Bicycles Allowed on Freeways

* Re “Cyclists Tell Caltrans to Yield” (Sept. 9):

I am a cyclist in Dana Point and have commuted to work by bike, as well as riding recreationally all over this area, for many years. I have toured many miles all over California and in Europe. I am a member of Orange County Bicycle Coalition and the League of American Wheelmen.

Somewhere along the way I picked up the information that bicycles are indeed allowed on freeways if there are no identified alternative routes. I have pedaled freeways in Northern, Central and Southern California when there were no frontage roads paralleling them. Ones that come to mind are sections of Highway 101 between Salinas and San Luis Obispo and a section of the San Diego Freeway between Mission Beach and Del Mar.

The Dana Point onramps have never been a problem to me. I just ride them. Why they are called a “freeway” is unknown as there is a traffic light at an intersection within a hundred yards of the onramp on Pacific Coast Highway.

An alternative and nicer route going north or south on PCH is through the Capistrano Beach and Doheny Beach parking lots and through Doheny State Park, but this route is unmarked and would not be known by people unfamiliar with this area. As far as trying to go north on PCH from Doheny Park Road, there is no alternative route unless you would know enough to backtrack all the way to the Stonehill bridge, cross and use Del Obispo to get to PCH or ride south on PCH until you get to Capistrano Beach parking lot and then use the parking lot route to go north. Either way it would involve riding an extra few miles.

Of course the easiest solution is to saw off the “Freeway Entrance” part of the sign.

JAY SPONAGLE

Capistrano Beach