from unnecessary risk and danger from dogs should come first. Freedom requires a a great deal of responsibility in any society and it’s unfortunate that irresponsible dog owners have to put other people at risk. Therefore, it is my hope that the city of Del Mar and Solana Beach will ban dogs on the sidewalk at issue and strictly enforce the leash rules at Dog Beach between June 16 to Labor Day with fines/tickets for non compliance. I welcome any feedback.”