‘Red’ Zones Not Necessarily a Matter of Color

Dear Traffic Talk:

I have paid a $280 parking violation since there is no doubt that I was parked within 3 feet of the sidewalk access.

If this is such a grave offense, why are the curbs not painted red?

While driving through various neighborhoods I note that there seems to be a rather inconsistent use of red paint.

I would not have dared to park where I did if the area had been painted red.

Leo Donohoe

North Hills

Dear Leo:

Traffic officials point to the California Vehicle Code that gives them leeway for red paint or signs to be used near curb cuts.

This is text from the California Vehicle Code:

“No person shall park a vehicle within three feet of any sidewalk access ramp constructed adjacent to a crosswalk so as to be accessible to and usable by the physically disabled, if the area adjoining the ramp is designated by either a sign or red paint.”

Dear Traffic Talk:

I have the following comments to make in regard to the new carpool lanes on the San Diego Freeway:

When you get on the freeway to go north off Burbank Boulevard and you want to enter the carpool lane, there is no break in the double yellow line until you get to Nordhoff Street.

At that point you see an exit sign for the Simi Valley Freeway but from there north there is no other sign until the one warning that the carpool lane is ending.

Also, coming south on the Golden State Freeway and switching to the San Diego Freeway south, you can enter the carpool lane. But again, there is no break in the lines until Nordhoff Street.

When you want to get off at Burbank Boulevard, you have to cross the double yellow line because the exit sign to the Ventura Freeway is just south of Victory Boulevard.

There, the break is too close to the Burbank exit to be able to cross the freeway safely.

Richard Roth

Sherman Oaks

Dear Richard:

Caltrans has received a number of inquiries about access to the newly opened San Diego Freeway carpool lanes, according to Pat Reid, an agency spokesman.

The agency will look into the possibility of adding an entrance/exit location between Burbank Boulevard and Nordhoff Street in the northbound direction, Reid said.

One example is backtracking one onramp to gain access to the carpool lane.

In the meantime, she added, some motorists have adjusted their travel patterns.

She said there is other information about these particular carpool lanes that may help the public understand their purpose. The lanes were built to:

* Serve commuters traveling on the Golden State, Simi Valley and Ventura Freeways.

* Limit weaving in and out of the main traffic by the entrance/exits spaced two to three miles apart.

* Focus on providing time savings for the long-trip commuters--such as a person going from the Golden State to the Ventura Freeway instead of one going from Burbank Boulevard to Sherman Way--since Caltrans sees excessive lane changing as undesirable for proper freeway operation, Reid said.

*

Traffic Talk appears Fridays in The Times Valley Edition. Readers may submit comments and questions about traffic in the Valley to Traffic Talk, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Include your name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited, and no anonymous letters will be accepted. To record your comments, call (818) 772-3303. Fax letters to (818) 772-3385. E-mail questions to valley@latimes.com