Ortega Highway With Bike Paths: A Bad Idea

Re “Plan to Add 720 Miles of Bike Paths Is Okd,” Aug. 28:

I think it’s a wonderful idea for Orange County to be adding 720 miles to the commuter bike system. There are so many cyclists who will definitely appreciate all the new bike roadways that will be built for them to enjoy.

The only thing that bothers me about the new system is that one of the routes will follow the Ortega Highway. This highway is so fraught with danger that motorists are afraid to drive this route. Motorcyclists think nothing of zooming around curves and acting as though they’re the only ones on the road. The occasional driver dares go around a slow-moving car. I fear for the cyclist(s) who is minding his or her own business and staying in their own lane. Without trying to sound morbid, I would assume that it wouldn’t be too long before we read about a cyclist mortality on the Ortega Highway.

Stanley Eskin

Laguna Woods