How long before somebody challenges Woodsides permit process?
Mike Jacoubowsky
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/250566 and notice it's yet another ride
forced to descend Kings Mtn Road instead of the considerably-safer
(less-challenging) Highway 84. My assumption is that this is yet another
ride that the town of Woodside deemed unworthy of riding through town.
This has been going on for YEARS. We keep hearing noise from "people who
know such things" that what Woodside is doing isn't legal and wouldn't
hold up in court. But it's never been challenged, at least as far as I
know.
We have benefit rides for all manner of worthy causes. Maybe we should
have benefit rides for cyclists. Build up a legal war chest and take on
the town. Could be that just the fundraising activity alone might spur
change.
Lots of questions. The only answers I can give right now involve rides
that have challenging descents towards the end of a long day in the
saddle (Page Mill and Kings). Bad things often happen.
--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
C.H. Luu
I wouldn't ride on Skyline during peak hours, as it simply doesn't
have a large enough shoulder. In addition, there are a number of
idiots that continuously think of that road as the Infineon Race
Track. As a matter of fact, you filmed a perfect example, some months
ago. Rode from Kings Mt. Road to Hwy 84 around 8:30am some months
back and had perhaps two or three cars pass me by (saw your group
descend Hwy 84 as I enjoyed a very filling breakfast at Alice's). If
the majority of manage to descend Hwy 84 by mid morning, they
shouldn't encounter much traffic.
It's going to be a different story in the afternoon as the beach goers
will most likely return via Hwy84. Perhaps the city of Woodside
wishes to avoid any bicycle/car "incidents." Most of us, either on
bike or behind the wheel, will be tired. It will be safer if each
group goes down via separate ways. I absolutely hate descending Kings
Mountain Road. The surface isn't smooth until the very bottom and
it's quite technical. I often see cyclists descend that road at
unsafe speeds. The road does have a number of drive ways. You simply
couldn't stop in time if a car pulled out. IMHO, Hwy 9 and Hwy 84 are
really the only two roads that you can descend at speed, with relative
safety.
Claude
P.S. For a really enjoyable descent, go down Hwy 9 to Hwy 236 and
then head down to Big Basin Park. Long sweeping curves and smooth
surfaces make for a fun and fast descent.
jcdill
> I just looked at the course for the Palo Alto Granfondo -
> http://ridewithgps.com/routes/250566 and notice it's yet another ride
> forced to descend Kings Mtn Road instead of the considerably-safer
> (less-challenging) Highway 84.
It *could* be because 84 is a State Highway, and not just the politics
of the Town of Woodside at play here. I'd find out for sure, before
trying to challenge the Town. It could be a futile effort to challenge
the Town, only to find out that there are State regulations and Policies
at play in this issue.
jc
SMS
> I just looked at the course for the Palo Alto Granfondo -
> http://ridewithgps.com/routes/250566 and notice it's yet another ride
> forced to descend Kings Mtn Road instead of the considerably-safer
> (less-challenging) Highway 84. My assumption is that this is yet another
> ride that the town of Woodside deemed unworthy of riding through town.
> This has been going on for YEARS. We keep hearing noise from "people who
> know such things" that what Woodside is doing isn't legal and wouldn't
> hold up in court. But it's never been challenged, at least as far as I
> know.
It's not just people that "know such things" even Woodside's own
attorney advised the Woodside town council that the permitting law for
bicycle rides was unconstitutional.
The city chose to keep the permit process in place until someone
challenged it, knowing that they would probably lose if it was ever
challenged.
The problem is that there is no one willing to put up the money to
challenge it. There is no equivalent of the Electronic Frontier
Foundation for bicyclists.