Most bike-unfriendly towns in SoCal [Archive]

VanceMac

07-14-07, 10:05 PM

I doubt that it's the worst, but the SFV is pretty awful. While we are blessed with easy access to many amazing and diverse cycling locations, the valley itself is dreadful, characterized by narrow roads, crappy pavement conditions, and horribly careless drivers. Cruising Ventura during morning rush hour is russian roulette.

furiousferret

07-14-07, 10:10 PM

San Bernardino, hands down.

Chucklehead

07-14-07, 10:15 PM

I nominate Oceanside for #1, Solana Beach for #2

weird. i only have problems outside of oceanside. and even then, it's only in places like ramona. what are you doing wrong?

Indolent58

07-14-07, 10:16 PM

What exactly do we mean by unfriendly? Unsafe infrastructure? Hostile drivers?

ronjon10

07-14-07, 10:37 PM

We probably shouldn't be complaining much about this topic. It's soooo much better here than 90% of the country. Try riding in the southeast US sometime, home of nascar and the original rednecks.

merider1

07-14-07, 10:42 PM

Sherman Oaks. The last .9 mile of my ride home on the weekend is when I almost always get hit by some stupid, angry, clueless, reckless driver.

Indolent58

07-14-07, 11:15 PM

Sherman Oaks. The last .9 mile of my ride home on the weekend is when I almost always get hit by some stupid, angry, clueless, reckless driver.

You almost always get hit? :eek: :eek: :eek:

That would explain a lot.

VanceMac

07-14-07, 11:16 PM

You almost always get hit? :eek: :eek: :eek:

Typo. Hit on... hit on.

Grumpy Pig

07-14-07, 11:20 PM

I nominate Oceanside for #1, Solana Beach for #2

One more recumbent and I'll be an ace!

Indolent58

07-14-07, 11:31 PM

Typo. Hit on... hit on.

But I thought M.E. liked the stupid, angry, clueless, reckless type.

LCI_Brian

07-14-07, 11:39 PM

Corona Del Mar because I have more cars honking at me there than any other place.
All other things being equal, I find that drivers in higher income areas (such as CDM) honk more compared to average and low income areas.

cjbruin

07-14-07, 11:42 PM

Of all the places I've lived, West LA was by far the worst for cycling.

Sci-Fi

07-14-07, 11:48 PM

Depends on your criteria/main complaint. Know a few that refuse to ride in the Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank area because of the police writing tickets like confetti for anything and everything. Some feel SFV streets are more like freeways with cars cutting in and out. The Sherman Oaks, Universal City, Hollywood, and West L.A. areas, the streets are so narrow that it can be considered hazardous and bike unfriendly.

The Fairfax district is my pet peeve. Cars/people act like there are no stop signs/signals and you shouldn't have be there/in their way, esp if there's an accident or near accident. Yelling and cursing seems to be the norm. Have to stay alert and always plan an out.

pirate golf

07-15-07, 01:16 AM

How the hell did Oceanside get #1 on your list? I ride 6 or 7 days a week for commuting and weekend fun around Oceanside and Carlsbad and I've never had a single honk or buzz. Nothing's ever been thrown at me.

Just today my girlfriend went out with me on her first ride outside of our neighborhood. It was slow climbing and trudging along, but we made it without any problems (people slow down to let us merge, gave us plenty of room when passing us, etc.).

If O-side is 'bad' I'd have a blast leading you through my hometown's streets (Vegas).

The way I see it, it doesn't get much better than what I've encountered here.

Chaco

07-15-07, 01:38 AM

I should have clarified. I really meant infrastructure -- good bike lanes, safe merges, etc. The people in Oside have been great; in fact, the people all over North County have been great. I generally go from Encinitas, up thru Oside, and then into Camp Pendleton. The scariest part of my trip is actually the road leading into Pendleton - no bike lane, and cars merging from all over the place.

Oside does have the San Luis Rey Trail, which is great. But on the roads there, I have yet to see a single bike lane.

dddave

07-15-07, 02:33 PM

temecula has sh*tty (if any) bike lanes and the drivers out there are all assh*les in big trucks.

ovoleg

07-15-07, 02:36 PM

Augora Hills imo

big john

07-15-07, 03:00 PM

I've ridden across the country and in So Cal for 20+ years and the WORST drivers are in Santa Clarita, IMHO. I have had lots of things thrown at me in the south, but you kind of get used to it. You also get used to the drivers coming the other direction crossing the center line and pretending like they are going to run into you. I think they teach that in school in some parts of Mo., Ky., WV., but nothing like the terror of Santa Clarita. It's scary driving a small car out there, with all the maniacs in monster trucks.

big john

07-15-07, 03:03 PM

Augora Hills imo
What? What's wrong in Agoura Hills?

heresy

07-15-07, 03:07 PM

Depends on your criteria/main complaint. Know a few that refuse to ride in the Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank area because of the police writing tickets like confetti for anything and everything.

I think Pasadena, Glendale and Burbank are great. I rode in all three today. Of course, I lived in Glendale when I started riding, so maybe I am used to the situation (when a city posts signs that say cyclists must obey the rules of the road, it is probably a good idea to do so).

