This just in: (Probably) CalTrans to Make PCH Safe for Cyclists

I bike to and from work along PCH and I can tell you, the whole road is an absolute deathtrap for cyclists, especially if you’re alone and/or if its night-time. The only reassuring thing is that at least if one was to get say, doored into traffic or hit by an errant drunk celebrity, it would be absolute death, rather than a painful broken bone or bad road rash.

that said, im glad to hear that caltrans is at least saying that they’re gonna do something about that stretch, because at the moment its like jumping into a rushing river of steel.

redundant post re-hashing everything alex thompson has already said, OVER.

Once again proof that “Share the Road” signs are nowhere nearly as efficient as the “Allowed Full Use of Lane – CVC 2102″ ones. But those are probably too drastic too put in around Los Angeles, we’re not quite as civilized as San Fran just yet. It may not seem like a big deal, but I think the day we do see those specific signs on LA’s streets we can start trusting CalTrans/LADOT more.

Thanks for the follow up and the photos. I can’t tell, how far does this bad section go? I, too, am not impressed with the Share the Road signage. The more I hear about it, the less I like it. Ultimately it’s a feeble attempt at safe accomodations for cyclists. I like the “new plan” if they actually implement it.

The section is about a quarter mile in my estimation. It starts being slightly uphill, and then it gets steeper toward the end. I sprinted it with a big truck tailing me and I was worn out at the end.

I’m gonna try to find out if it’s actually been fixed . . .

UPDATE (3/14/2008): I visited the site yesterday and discovered CalTrans has done nothing! I talked to construction workers there and they said that CalTrans does not plan to reorganize the zone to make it safe for cyclists. Additionally, CalTrans set up is so bad that workers say rocks are coming dangerously close to the excavator, and there are huge boulders which will come off the hillside late, which CalTrans is ignoring.

The best way to make it safe for cyclist to ride on PCH is to outlaw it.

The real safty issue is for the residents who drive PCH everyday, and have to deal with inconciderate cyclist who ride in such large packs it makes it impossible to drive around them. So we’re faced with driving in the left lane wich causes other issues as well.

Just outlaw the use of PCH for cycling and we are all a lot safer.