Bike lanes on El Camino Real "are finally here"
Scott Mace
Would not have happened without a huge political push by CalBike and
Caltrans.
https://www.mv-voice.com/transportation/2025/05/12/el-camino-bike-lanes-are-finally-here-what-you-need-to-know/
Scott Mace
Pete van Nuys
This segregation insanity is spreading.
Here's the recently updated body count in Cardiff where it's not
just "the strong and fearless" who are crashing on the
manufactured hazards imposed. Casual riders lured into these
cycletraps are even more likely to be injured with claims that
they will make riding safer. This is fear mongering at its worst,
advancing the careers of Badvocates and witless Public Works
employees at bicyclists' expense. And wait until these "channels"
are filled with speeding Emachines, mixing with peds and pedal
cyclists.
Curious quote:
In general, the public can expect to see the flex posts installed where there’s currently solid white “buffer striping,” Ruiz said.
“Aside from the conflict areas, our intention is to provide a separated bikeway – separated from motor traffic,” he said.
This is a confession that these traps do nothing to "protect"
riders from motor traffic in the conflict zones in or approaching
intersections-- where the majority of car/bike collisions occur.
Proof of cycletrack dangers in Cardiff, San Diego County:
For the record, this stretch had zero reported crashes for
years before the Class 4 went in....
——-
1. Wed 4/22/2020: crash reported on Strava by John Keturi Southbound at “the jog”. Keturi was Riding NB in the new bikeway observing all the changes on both sides of the road. On the SB side, at the “S”, he saw a rider appear to hit a curb or something & go down. Keturi continued his ride NB, then turned around by Leucadia. On the return trip SB, he took the sharrow lane because he saw EMT Vehicles at the site of the rider going down.
2. Sun 4/26/20 530am. Cyclist northbound at south end near bottom of descent out of SB. Details in SB Group per Karl Rudnick.
3. Sun 4/26/20 1030am. Northbound about the same location as the 530am crash. Witnessed by Joanna Clinch.
4. Mon 4/27/20: “family of children”. Mentioned in comment by Jacqui Wood in Swamis Group.
5. Wed 4/29/20: reported as #3 by Julie Thunder in Encinitas Votes. Cyclist southbound hits wheel stop at “the jog”. Broken pelvis confirmed by Trish Butler, friend of victim.
6. Wed 4/29/20 “I was riding south, just south of Las Olas, and hit a berm. I was lucky in that I didn't sustain any serious bodily injury, there was a deputy sheriff there who witnessed it, and wrote up a report. I contacted the city of Encinitas who gave me the phone number of the contractor. I called him and he said he'd reimburse me for my destroyed sunglasses and helmet... I'll take my chances with disgruntled drivers, but the bike lane is more dangerous, even now that the berms have been painted. It's apparent that whoever designed this has never ridden a bike.” -Bob Coles
7. Sun 5/03/20: 10 year old boy in bikeway is cut-off by another cyclist, swerves to avoid a pedestrian, and hits a wheel stop which throws him into the traffic lane. Report by parent on the Nextdoor app.
8. Sun 5/03/20: Another child hit wheel stop and crashed reported by Ray Lafleur. “Sunday I had a young boy try to ride through the berms Southbound to avoid walkers. He crashed and took the guy behind him down. We were able to stop in time. This traffic solution is a mess and someone will surely get killed before it is a month old!” “I’m pretty sure it was a different incident. The kid was alone and didn’t end up in the traffic lane.”
9. Wed 5/13/20. Witnessed by Jason Campbell. Documented in Strava. Injuries apparently not serious. Details coming.
10. Tue 5/26/20. Husband of Becky Bourgeois. Southbound just after Chesterfield. Experienced randonneur Len Bourgeois apparently hit a wheel stop when trying to avoid pedestrians in a confusing situation. Aided by surfers. Fractures.
11. Wed 5/27/20. Boyfriend of Jenn Potter witnessed a bike vs ped-w/-surfboard crash aftermath scene. Both males. Northbound side approaching Chesterfield.
