How dangerous is PCH South from LAX to Warner?
 

Looking for another route to OC from the San Fernando Valley. Last time I used the beach bike path much of the way and it was not fun--too many obstacles, and Palos Verdes was a pain. So now I want to just stay on Sepulveda to PCH all the way down to Newport. I've read (and recall vaguely from doing it myself) that PCH is fine from Warner-south, but how is it before Warner? Am thinking of doing it Sunday morning, so would probably be starting on PCH at around 8:00-8:30 am. Would appreciate any insight and better alternatives. Thanks.

Have you asked in the regional forum? Less chance of the thread getting buried there.

There's a nice chunk of PCH that goes through Wilmington and the crappiest part of Long Beach. This part of the road is not very cyclist friendly--lots of cars parked on the side of the road, not much room to ride, and lots of semi-trucks. But, of course, it's still possible. Either way, I would certainly not recommend doing that ride at night.

Thanks. Do you know if any of the parallel streets in those areas are any better?

Hit that stretch in the morning on a weekend before all of the smog and congestion, before 10AM -- and you should be fine. I rode through it on my way to SD one weekend and it wasn't bad. Pretty fugly for sure, though.

I've done that route several times. The weekend usually has much less traffic.

I strongly caution you not to take Sepulveda under the airport. Much safer to head south on Century to Aviation Blvd, then south on Aviation until it intersects PCH in Hermosa Beach. Then continue on PCH all the way to San Clemente.

Well you need to take PCH to get across the river but as soon as you cross the river and into Long Beach you can pretty much make a right turn at any point and head down to Ocean Blvd or even the strand on the beach itself if you feel like it. It's all downhill to get to the beach so it's no big deal. Basically, in Long Beach, the closer you are to the beach the better off you are. Just use google maps to figure out a route that suits you.