The City of Del Mar announced a new Pedestrian Safety webpage on Thursday, Aug. 27, offering walking tips for residents and visitors navigating the city's narrow streets during peak summer foot traffic.
The city's webpage advises pedestrians to stay visible, use sidewalks and designated crosswalks whenever possible, and make eye contact with drivers before crossing. The city's announcement noted additional guidance appears on the page beyond those three tips.
The page sits alongside a companion Bike/E-Bike Safety page under the city's Community section.
Resident complaints preceded launch
The webpage arrives after months of resident complaints about specific intersections. At the Traffic and Parking Advisory Committee meeting on Monday, April 20, several residents flagged the Via de la Valle and Camino del Mar intersection. They cited inadequate street lighting, pedestrian crossing signals too short for safe passage, and danger to pedestrians in the east-west crosswalk when vehicles turn left from Via de la Valle.
At the same meeting, a resident raised concerns about the top of 8th Street, where southbound cars frequently run the stop sign before turning right, creating a hazard for people on foot.
Earlier, at the City Council Goals and Priorities Workshop on Wednesday, March 11, resident Greg Rothnem raised concerns about pedestrian safety, bikes, and e-bikes. Council members agreed to request a presentation from Sheriff Captain Shane Watts before summer and to explore bringing back "Coffee with the Sheriff" events.
Infrastructure work underway
Del Mar's $3.5 million Jimmy Durante Boulevard paving and striping program, scheduled for spring 2026, included a revised striping plan aimed at improving pedestrian safety. Green paint markings were planned to increase mutual awareness between drivers and cyclists sharing the road.
The city encompasses roughly 1.7 square miles with about 3,954 residents, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. The Del Mar Fairgrounds hosted the $1 million Pacific Classic horse race on Saturday, Aug. 22, drawing large crowds that multiply foot traffic well beyond the resident population.
The full list of tips on the Pedestrian Safety webpage was not available as of Thursday, Aug. 27.