12. Wed 6/03/20. Reported by Brad Colbert “On Wednesday I was riding south on the 101, actually in the bike lane and not in the sharrows, just for kicks. A runner was also in the bike lane (we were still in the section with the pedestrian walkway). This runner decided to cross the road (not at a crosswalk), and tripped over one of the "safety" curbs.”
"Danger! It's not just for cyclists anymore."
13. Thur 6/04/20 reported 7am by Bonnie Jo at Encinitas Votes: “Just saw a biker down on coast highway surrounded by his bike buddies. Just passed the ambulance on the way. ☹️”. Also “northbound just south of Kraken”.
NOTE: That’s near the wheel stop I (Serge) nearly hit.
14. 6/09/2020 medical emergency 1035am Reported by Elaine Miller: “guy on an electric unicycle [one wheel skateboard] hit one of the barriers, crashed and Elaine’s husband called 911 who said if he didn’t have to go to the hospital they wouldn’t do anything. A Sheriff gave the guy a ride to the place he was staying. He was scraped up and bloody “
15. Wed 6/24/2020. Per Mark Halprin 6/25 email and follow up email from victim Paula on 6/29. “I was riding [southbound in front of Pacific Coast Grill at 2526 S Coast Highway] behind a friend & slightly to her left while I was talking to her. She exited off the main road onto the bike path. I followed her. The next thing I knew, the pole was in front of me & I knew I was going to hit it. I have attached a photo. I have been outright in saying that my attention was not what it should be. However, people have said to me: yes, but you did not expect a pole to be there!” Injuries: “Minor (road-rash on right knee & right elbow, bruised right hip)”
16. Fri July 3, 2020. Cyclist avoiding cycle trap hit from behind by car just after sunset while riding in sharrow lane southbound climbing hill just past Seaside beach entrance. Reported by Julie Thunder as witnessed by her daughter.
NOTE: Class IV Bikeway is a factor here because it caused removal of Class II bike lane where cyclist would not have been hit. Cyclist never identified nor was the extent their injuries.
17. Fri July 10, 2020. Bike vs ped crash apparently due to sand in cycle trap. See: https://seeclickfix.com/issues/8164906
18. Thu July 29, 2020. Injury crash due to construction fencing snagging the handlebar of a bike. Reported by Michael Faulstich. Because of the obstacles there is no way to keep a safe distance if you choose to ride in the trap.
https://seeclickfix.com/issues/8286814
19. July 29/30: Per Kara Kline Buczek:
“My sister in law, who is an avid cyclist, was visiting from out of town and brought her bike here to bike. She grew up here and knows the area but now lives out of state. Last Wednesday or Thursday, July 29/30, she was riding her bike northbound and in front of Kai’s and hit one of the new curb things with her tire. She said the bike path curves slightly at that point. She fell hard and was banged up very badly but did not require a trip to the hospital. A nurse was nearby and helped bandage her up and stayed with her until we were able to pick her up. Her bike was unrideable and repairs to her bike are around $750. She also hit her head and tweaked her back. Fortunately, she is recovering. “
Note by Serge: I almost hit this same particular wheel stop a couple of months ago. Totally agree the gap preceding on a curve is pathological.
20. Monday, August 3: Per Lisa S. Rothemund and Bob Chapman: Female cyclist down today at 1:45pm. South bound in the bike way in the section after the Cardiff Kook and bridge but before Pacific Coast Grill. Her pedal evidently got caught up in the orange construction fence. Paramedics were on the scene and the rider had a neck brace on. She was transported by ambulance.
21. Friday, September 4 2020 12:45 pm per Julie Thunder: my friend Bill just called to tell me a cyclist was down and paramedics are on the scene. Southbound, between the Kook and the lagoon outlet bridge. I hope the person is ok 😞. Paramedic EFD call at 12:25pm confirmed on PulsePoint app.
