A Deceptive Postcard-Perfect Mountain Road for Motorcyclists

There’s nothing quite like a wind-whipped, sun-drenched day spent cruising through the mountains on a motorcycle.

And the grisly consequence of a missed turn, a stray boulder or a touch too much speed is equally unforgettable.

During the past two years there have been 18 fatal accidents on Angeles Crest Highway, a postcard-perfect mountain road that snakes through the Angeles National Forest. Two-thirds of the deadly accidents have involved motorcycles, said Capt. Bill Whiteside of the California Highway Patrol.

As sunny weekends begin to lure bikers to the hills, the CHP announced Friday it is stepping up patrols on the highway and urged motorcyclists to take it easy.

“Angeles Crest Highway is a demanding riding environment,” Whiteside said. “It requires 100% of the driver’s attention. For those drivers who are concentrating on the scenery, they’re an accident waiting to happen.”

On a sunny Sunday two weeks ago, he said, two people riding motorcycles died on the road: a 54-year-old man who lost control on a turn, and hours later a 10-year-old boy riding on the back of his father’s motorcycle, which veered off the road and slammed into a hillside.

The deaths have spurred the manager of a local restaurant, a longtime biker hangout, to organize a safety session this weekend.

“We’re having this major problem right now with motorcycles,” said Hayle Holland, manager of Newcomb’s Ranch, a rustic roadhouse nestled along Angeles Crest about 27 miles north of the 210 Freeway.

“We’re trying to promote to these guys how important it is to be safe on a public road, and if you want to race, go to a racetrack,” she said.

“I don’t want people to be afraid to come up here because it is a beautiful national forest, and it’s so close to the city.”

Hayle invited CHP officers, motorcyclists, owners of motorcycle racetracks and representatives from biking magazines to Newcomb’s Ranch on Sunday morning to talk about responsible riding.

Some common causes of motorcycling accidents, CHP officials said, are excessive speed, inattention, inexperience and driving under the influence--the same factors that lead to car crashes.

Mountain roads packed with tight curves, steep drops and distracting scenery add to the danger, Whiteside said.

The CHP plans to add four officers to patrol Angeles Crest Highway on weekends this spring. They will be using radar to catch speeders and conducting sobriety checks. An additional team of 12 officers will also be assigned to the area on holiday weekends, Whiteside said.

Caltrans is also working to make the highway safer, spokeswoman Margie Tiritilli said. The state transportation agency recently resurfaced pavement, added highly reflective striping and upgraded guardrails along the road.