What do you mean that my street’s closed for Viva CalleSJ?

Q“Road Closed on 9/23” signs have appeared in our neighborhood and it appears there is a biking event scheduled for that day that will close Monterey Road from downtown south to Branham Lane. This is one of the most ridiculous things San Jose has ever done.

What kind of political pull do you need to have to inconvenience hundreds of motorists and businesses along the major route in and out of the city? How will residents on Branham get out of their neighborhoods with the road closed? How much is this costing the city? This is just crazy. — Terry Harnish, San Jose

ACrazy to some perhaps, but fun and popular to the 100,000 bikers, walkers, runners, skateboarders and parents pushing toddlers in strollers expected for Viva CalleSJ, an open streets event now in its third year. Previous events have gone through Willow Glen and Japantown.

Drivers will need to move their cars along the route by 1 a.m. Sept. 23 or risk being towed. Numerous streets will close around 6 a.m. and reopen around 4 p.m. that Sunday. The city is only closing Branham for about ¼ mile and there is a crossing point on Snell Avenue. The cost for the city is around $130,000, but most of that is covered by grants. Plus, city officials say it brought in $1 million to businesses last year.

I know this may be inconvenient for many folks, but think of it as a special day for residents to meet and enjoy our city. And it’s free. Go to vivacallesj.org for details.

QIs Calaveras Road on track for reopening at the end of September? This is a such a beautiful drive and I am hoping to be able to enjoy it again before winter gets here. — Barbara Lawson, Tracy

AEnjoy and happy driving. Calaveras Road is scheduled to reopen on Sept. 30. It’s been closed to make slide damage repairs.

QCaltrans has attempted to address that bump 1 mile before the El Monte Road exit on Interstate 280. They put a small amount of asphalt on it, but it’s still a jarring bump. — Gary Moitozo, San Jose

AUgh. I alerted Caltrans that more work may be needed.

QHowdy Mr. Roadshow. Let’s not focus on trying to get to Mars ($$$!) and focus on rubberizing our roads everywhere on this planet.

Slurry sealing is just a temporary fix for roads. Since I’ve been living in my car since June, I’ve come to know the potholes to avoid because I do not need to donate any of my tires to rubberize the roads.

But by golly, I do know when I’m riding on a rubber road. It feels and sounds wonderful. Jingles, my cat, likes it, too. — Mary Seney

AJingles must be a smart cat.