Oceanside and Solana Beach are OK, in my opinion. That little stretch of Coast Hwy from Cardiff to Leucadia is a bit tough. Horrible road and not much of a bike lane/shoulder. Despite the large number of cyclists, many motorists still seem to be oblivious.

Foothill Blvd. through La Canada Flintridge gets my vote for worst. I have had far too many close calls with cars. The road was pretty bad for a while, but it looks like the city has done some work. I seldom ride through there now.

rubic

07-15-07, 03:12 PM

But I thought M.E. liked the stupid, angry, clueless, reckless type.
:eek: I haven't even met M.E. yet and you say she likes me? :D But I digress. The worst places where I ride are Van Nuys during the week and West LA.

roadfix

07-15-07, 03:13 PM

Downtown L.A., weekdays.

ggallin

07-15-07, 03:19 PM

i think ventura is pretty bike friendly. whats your beef vancemac?

ovoleg

07-15-07, 03:29 PM

Augora Hills there are a million cyclist who break the law and the local residents have started to grow distaste for other cyclist. I've had a few close calls in Augora Hills...

Socalcycling

07-15-07, 03:32 PM

what laws are being busted??

Socalcycling

07-15-07, 03:37 PM

Agoura Hills??? There is like one road that anybody really rides.....

big john

07-15-07, 03:44 PM

i think ventura is pretty bike friendly. whats your beef vancemac?
He's talking about Ventura Blvd in the Valley, not the city of Ventura.

ggallin

07-15-07, 04:40 PM

he better be.

furiousferret

07-15-07, 10:26 PM

The biggest problem with San Bernardino is not only the riders, but the busy streets have no bike lanes, and the ones that are not busy not only do not have a shoulder, but the side of the road has 5" deep potholes, which when you are trucking down the road and a car is behind you, there is the go over the pothole, merge into traffic and hope the driver notices, or stop. That and the drivers are not too friendly.

merider1

07-15-07, 10:35 PM

he better be.
Now, Tyler, see. That right there...not necessary. Dude, this is an open forum for opinions. Even if he WAS referring to Ventura, it's JUST AN OPINION.

merider1

07-15-07, 10:37 PM

Typo. Hit on... hit on.
Awwwwwwwwwwww...how sweet you are. :o No. :mad: HIT. These people just pay zero attention or are talking on their cell phones, and they LOOK ANGRY. Maybe they just have bad gas? But nonetheless, it's scary here!

VanceMac

07-15-07, 10:39 PM

For the record, yes Ventura Blvd. I'd hate to suffer a GG beat down. lol.

Garfield Cat

07-15-07, 10:47 PM

Cudahy, Vernon. These towns are for industry and have very little to do with residential. Not a bedroom community at all. Rail road trains, trucks, no bike lanes

tinrobot

07-15-07, 10:48 PM

Today it was Laguna Beach.

ggallin

07-15-07, 11:24 PM

its one of those things called "a joke" that you guys talk about throwing around a bunch. quit taking everything so seriously. jesus christ.

merider1

07-15-07, 11:35 PM

its one of those things called "a joke" that you guys talk about throwing around a bunch. quit taking everything so seriously. jesus christ.
Now, don't go pulling jesus into this. :p Okay, couldn't tell. How about a smiley or two? And why don't you come join on a BF ride sometime? That a way, we could get to know you and you us. You might like it. ;)

ggallin

07-16-07, 12:21 AM

emoticons are for girls in junior high.

Socalcycling

07-16-07, 12:45 AM

Now, don't go pulling jesus into this. :p Okay, couldn't tell. How about a smiley or two? And why don't you come join on a BF ride sometime? That a way, we could get to know you and you us. You might like it. ;)

sorry but that new picture is really not flattering at all. kinda scary really.

dddave

07-16-07, 01:44 AM

Mo'Phat

07-16-07, 10:53 AM

I hate Ventura...not the Boulevard, but the real Ventura. I want it paved and turned into a wicked skatepark...put it to good use, for a change.

merider1

07-16-07, 10:55 AM

That would be nice, Mo' :)

UmneyDurak

07-16-07, 11:26 AM

Care to elaborate?

If you extended this to the whole state of California, I nominate Woodside.
I am surprised by that. Is it because of their crack down on stop sign runners?

mateo44

07-16-07, 11:28 AM

At least they have the courtesy of honking before they steamroll you.

Yeah, CDM sucks.

Corona Del Mar because I have more cars honking at me there than any other place.

merider1

07-16-07, 11:31 AM

At least they have the courtesy of honking before they steamroll you.

Yeah, CDM sucks.
Did we go through there yesterday? Also, I'm changing my response. Sherman Oaks is like Disneyland compared to Laguna Beach! Now, THAT was dreadful. :eek:

herbm

07-16-07, 11:34 AM

Did we go through there yesterday? Also, I'm changing my response. Sherman Oaks is like Disneyland compared to Laguna Beach! Now, THAT was dreadful. :eek:

+1000 and I am from NYC...that was some of the worst traffic I ever saw....makes the valley a pleasure to ride thru!

Happytime

07-16-07, 11:39 AM

Did we go through there yesterday? Also, I'm changing my response. Sherman Oaks is like Disneyland compared to Laguna Beach! Now, THAT was dreadful. :eek:

+100,000

Words cannot describe how awful Laguna Beach was.