Crosswalks, bicycle and motorcycle safety along Pacific Coast Highway were hot-button issues attendees spoke out about last week at a Thursday City Hall meeting for the highway’s safety. The meeting was the first of four input-gathering sessions for a new PCH Safety Study, part of a $300,000 grant that is expected to bring hard information to city decision makers as they attempt to make the highway safer in the future.
“The study will examine the current conditions, analyze and identify potential strategies to promote improved safety,” according to a city staff report. “Ultimately, the study can be used as the basis for a master plan of safety improvements along PCH.”
Among the information being gathered are traffic and accident statistics, as well as land use issues, and input from residents and people who travel PCH regularly.
The project came about after Malibu applied for a grant from Caltrans, but found that the type of grant it needed is only eligible for metropolitan planning authorities. So Malibu linked with the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), a metropolitan planning authority, and received $300,000 from Caltrans, with the city contributing up to $75,000 to the project.
Nearly 20 people attended last week’s meeting, which was focused on traffic issues plaguing PCH from Topanga Canyon Road to Cross Creek Road.
A major concern among attendees was crosswalks. Several brought up a particular crosswalk just north of the intersection of Rambla Vista and PCH that is frequently used by area residents to access the La Costa Beach Club. One of the most vocal speakers highlighting the crosswalk was Ryan Power, who lives in the Rambla Vista area and said it had been repeatedly ignored.
“For years, we’ve tried to get something done, and either the city or Caltrans has neglected the issue,” he said.
Power brought to the meeting a binder that he claimed was filled with more than 100 records of collision reports at that crosswalk. He demanded better visibility and warned of a tragedy if authorities fail to respond soon.
“It can be done before next summer, before someone gets killed,” Power said.
Further up PCH, another crosswalk fell under scrutiny. Yiwen Zhang, a public policy student at Pepperdine University, warned of a crosswalk several blocks south of the Malibu Pier where oncoming drivers are frequently required to stop suddenly with little to no warning. The crosswalk connects the parking lot of a liquor store, Colony House Liquors, with the ocean side of Pacific Coast Highway. Zhang recalled an instance when a car in front of her braked abruptly as people crossed, which forced her to hit her breaks and almost rear end it.
“[That’s] one point that I think is really dangerous right now,” she said of the crosswalk. Zhang expressed hope that something constructive could come from the meetings. “I hope that if there are really good suggestions, the city can find a way to solve the problem. I really hope so.”
Advocates for two-wheeled vehicles also made their cases at the meeting.
One was motorcyclist Joseph Meisinger. Meisinger complained about having to always avert weekend drivers that nearly merge into him while they hold cell phones and fail to signal.
“It’s dangerous for us [motorcycle] riders,” he said.
The study comes as Malibu has launched a separate bike lane safety project that partly addresses the width of shoulders, an issue that was on the mind of Eric Bruins, who serves as Planning and Policy Director for the LA County Bicycle Coalition.
Bruins said he used to bike from Culver City to Malibu for work, and had seen first-hand how bicyclists are forced to merge into right lanes because shoulders become too narrow, or are littered with rocks or glass.
“It’s very unpredictable, and that’s not good for cyclists or motorists,” he said.
Bruins also advised drivers of parallel parked cars on PCH to beware of passing cyclists.
“They have doors, you should look before you open them,” he laughed, suggesting that people open them with their right hand.
City officials at the meeting included Public Works Director Bob Brager, Public Works Analyst Elizabeth Shavelson and Public Safety Commissioner Meril May. Also present was Tony Petros of planning and engineering firm LSA Associates, which the city has contracted to perform the study. Future meetings will happen every upcoming Thursday night from 6 to 8 o’clock. The next one will address PCH from Cross Creek Road to Busch Drive, and the third from Busch Drive to County Line.
The final meeting will look at issues throughout the three areas for anyone who missed prior ones. The public can also lodge their PCH safety complaints by visiting Malibu.Metroquest.com and clicking “Show us.”