Bicyclists make for dangerous drive along Highway 1 stretch

QA few Saturdays ago, we decided to drive to Santa Cruz from San Francisco on Highway

1. What used to be an almost idyllic drive turned into a pretty nervewracking one, due to the thousands (no exaggeration) of bicyclists on the highway, mostly between Half Moon Bay and Davenport.

The shoulder is far too narrow for cyclists to ride more than single file. The result is, they spill out onto the traffic lane, causing drivers to swing across the median to avoid contact or a confrontation.

There is more than enough room to construct bike lanes separating cyclists from motorists. How about actually doing that?

— George Mathews,

Antioch

A

There are no plans to add bicycle lanes anytime soon. And there will be other events that draw large crowds of bicyclists, as numerous cycling events for charities take place on Highway 1.

Q

Any chance of getting metering lights along Highway 1 in Santa Cruz County? Commutes are a bear (says a visiting grandmother) and it makes no sense not to have them.

— Patty. R, Livermore

A

The environmental phase of the Highway 1 Auxiliary Lanes and Bus on Shoulder Project between the State Park Drive and Freedom Boulevard is underway, and it includes metering lights.

Q

I drive Highway 17 as I commute from Mountain View to Scotts Valley. Much of Highway 17 between Los Gatos and Scotts Valley includes signs posting a truck speed limit of 35 mph.

I am tired of almost being run over by vehicles that I consider trucks going considerably faster than 35 mph.

In light of these speed limits, I’m curious as to the official definition of a truck.

— Michael Siladi, Mountain View

A

A big rig with more than two axles is a truck and must stay in the right lanes, except for passing.

A vehicle with two axles, like a UPS home delivery vehicle, is not a truck.

Q

We have gotten my 86-year-old mother to stop driving and to accept that this is now a part of her life.

Her California driver’s license is long expired, so we are looking to get her an ID.

Is there anything gained to have a California ID versus a passport? It appears that they would both work the same.

But for a passport,

I do not have to make her endure going down to the DMV to get her ID. It could all be done through the mail.

— C.G.

A

passport would allow her to board an airplane. An ID card would not.