Also Paul Chintawat: I drove by just around that time (12:30pm-ish). It was southbound just north of the bridge. The right lane was closed due to construction of the new ped walkway. There was one of those big <<< signs to close the lane. Two cars were stopped with flashers on in the right lane and two cyclists, looked like one injured.
22. Monday Nov 02. Per Bob Chapman: Riding north today in the bike lane right before Chesterfield. My friend turned because he thought he heard a car moving over to the right and boom, hit a wheel stop and went down. Fortunately no serious injury or damage to his bike.

23. Thursday Dec 10 am. Cyclist down northbound approaching Chesterfield. Details unknown except paramedics called. Witnessed by Loraine Gruber.
More info from Bob Chapman:
I just found out that on Dec 10th one of the guys in my riding group went down hard riding north just before Chesterfield. Among other injuries he was knocked unconscious but remembers hitting a wheel stop after being pressured by a car merging into the right lane. This is the second guy in my group to have a crash in that area where cars have that short window to get into the right turn lane. ... [I will check and see how he feels about sharing his name]. I think he broke his pelvis and possibly shoulder.
24. Sat Dec 26 2020. Per Richard Whittington:
Crash southbound today at about 10:45 am. As many of you know the area just past the light at the Pacific Coast and Grill is pretty busy, pedestrians, families going the wrong way, electric bikes rushing by as the light changes, it’s a bit of a s@@t show.
Today an experienced cyclist was caught by the first green post before the wheel stops start. She went down hard, but didn’t require an ambulance. Was treated by state lifeguards and the kind kitchen staff of Pacific coast and Grill gave her ice.
They mentioned crashes there were frequent often caused by sand on the road.
This stretch of road, especially South bound is a continued nightmare with drivers now speeding and cutting into the sharrows. The lifeguard said increasingly accidents also being caused by riders cutting in and out of the bike trap too.
I hope they fix this soon before a death
https://www.facebook.com/groups/556935515245051/permalink/734606724144595/
Update: Alisa Calderon Harris identified herself as the victim.
25. Tue Jul 13 2021. Hit n run car-bike crash southbound by restaurants. Few details known. According to witnesses an ambulance took the cyclist but their injuries were apparently not too serious. Hopefully more details will become available.
26. Mon Sep 6 2021 (Labor Day) 3:40pm. Photo of fallen cyclist and paramedics northbound at Chesterfield posted by David Fitzgibbons. Paramedic call shown on PulsePoint.
27. Tue Oct 5, 2021. 4:30pm. Details unknown but reportedly one cyclist hit and two vehicles involved, northbound just north of Seaside beach, one vehicle crossing wheel stop barrier and bikeway and ending up in lagoon.
28. Wed Mar 23, 2022. 2pm. Steve Meiche avoiding slower northbound bike traffic in the trap is riding the sharrows in the #2 lane when driver from behind notices him so late that, though she swerves to avoid him at the last possible moment, he is nicked and pushed in the left arm by her car’s right side mirror. Miraculously, and skilz, he doesn’t go down.
29. Sat July 16, 2022, morning, about 9am. Cyclist riding northbound with Rhonda Addington “did not see physical barriers near the south end”. Front wheel struck a wheel stop causing him to crash. Broken wrist. Ambulance. Crash aftermath (ambulance, fire truck) witnessed by Dave Wolfson who says he “was northbound there around 9 or 9:15am when I saw it.”
