king88uy7

I've been commuting for a few weeks on Sepulveda, and they all hate me. I don't ever see other commuters so I don't really know, maybe I'm doing it wrong. Southbound is OK, the bike lane up the hill is nice and I take the lane down the hill but maintain 30mph-ish and I only get about 5 honks/trip. It doesn't feel too dangerous.

However, northbound is crazy and scary. There isn't any bike lane on the south side and the shoulder varies and many places the shoulder isn't wide enough to ride on, so that puts me out in the lane some. Since it's uphill, I'm not going very fast. I get harassed *a lot* going this direction. The honking is annoying, but the people that buzz me going 30-40mph faster than I am are just scary. Some people get really close, I guess it's to teach me a lesson or something. There are two lanes so people can pass, although because of traffic, sometimes people are caught behind me for a minute. One particularly bad area is right before Sepulveda crosses under the 405. The shoulder gets really small near the top of the crest before it drops down under the freeway and the cars are trying to go really fast. People freak if I take the lane there, and if I don't, I get buzzed bad.

Am I doing something wrong ? Should I never be in the lane ? I guess I could walk the bike or something when the lane isn't wide enough. Do other people just ignore the honking ? I get 10-20 honks/yells per ride and a couple close buzzes. It's very unpleasant. And the buzzing is dangerous. Are the cars the reason more people don't commute over Sepulveda ?

I don't enjoy the daily conflict and I'm hoping there's someway to minimize the hostility. Other than the car drives, the ride is great.

tajsss

I don't know where you are or anything about the road, but have you tried looking for another route if it is that bad. I've had pretty good luck in finding smaller streets that run pretty parallel to the ones that I were using and have a lot less traffic. After a bit of exploring I've made my route much better and about the same distance. A little longer route might be worth a little safer route. maps.google.com is awesome for searching for other nearby streets and such.

Sorry if this is completely useless.

CB HI

I am not sure what portion of Sepulveda Blvd you ride, but if the lane is too narrow to safely share, then you need to continue to take the lane. After all, the drivers have the fast lane for use in passing you. Sounds like your getting some of the Los Angeles car culture attitude from the drivers. There are areas in the country with even ruder drivers, so hang in there.

You should not be afraid to use Sepulveda Blvd nor should you fell you have to use it if a parallel road allows a more enjoyable ride for you.

king88uy7

Thanks. I ride Sepulveda from Burbank in the valley to the VA. Does everyone that bike commutes on the city streets deal with this aggressive behaviour from the motorists ? I'm concerned I'm doing something wrong, like breaking the agreed upon rules between bicycles and cars, or something.

CB HI

From your post, your not doing anything wrong. there are just some jerk drivers out there. You may want to contact this guy on https://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/BTI-list/



Dan Gutierrez
Aerospace Cycling Club, Founder and current President
Long Beach Cyclists, Technical Advisory Committee Chair
CA Assoc. of Bicycling Organizations, District 7 Director
League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructor, LCI #962


He works and commutes in LA and is certainly more familiar with LA riding than most of use on this list. The group may require to register. a link to one of his post is:
https://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group...t/message/6135

You can send a direct e-mail off that message.

tajsss

Only thing I can think of is taking the lane more often or more aggressively. There is a short portion of my commute that is only a two-lane road (two in each direction) that people really fly down. I ride right down the middle of the lane and tend to even turn my shoulders and look back letting the people behind me know that I know they are there. Most people have been okay about it, slowed, and passed in the other lane as they should. I have found if I ride another 2ft. closer to the curb or so, people really try and buzz me. Moral of the story: If there is no bike lane, then take lane.

Good luck. Hopefully you can find something that works for you so you can keep enjoying the ride.

GlowBoy

Agreed! If it's too narrow, take the lane, especially since there are two lanes. But it sounds like you may need to find an alternate route.

You say you're getting an average 5 honks southbound, and yet it's the northbound direction that's "crazy and scary"? Yikes, I go for days at a time without being honked at once. If it's really going that badly, I'd say you are in danger and eventually will get hit. I'd either find a bike buddy and see if you're doing something wrong, or find another route. From what I remember of Sepulveda (my friend used to live a few blocks away) there are alternate streets nearby, and in fact Google Maps shows a lots of nearby streets that run parallel to Sepulveda -- not for its entire length, but you may be able to string them together if you can get the crossings of the busier streets to work out OK.

kf5nd

Agreed. I haven't been honked it in 1.5 years. You're doing something wrong, or doing it in the wrong place. You need an experienced commuter to critique your riding.

When I lived in the Valley 22 years ago, we called Sepulveda "the old road", "the hole in the wall". I guess it's probably the same.

