“You Ask ... Patch Answers,” is our Sunday feature where we strive to find answers to all your questions—big, small and in-between—about the town we live and work in.
Whether it’s something you’ve always wondered about, some information you just can’t put your hands on or a sudden curiosity, we want to hear it.
Send your queries to sheila.sanchez@patch.com or leave them in the comments section below, and I will do my best to dig up an answer for you. You also can call me at 408-391-8725.
Los Gatos Patch reader Bonna Kauffman submitted the following question and comment: "Who do I contact about our town being basically bike unfriendly because it's so dangerous to ride along University Avenue, Santa Cruz Avenue and Highway 9 ... ?"
Los Gatos Parks and Public Works Director Todd Capurso said residents with complaints about bike lanes around town should email him at ppw@losgatosca.gov, or call 408-399-5770. "I don't think Los Gatos is bike unfriendly, but that doesn't mean that every street in town is bike friendly," Capurso said.
The streets mentioned by Kauffman in her inquiry are certainly constrained since there's not always sufficient room for bicyclists along their path, Capurso noted, adding that Los Gatos has alternatives such as the Los Gatos Creek Trail.
"It's known far and wide as being bicycle friendly and our wider roads, like Winchester Boulevard, Blossom Hill Road and Los Gatos Boulevard, have bike lanes on them. We have a lot of streets with bike lanes," Capurso said.
Even portions of University Avenue have bike lanes, Capurso added.
Santa Cruz Avenue is challenging because it traverses through the Los Gatos downtown area and there's a lot of parallel parking on the street, he explained.
"I would have to agree that Santa Cruz Avenue is not bicycle friendly," he said. "But I'm not sure what we could do about it."
About Highway 9, Capurso indicated it is a state highway. He noted Los Gatos has worked cooperatively with Saratoga, Monte Sereno and the state to make sure Highway 9 bike lanes are properly marked and traffic detectors are being considered for bike lanes to alert traffic signals that there are cyclists waiting. "We've done a fair amount along Highway 9, but unfortunately you can't make every street bicycle friendly."
Sneaking up behind a bicyclist and honking your horn is extremely dangerous and illegal since it can cause them to loose their balance and be seriously injured. State law bans using your horn except in emergency situations, like when another car is about to hit you. Bicyclists are right to be annoyed when you use your horn to try to scare them out of the way. However, instead of escalating the situation, bicyclists should write down your license plate number of road ragers and call 911.
You have touched on my pet peeve: Bicyclists who feel they are entitled to ride 2 abreast on a one lane road blocking and impeding the normal flow traffic of traffic. I have experienced this on University Ave and various mountain roads such as Ridgecrest & upper Hernandez. Please review the following 2 Ca VC sections for what the law says. Note: you can also review the CA Vehicle Code Appendix B List of Violations Division 11 Rules of the Road as to what sections bicyclists can be cited for. Per section 21202 of the Ca VC regarding Bicyclist’s right of way ... Nowhere does this section support what you claim “cyclists should ride in the middle lane” but to the contrary. A bicyclist will be citied under this section 21202(a) if he/she rides anywhere but as close as possible to the RIGHT HAND CURB with a few exceptions. 21202. (a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway …. Also please note a bicyclist will be cited IF they “impede the normal flow of traffic” under 22400(a). 22400. (a) No person shall drive upon a highway at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, unless the reduced speed is necessary for safe operation, because of a grade, or in compliance with law.
Yes, we all have anecdotal evidence of cyclists AND drivers behaving badly, but on the whole I think we all work with each other as best as we can. Using judgmental words like "pretentious" is unhelpful. If I described all LG drivers as latte-drinking, texting, speeding parents driving pompous German imports and oversized SUV's, would you be inclined to cooperate with me? I doubt it. As one who drives my child to school in LG every day, I would object to being categorized as such, too. Let's quit the name-calling and share the road, shall we?
In business districts. Areas with churches, apartments, multiple dwelling houses, clubs, and public buildings (except schools) are also considered to be business districts. Turn only at an intersection, unless a sign prohibits it, or where openings are provided for turns. I have come too close to hitting another driver because that driver decided to make a sudden U-turn without signaling just to get that precious parking space. Usually it is someone driving a SUV that requires backing into traffic in order to complete the U-turn.
But! The most dangerous thing a bicyclist can do is ride on the sidewalk GOING THE OPPOSITE WAY OF TRAFFIC. More than once I almost ran over a biker as I pulled out of my driveway and they were going opposite the flow of traffic. This includes adults who should be able to figure this out. I don't know if there are any laws or safety regulations about this, but it doesn't take too much intelligence to figure out that a driver isn't going to see you if the flow of traffic is coming from the left and you're coming from the right.
Bottom line, is that our roads are used by cars, bikes, pedestrians, and motorcycles. No one mode of transportation has priority over another. We must all abide by the road rules, look out for each other, and take a deep breath. Giving a bike, or a ped, or a car, a couple of seconds to make a safe turn or crossing can save a life. And seriously - it's always a matter of no more than a couple of seconds.
Again - why not quit the name-calling and try to come to a workable solution? So many people, for some reason, consider cyclists to be "high and mighty," "pretentious," "eco-nuts," etc. I love my bike, but I also drive a V8 special edition Mustang. Most cyclists drive cars. I've had far more people call out "on your left," or ring a bell, when riding than not.
the taser.
the taser.
Cyclists are not "jerks" any more than drivers. We're all just trying to get along ... http://www.streetsblog.org/2011/04/21/dont-be-a-jerk-the-wrong-message-at-the-wrong-time/ Cyclists do feel "entitled" ... to not be subjected to harrassment and to arrive at their destination alive. http://brooklynspoke.com/2013/01/07/entitled-cyclist/