30. Sat Aug 27, 2022. 8am
"Is there any news about an accident on the northbound 101 between Solana Beach and Cardiff that happened yesterday (8/27) at around 8:00am? I witnessed an ambulance drive off right around then. There was a fire truck parked behind a small grey sedan, both parked in the first (right) car lane (sharrow lane) and a number of people talking / being interviewed. Later, riding northbound, I saw a police officer marking the scene with pink spray paint noting various items in the pavement including what appeared to be evidence of someone being injured. I couldn't find any report or anything about it. This was just north of [Seaside Beach]." Kelsey Mullen
"it was a [cyclist] going down and injured badly enough to require the ambulance. We stopped by and waited for help to arrive. I believe it was regarding a pedestrian with a dog in the bikeway that precipitated the cyclist crashing." Marco Nicoli
31. Mon Aug 14, 2023.
This guy named Fred James from San Clemente wasn't familiar with the wild assortment of traffic furniture offered by the World Famous Cardiff Meat Grinder, so as he passes me (and glances in my direction) near the entrance to Cardiff State Beach, the berms took him out...
The Cardiff Meat Grinder Strikes Again
Or:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/iDjitdzxNy9yAFTY9
He landed pretty well considering how scary the fall was (almost took out my back wheel!), and there were lots of people (including a lifeguard) offering assistance. Last I heard he was at the ER waiting for X-ray results.
𝒟𝒶𝓃
32. Sun Mar 17, 2024
A 48 year old male was found a little after midnight in the northbound cycle track with bicycle nearby. No sign of vehicle involvement. He died on the scene from his injuries despite paramedic efforts.
“Someone found the 48-year-old man lying on the ground in a bike lane on South Coast Highway south of Chesterfield Drive near the Chart House restaurant and called 911 around 12:07 a.m., sheriff’s Lt. Zheath Sanchez said. A bike was found nearby. Deputies and paramedics attempted life-saving measures, but the man died before he could be taken to a hospital.”
“According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to a call reporting that a bicyclist was down in the 2700 block of S. Coast Highway 101 shortly after midnight.
“Upon their arrival, deputies found a 48-year-old man and a bicycle in the northbound bike lane area of the road. Paramedics attempted life saving measures but the man was pronounced dead at the scene, SDSO confirmed.
…
“There was no apparent indication or evidence of a collision with a vehicle located at the scene”
https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local-news/north-county/bicyclist-found-dead-along-encinitas-roadway/
ENCINITAS — A 48-year-old man on a bicycle was killed today in Encinitas, authorities said.
Deputies were dispatched around 12:10 a.m. Sunday to a call of a bicyclist down in the 2700 block of South Coast Highway 101, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.
“Medics attempted life-saving measures, but the man unfortunately died from his injuries,” the department reported.
The victim’s name was being withheld pending notification of his next of kin, but he was believed to be a resident of Encinitas, according to a statement from the department.
The cause of the accident was under investigation. No indication or evidence of a collision with a vehicle was located at the scene, the department said.
Authorities urged anyone with information about the death to call the sheriff’s department at 760-966-3500.
https://thecoastnews.com/bicyclist-dies-from-injuries-on-coast-highway-in-encinitas/
NOTE: Ki's address is 2591. Las Olas is the southernmost restaurant at2655. So 2700 is south of Las Olas.
“I saw the man down with first responders all around on my way home from the bellyup. It was right by seaside beach on the mauka side of the 101.” —Aaron Hebsi (on FB)
33. 10/05/2024 As reported by Karl Rudnick on fb:
Cardiff Injury Crash on Saturday, Oct 5 2024. NCCC (North County Cycle Club) ride leader Ken suffered a broken clavicle, 5 broken ribs, a concussion and mild brain bleeding after striking a curb stop biking northbound near the Kraken. He was thrown into the vehicle lane and remembered nothing until he awoke in the hospital where he spent the night.
Ken was acting as sweep, shepherding stragglers on their return. Another NCCC rider observed Ken having a moment of inattention turning his head to the right to talk to another non-NCCC rider as they approached the Kraken. Had the traffic furniture not been there, he probably wouldn't have ventured left of the middle of the buffer. Ken is an experienced rider who has ridden this corridor dozens of times, so this is not a case of “learning curve.” Should a moment of inattention be penalized by serious injuries requiring follow-up CT scans to ensure his brain is healthy? In the photo, you can see the curb stop has been struck several times by vehicles. Furthermore, the paint is old and faded, which reduces visibility for all cyclists.
