City members are at odds over how to address bicycle safety issues along Pacific Coast Highway. Bicyclists say they are being targeted by Sheriff’s deputies.
By Jonathan Friedman / Assistant Editor and Hans Laetz / Special to The Malibu Times
Heated discussion on how to make Pacific Coast Highway safer took place at Monday’s City Council meeting in the wake of the Sept. 10 incident in which two bicyclists were killed by a car while riding on the highway.
Councilmember Pamela Conley Ulich said she wanted the city to begin looking into ways to create trails and bikeways along the dangerous highway, and did not want the issue to be referred to the Public Safety Commission, as the process would usually dictate. Meanwhile, Public Safety Commissioner Carol Randall, a longtime Pacific Coast Highway safety advocate whose son-in-law was killed in 2002 when he was hit by a car while standing along the highway, said it was important for the issue to go before the commission, of which she is the chair. She also said she does not support building bike paths along the highway.
Also attending the meeting were several bicyclists who demanded something be done to increase safety on the highway. Several city council members advised them that the city had no authority to do anything with Pacific Coast Highway, since it is under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Transportation. Just this week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill heavily supported by Malibu that would have created a double fine for speeders on major highways, including Pacific Coast Highway. He said in a statement that he vetoed the bill because there was no substantial evidence that double-fine zones increased safety.
At one point in the meeting, several council members agreed that the best idea would be for the Public Safety Commission to hold a hearing on bicycle issues. It would then make a recommendation to the City Council, which would pass one on to the state. Conley Ulich said she was confident she wouldn’t support the Public Safety Commission recommendation. When asked why she believed that, Conley Ulich said, “I have discussed this with Carol Randall, and we disagree on many issues.”
The council voted to send the issue to the Public Safety Commission before bringing it officially to the City Council. Also, Randall and Conley Ulich were named to represent the city on the Pacific Coast Highway Task Force, which is being formed by Sen. Sheila Kuehl’s staff to deal with safety issues, primarily cycling ones. After the meeting, Conley Ulich and Randall could be seen talking with each other and said they were looking forward to the process.
Since the Sept. 10 accident, the issue of biking on Pacific Coast Highway has risen in significance. Some cyclists are incensed that tickets are being handed out to persons riding two riders abreast on the highway. Santa Monica resident John Velez was cited for riding one foot to the left of the fog stripe last weekend.
Velez said prior to the meeting that he was riding in a group of seven cyclists last weekend, and could not ride any further to the right because of parked cars.
“The lane is real wide and there was plenty of room for cars to pass me without changing lanes,” he said.
“The deputies are targeting the cyclists,” Velez said, “when it was an incompetent driver who killed Scott [Bleifer].”
Sgt. Philip Brooks of the Malibu Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station said in a telephone interview that his deputies have not started a crackdown on packs of bicycles, “but we are thinking about it.”
“The law says you are required to remain as close as possible to the right edge of the pavement. Of course, our deputies will not cite anyone riding to the right of the solid line on a nice broad shoulder.”
The bikers point to another California Vehicle Code section that they maintain allows bicyclists to use a full lane at their discretion if the right shoulder is blocked by parked cars.
Members of Velo Club La Grange, a Westwood road touring bicyclists club with 400 members, said they are planning a massive memorial ride on Pacific Coast Highway Saturday in honor of Bleifer, a club member who was one of the two bicyclists killed three weeks earlier on Pacific Coast Highway near John Tyler Drive. Bleifer was reported to be planning to ride in an Arthritis Foundation bike-a-thon from San Francisco to Los Angeles Saturday, and the club members said they want to honor his life by finishing the last leg of the charity fundraiser for him.
Several hundred cyclists are expected to leave Santa Monica at 8 a.m., rally at Zuma Beach, and then turn south to hold a roadside memorial at the accident site one-half mile north of John Tyler Drive.
City Council Actions
€ The council rejected an appeal of a Planning Commission approval for the construction of a 5,388-square-foot home in West Malibu. The appellant, Paul W. Clark, did not come to the meeting but sent a letter to the city implying he would appeal the issue to the California Coastal Commission.
€ The council voted 4-0 with Councilmember Jeff Jennings abstaining to endorse Proposition 76, the state initiative that will appear on November’s ballot that if approved would limit state spending and change the state minimum school funding requirement.
€ The council allocated $10,000 for collateral material and other expenses associated with efforts to gather private donations for the acquisition of the Chili Cook-Off site. Councilmember Sharon Barovsky advised people to call the city at 456.2489 and ask for her home phone number if they are interested in finding about Chili Cook-Off fundraising events, including one taking place on Oct. 15 at the Malibu Castle. A telethon is also being planned.