marquhar

As reported today (May 22) on BikinginLA | A two-wheeled guide to the streets of Los Angeles, the lead rider in a group ride, misjudged the trail path and ended up falling down the channel wall.

One of the commenters posted this Jpeg:
https://websites-graphics.biz/files/c...eek_hazard.jpg

I have recently posted about dangerous behavior in group rides, downstream from this area.

Anyone riding the CCRT or the SGRT should never ride alone at speed or lead a group here until they have carefully reconned these trails and know when extra caution is warranted.

I live near the accident site and I go out of my way to avoid this section of the CCRT. I take Wardlow westbound to Studebaker and go south. Its not surprising that the Lightning Velo club normally uses Studebaker too, although I see smaller groups of their members entering and exiting the SGRT at College Park Dr, near Edison Park.

CCRT Construction in La Mirada
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Today, while riding Hillsborough-Beach Blvd in La Mirada I saw an asphalt pour in progress for a new extension of the bike path, south of Hillsborough. I think I heard that its a $1.5M project. The work is north of the I-5.

Brad W

I and a couple of buddies ride this trail just about every weekend for years and even-though the CCRT does have some rough parts to it a rider who is aware and alert will have no problems negotiating these spots unless he concentrating more on his speed and time than his surrounding.

I wish the rider well and a full recovery.

Brad

mwandaw

I posted the image linked in the original post, and I certainly agree with those who have said that caution and common sense should be used.

I also want to point out that even on quiet back country roads there are guard rails or reflectors wherever there is a curve with a dropoff on the side. The same standard should be applied to bike routes.

cdp8

I must disagree with Marquhar. How could anyone miss that bridge in broad daylight? By not looking where they are going, that's how. Was he chatting with his buddies, grinding with his head down or scrolling through his Garmin? I've been riding that trail for 12 years and have never heard about anyone being injured there. The bridge does have bollards to keep the motos off and there are a couple of turns involved, so it's not an area that a peloton of Lance wannabes can speed through; that is likely why lighting velo avoids it (too bad they don't avoid MUPs altogether IMO those guys are the biggest hazard out there). One accident does not a dangerous condition make. I bet more cagers have hit cyclists on the surrounding streets than cyclists have ridden off the path there.

Heading downstream to the bridge, the pavement is broken and rutted, so high speeds are reckless at best. However, it is flat for quite a distance and the bridge and the 45 degree curve to it are clearly visible. I think Bob's diagram is a bit alarmist, none of the turns are blind.

Bob also suggested a fence. If the guy was not paying enough attention to see a bridge, why would we expect him to see a fence? What if there was a person walking a baby stroller or someone had fallen on the path? Both of which I see on CCT from time to time.

I really hope he makes a full recovery.

Dunbar

I don't know but two days ago I was about five bike lengths behind a guy on a very expensive road bike who collided with an oncoming rider on the Ballona Creek path. He took an inside line in the (blind) corner pictured below that was occupied by an oncoming rider. He slowed quite a bit before the impact so I think he was fine. He would be riding towards the camera in the photo below going from left to right. Bike paths can be dangerous places if you're not careful. Although you're much less likely to be killed on a bike path than out on the roads.

Jan Feetz

Hope the rider is going to recover....but how is his precious Carbon Fiber bike?? Probably another newbie........

lyrictenor1

I agree with Marquhar: Although it is easy to spot the bridge, the change in path texture/color contrast makes this section hard to negotiate, even in daylight. Every time I ride through there I think to myself how easy it would be to miss the initial Turner to get the sharp right-hander after the bridge wrong and go down the embankment. Fencing and signage should be a minimum there.

Dunbar

Middle aged guy in immaculate kit. He didn't look like a newbie. To be fair, I see people doing the same thing all the time but he just got unlucky. He braked hard to <10mph before running into the other guy then basically fell over because couldn't clip out. Nothing more cringe-worthy than hearing a $7-8k bike hitting pavement. I think the front carbon clincher took the brunt of the impact. If he fell over the right way both he and his frame should be fine.

lyrictenor1

Agreed.