One of the State Park guys told NCCC riders that ever since they reconfigured that section with the bicycle curbs and weird parking on the west side, it's been one crash after another. Ken pleads for the removal of all curb stops, at a minimum, along this corridor.
https://facebook.com/groups/556935515245051/permalink/1592023908402868
34. 3/13/2025 FB user “Annie Ofthesea”, identified as Annie Brightman in this article in the Coast News, describes her own crash: I have been bike commuting through cardiff for about three months now from Encinitas to La Jolla. I finally ate shit on one of those curbs around the bike lane between the Reef and Seaside. Had to ride in the road lane due to padestrians and tried to swerve back into the bike lane to get out of the way of a car (who was trying to pass me with their mirror about hitting my handle bars). Hit it so hard it bent the crap out of my peddle and I lost my back tire. Got lucky that I did not end up in the road. Definitely not an ideal set up for cars, pedestrians or bikes.
35. 4/24/2025 Renee Robinson reported this in a comment in this thread: “There was another crash today in the track, heading south. A friend saw a woman cyclist down on the ground, FD was on scene. About 11:25ish today. I believe it was before the exit for the beach parking.” This was recorded as an emergency call.
36. 4/29/2025 Herb Chin, an experienced cyclist who has ridden up and down the 101 countless times, was apparently momentarily distracted during the gap in the barrier just south of Ki's, glanced off it and went down. He told witnesses he was fine but could not identify the current president or year. As far as we know he's okay but is under medical observation to be sure.
Per Stephen Stewart:
Northbound just south of Ki’s restaurant this am. Several witnesses (doctor and retired paramedic) saw it from Ki’s and came out immediately. Concussion, bruises and abrasions on hip. MRI and CT scan performed at hospital and cleared. Herb didn’t remember the crash and didn’t know current president at crash site.
[Herb is a] Friend of ours that rides it every Tuesday. Same location as Ken’s (NC3 ride lead) crash.
Per Douglas C. Hoffman:
"He's pretty beat up, concussion but no brain bleed or fluid. Big hip hematoma and lots of raspberries. He doesn't remember the actual accident. He is a long time rider (decades of experience), rides that route often."
37. 5/11/2025 Ron Medak encountered a woman on NB 101 in Cardiff who had recently crashed. “We sat down and talked for a few minutes and she explained that she had partially lost control in a sandy area and then veered toward the left, hitting one of the asphalt wheel blocks, striking her head sharply and besides dizziness, complained of blurry vision and some lost of hearing”.
Link to full post.
David Takemoto-Weerts
Caltrans plans to use a product from Qwick Kurb [The Premier Traffic Lane Separator | QWICK KURB] which will involve a raised curb that has vertical flex posts coming out of it, Ruiz said.
Known as a “curb channelizing system,” Ruiz said that having the posts attached to a curb makes it “a lot beefier” than the flex posts people might be familiar with.
“That plastic curb component was a key factor in why we decided to go with that device, based on feedback we heard from some of the city staff and bike stakeholders,” Ruiz said.
The plan is to install the separators along much of the length of the bike lanes, with the exception of “conflict points.” These are areas where drivers will need to cross the path of bicyclists, including driveways, bus stops and intersections.
In general, the public can expect to see the flex posts installed where there’s currently solid white “buffer striping,” Ruiz said.
“Aside from the conflict areas, our intention is to provide a separated bikeway – separated from motor traffic,” he said.
Why wasn’t there additional protection added for bikers?
Some bicyclists wanted to see greater separation between cyclists and cars. Asked why Caltrans opted for flex posts, rather than something more substantial, Ruiz said that cost was a very real factor.
He added that these bike lanes are being installed as part of an existing repaving project, rather than this being a standalone initiative. With the flex posts, there may also be room for refining the design down the line, allowing for changes to be made more cost effectively, Ruiz said.
David Takemoto-Weerts
Davis, CA
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