Wall Along PCH Won’t Block Serene View of the Ocean

Dear Street Smart:

The problem which I would ask you to address may not qualify as an issue of traffic, but it does affect quality of life on the highway.

Pacific Coast Highway south of Corona del Mar, on the way to Laguna Beach, offers several wonderful lengthy views of our beautiful Pacific Ocean. It’s quite a welcome change from the rest of the coast nearby where one must either own a million-dollar house or pay the $6 parking fee to be able to enjoy a few moments of serenity offered by a sight of the ocean.

But now, Pacific Coast Highway is being widened and “improved” as a condition of the Irvine Co.’s development on the inland side of the highway. Irvine Co. had promised not to alter any of the natural terrain on the ocean side of the road.

Why then, is there a WALL being built on that side, which will completely ERASE forever the view of the ocean from any car traveling on that road?

The insensitivity of those in positions to influence the quality of life of the masses continues abated.

Syd Clopton

Laguna Beach

The wall you see being built now will not block the view from the highway, promises Rose Orem, a spokeswoman for Caltrans, because the project also calls for the highway to be realigned and elevated to the height of the wall.

Actually, two retaining walls are being built along the ocean side of Pacific Coast Highway, both to support existing hills, Orem said. One wall will run along a bike trail to support an embankment, and that will not be seen at all from the highway, she said.

The other wall--the one you see now under construction near Reef Point parking lot--will support another hill facing Pacific Coast Highway, Orem said.

Both walls and the elevated highway are expected to be finished by December, 1995.

Dear Street Smart:

Some time ago someone wrote about people driving cars in the bike lanes in Irvine. In many places the lanes are wide enough to allow cars to pass to the right of traffic slowing or stopping at an intersection. The article also contained a response from the Irvine Police Department stating that they watch for this and would not allow people to turn the bike lanes into their personal car lane.

I drive Red Hill Avenue south from Alton Parkway every workday and see dozens of drivers use the bike/pedestrian lane for as much as a block as they approach Main Street. The city of Irvine could collect a lot of fines if the police watched only this one spot around rush hour. I have never seen anyone stopped for this violation at this location or any of the many other locations around Irvine where this practice goes on regularly.

Pedestrians have to walk in these lanes at this location and others because of a lack of sidewalks and I have seen cars force pedestrians out of the lane by creeping along on their heels. I have also seen and experienced drivers getting testy at a bicyclist who is using the lane and slowing their progress. I experienced this because I sometimes ride my bike to work.

I urge the Irvine Police Department to clamp down on drivers illegally using the bike/pedestrian lanes.

Frank Colver

Costa Mesa

Drivers who flaunt the bicycle lane law should be thankful they’re not pulling that stunt in Davis, the small college town west of Sacramento where the bicyclist reigns supreme.

“In Davis, motorists would be shot, drawn and quartered if they dared use a bicycle lane,” said Bill Madison, spokesman for the California Department of Motor Vehicles in Sacramento. “Davis is such a bicycle haven, especially near campus, but the law is the same anywhere in the state. Vehicles should stay out of bicycle lanes.”

Lt. Sam Allevato of the Irvine Police Department said drivers cutting into the bicycle lane do pose a threat to bicyclists, but an even bigger problem has surfaced. In recent months, police have responded to calls where drivers illegally using the bike lane have rear-ended drivers who were legally using the bike lane to make turns, he said. Last month, two such crashes were reported.

Let’s review the law.

Vehicles are permitted in a bike lane to make a right turn only where the solid white line gives way to a broken line about 200 feet before an intersection. Drivers still must heed any bicyclists in the lane, he said.

The California Vehicle Code adds that drivers can use the bicycle lane to park where parking is permitted and to enter or leave the roadway.

Allevato said the police department welcomes phone calls from the public alerting them to unsafe conditions such as drivers bike lanes. On the strength of your letter, more police will watch for that on Redhill Avenue near Main Street, he said.