Landscaping Trucks in Newport Beach Bike Lanes

http://bikenewportbeach.org/?p=269

This is a typical scenario in Newport Beach, California where marked and signed bike lanes line a few major streets including Newport Coast Drive (pictured here) and San Joaquin Hills Drive. Gardeners, or landscapers, park in the bike lanes in contravention of the City of Newport Beach's ordinance 12.56.060 (12.56.060: Obedience to Signs. When signs are erected on any street or sidewalk giving notice that a portion of that street or sidewalk has been designated as a bicycle lane, no person shall drive, park, or operate any vehicle or any bicycle or other wheeled device or conveyance in any manner contrary to the directions posted on such signs. (Ord. 97-41 § 5 (part), 1997: Ord. 1435 § 4, 1972). Parking in bike lanes is also a violation of California Vehicle Code (CVC) section 21211. I have been informed by the Newport Beach Police Department that the City of Newport Beach issues permits to landscaping companies for 'road closures' to allow these encroachments in the bike lane. Of course, a road closure would be temporary and for an unpredictable event - like moving house, fixing underground infrastructure, a parade... This landscaping is ongoing and results, effectively, in no bike lane. Worse than that, it results in a trap where cyclists think they will have a bike lane, and then are forced in to traffic. Very high speed traffic. The speed limit is 60 MPH on Newport Coast Drive. In case you are wondering, cycling on the sidewalk is prohibited in Newport Beach under ordinance 12.56.030 (12.56.030 Operating Bicycle on Sidewalk: A. Prohibition. No person shall operate or ride a bicycle upon any sidewalk in the City.) In any case, you will notice the sidewalk is blocked by the landscapers. Remember, this is not an isolated event. On any given day, the bike lanes on Newport Coast and San Joaquin Hills Drives are blocked by gardening operations like the one pictured here. Also, notice the '25 MPH When Children Are Present' sign at the end of the video. This is the bike lane children are obliged to use when they ride bikes to the school at the next corner.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Cycling
• Bike
• Lane
• Bicycle
• Safety
• Newport
• Beach
• Parking
• Violation
• Negligence
• CVC
• 21211