New bike sign doesn’t sit well with one driver in the Santa Cruz Mountains on San Jose-Soquel Road.
On the Santa Cruz ride I enjoyed one of my favorite descents — San Jose-Soquel Road. It’s not too steep and not too twisty so you can go at a fast pace, up to about 40 mph.
It was here that I saw for the first time the “May Use Full Lane” signs I referred to in a previous post. Someone isn’t too keen on the signs and made his feelings known. Red paint would have stood out better.
Please don’t take the sign to mean “cyclists should use full lane.” It says may use full lane. I always keep to the right unless there’s something unusual on the side of the road forcing me to take the lane. Where these signs will be most useful is on busy roads where it may not be safe for a car to pass a bike going at high speed. I noticed the sign is also posted on flat sections or even short climbs, which to me seems odd.
While riding on El Rancho Drive who do I see but Bob Anderson, former publisher of Runner’s World magazine (where I worked), out running and going the opposite direction. We waved and went on our way. It’s a small world.
Rest home for carnival booty. Seen on San Jose-Soquel Road. Always wondered what happened to Santa Cruz Boardwalk prizes.
February 24, 2013 at 7:18 pm |
The sign modification is consistent with the behavior of some motorists on that road.