One thing you might need to work on is blindingly brilliant flourescent clothing. Lots of people I notice wear dark colors, and it really make it hard for motorists to see you, they perceive you too late, and bam, they start honking. You have to go hog wild on the bright, ugly clothes. Sorry.

Also, several bright rear-ward facing lights, I would have red AND amber blinkies in your case, mounted high up on your person, not next to the ground.

jakub.ner

In Ontario (no, not Ontario, California ) the agreed upon rules are that you're a vehicle and have all the rights under the Ontario Traffic Act, I'm sure there is something similar in California.

Have the same probs here, usually with pick up truck drivers, on a two lane with a significant uphill. I try to not have them phase me. I have thought about putting an Air Zound 2 on my bike just to let them know I can do it too.

RacerX

No you aren't doing anything wrong but you are brave for taking Sepulveda during commute times
The drivers are a-holes, you just play it safe and ride defensively. Good luck

LCI_Brian

A few random thoughts, in no particular order:

- If he is riding where I think he is, there is no alternate route.

- Motorists are more likely to honk if they perceive that you can be further right so that they don't have to change lanes to get around you. For example, I've been honked at more often when I've had to stay out of a bike lane due to debris or it being next to parked cars, compared to when I've been in a narrow lane where there is obviously no room to share.

- Common advice for taking the lane says to use the right tire track. I find that in Southern California this can lead to situations where motorists don't completely change lanes to pass. Maybe that's lazy passing, or trying to teach you a lesson, or they still think there's room for an in-lane pass until the last minute. If I find I'm getting passed closely using the right tire track, I move to the center of the lane. The number of close passes goes down after that.

- Another poster mentioned contacting Dan. He doesn't read the forums, send me a PM if you want his email.

- The traffic mix seems to be different around the holidays. Not always more or less, but different - so I wonder how it will be in January?

- You could get one of the cheap helmet cameras from this thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/advocacy-safety/157772-cheap-helmet-cam.html

jamesdenver

back before my bike commuting days i lived in sherman oaks and worked in santa monica. i found a shortcut going up woodcliff (behind the whole foods), straight up to mullholland, jog over to roscomare, and that dumps down into bel air near UCLA somewhere.

it had traffic, but they were all slow moving cars, due to stop signs.

check it out on google maps and let me know what you think!

o-dog

yeah I'd find a different route... chances are there is probably a good network of sidestreets/paths/back roads in your town that will enable you to stay off major arterials for the most part... I know there is in my town at least... Google Maps and Google Earth are both very valuable tools in helping you plan alternate routes. it may pack on more miles but in my view it's worth it for a relatively safer and more pleasant commute.

king88uy7

I rode Woodcliff today. Wow, that's steep. I turned around at Mulholland so I don't know what the rest looks like. There's a road on google maps called E.Sepulveda. I'm going to see what that looks like too.

I tried riding in the middle of the lane and two motorists passed me on the right when there was a break in the parked cars.

jamesdenver

oh yeah sorry it's been six years since i've lived there. i remember i'd drive up roscomare on way home, come over the hill, and you're pitch down looking at the valley.

all the best -- i'm sure there's some good routes just east or west of sep.

or you could alternate -- maybe a side street for the uphill portion and sepulveda downhill, (as you'll be going fast with traffic). then a side street up the other side, and back over to sep.

just thinking out loud. i know the area well, but as a cager. i should have been biking those hills when i lived there dammit - i'd have legs of steel...

blueridge

This is an old thread, but there is an update. In June 2007 (but I'll be suprised it it starts then) there is a project that will widen Sepulveda from Wilshire to Skirball Center Drive. This is exactly where king88 is talking about. It will add turn lanes for cars PLUS a 5 foot wide shoulder on the southbound/downhill side and a separated bike lane on the northbound side. It is supposed to take one year. I commute some on this route and it is as scary as king88 says. I wonder how much more hellish this will be during construction. There really is no other alternative through the Sepulveda pass.

wsexson

Disagree. The honking does not indicate that the OP is donig anything wrong. It only indicates that motorists are asshats.

I can assure you that you could not ride a bicycle on the street around here for a year and a half without getting honked at. In fact, you probably cannot ride a bike around here for an HOUR and a half without getting honked at.

wsexson

YES!

infernobutterfl

Hey, I live and work near by where you work.! hmm.. although i have no experience with Sepulveda, but its the path that parallels the 405 freeway. Try the other ppl's advice and see if it works.

Another way, that I do is that i avoid the busy streets. (yes, I know we don't have to, but its easier for me to just take a less busy street that runs in the same direction.) In my opinion, (and i dont know where you live), take the smaller streets up to the point where sepulveda parallels the freeway. Then it should be easy riding from that point.

In my experience with LA drivers, if they honk me, i take up the entire road, to show them that if they are rude i will not compromise. :-D