Bicyclists a Pack of Trouble if They Fall Out of Single File

Dear Street Smart:

I was just wondering about these bicycle riders who are riding in the back hills. I recently came upon about 300 of them riding around and I could not pass.

I was just wondering what the law is on this and what you can do. You need to get around them somehow.

Fred Geiger

Thousand Oaks

Dear Reader:

According to the California Highway Patrol, bicycle riders are supposed to ride single file, as close as is practical to the right-hand side of the roadway edge.

“They would be subject to citation if the officer chooses,” CHP Officer David Cockrill said. “But of course, the officer has to see them violating the law.”

Cockrill suggested that a terse honk of your car horn might alert the nasty pack of bikers that you need to pass. “Other than that,” Cockrill said, “they should proceed with caution.”

Dear Street Smart:

There is a problem at the intersection of Westlake Boulevard and Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks. They recently restriped the lanes on Westlake, which gives rise to a great amount of confusion and could lead to accidents.

Because of the new markings, in order to get into the lane to enter the Ventura Freeway toward Los Angeles when you’re traveling south on Westlake, you have to be in the far left-hand lane of Westlake north of Thousand Oaks Boulevard. Otherwise, you’re running into all sorts of traffic with people going onto the northbound Ventura Freeway.

There should be an elevated sign on the northbound side of Westlake Boulevard saying that if you want to enter the southbound Ventura Freeway, you should be in the left-hand lane before you get to the intersection at Thousand Oaks Boulevard to avoid problems.

I really think this is something that should be looked into.

Arthur Eisenberger

Thousand Oaks

Dear Reader:

Thousand Oaks traffic analyst Jeff Knowles admits he goofed when he ordered the new striping on Westlake Boulevard last year. But he does plan to rectify his error.

“What it really comes down to is that fewer people are coming from North Ranch than we expected,” Knowles said. “There’s less southbound Westlake Boulevard traffic going north on the Ventura Freeway than we anticipated.”

When the new round of striping is completed later this month, it should be simpler, Knowles said.

The left-most southbound Westlake Boulevard lane will go through to Townsgate Road, the middle lane will lead to both north and south freeway onramps and the right lane will go onto the northbound Ventura Freeway.

“The existing pattern technically works safely, but we can make it work even better,” Knowles said.

Dear Street Smart:

Every time we go over to our daughter’s, it’s like an accident waiting to happen.

If you’re trying to turn left onto Calle Entrar from southbound Moorpark Road, there’s a large pine tree that blocks your view of oncoming traffic. It’s really a very bad spot and should be reported.

It’s terrible because you’re trying to turn left as people are coming north along Moorpark Road, so there are two lanes of traffic coming very fast and you can’t see.

Bonna Luinstra

Thousand Oaks

Dear Reader:

Traffic officials cannot be every place at once, and they appreciate being informed of potentially dangerous situations.

“Any time a person has a problem with a shrub or tree in a raised median in a street, they should call the public works service center,” Thousand Oaks traffic analyst Jeff Knowles said. “We’ll go out and take a look at it.”

Knowles said the problem gets even worse this time of year.

“Winter is here, and that’s the growing season,” he said. “So people shouldn’t hesitate to call when something is blocking their view.”

The number to call in Thousand Oaks is 449-2499.

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