Cyclist's Woodside death sparks push to reduce speeds

[Scott Mace]

Cyclist's death sparks push to reduce speeds

By Adriana Hernandez, Daily Post Staff Writer

Palo Alto Daily Post, February 9, 2026

Woodside council tomorrow will consider setting a 25 mph speed limit at
the four corners intersection by Alice's Restaurant, following the death
of a bicyclist five months ago.

Andy and Jamie Kerr, owners of Alice's Restaurant, started a petition to
lower the speed limit from 40 mph at the intersection of Skyline and La
Honda roads, following a meeting where Caltrans said it would only
install a stop sign. Caltrans is looking to improve the intersection
after Eric Biron, 53, of Redwood City, was hit by a pickup truck on Aug.
29 at the intersection, near Alice's Restaurant, and died after being
taken to Stanford Hospital.

543 signatures

After Woodside officials held a meeting in October to gather residents'
input, the Kerr brothers set up a petition for drivers who supported
lowering the speed limit to sign near the intersection.

The brothers submitted the petition to Town Manager Jason Ledbetter on
Jan. 6, with 543 signatures.

Andy Kerr said at the October meeting that La Honda roads have become a
race track and wants the speed limit lowered for law enforcement to be
more active in the area. Jamie Kerr said he was amazed at how fast
people drive through the intersection.

The Kerr brothers wanted Caltrans' improvements to be more effective
than just installing a stop sign, Ledbetter told the Post.

Some drivers are going 50 mph

"If you're doing 40, which is the supposed speed limit, some people are
doing 50," Kerr said during the meeting. "Traffic (has) just gotten
worse, and the small towns have really taken the brunt of it."

Andy and Jamie Kerr's petition has to be approved by council for
Caltrans to consider their request, according to Ledbetter. The petition
was signed not only by Woodside residents but also by Portola Valley
residents, Ledbetter said.

Lowering the speed limit will make it safer for bicyclists and
pedestrians, according to the petition.

County Supervisor Ray Mueller, who also attended the October meeting,
recommended Caltrans District 4 Director David Ambuehl install a
four-way sign at the intersection and flashing yellow lights to provided
additional precaution for motorcyclists and bicyclists.

Inder Preet Singh, acting chief safety officer for Caltrans, said at the
meeting that plans are to add more stop and warning signs to help people
better navigate and anticipate where and when cars are going. There are
also plans to replace deteriorating signs, repaint streets, and add a
flashing beacon crosswalk.

Woodside council will meet tomorrow to vote on whether to approve the
request to Caltrans.

[Serge Issakov]

Speed limits have little effect on traffic speeds.

Road design governs traffic speed much more than numbers on signs.

Serge

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[Scott Mace]

In recent years, Caltrans has built many roundabouts all over rural California, and even in some suburban locations. Seems to me this intersection is a prime candidate for one. It's Caltrans property, and that's been enough lately to overrule local preferences. The lower speed limits come with the new infrastructure.

Scott Mace

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[Alan Forkosh]

THis is an intersection of two State Highways: Highway 35 (Skyline B.) and Highway 84 (La Honda Rd). It’s at a saddle point (it;s a low spot on 35 and a summit on 84). It’s insane to me that only Highway 35 has a stop sign, while traffic on highway 84, which has the complete right-of-way.  A round-about appears to make sense, although it would probably involve using a portion of the parking lot of the trading post on the northwest corner. I’-ve attached an overhead view from Apple Maps.

Alan Forkosh                    Oakland, CA
afor...@mac.com

https://al4kosh.com

On Feb 11, 2026, at 4:47 PM, Scott Mace <sc...@wiredmuse.com> wrote:

In recent years, Caltrans has built many roundabouts all over rural California, and even in some suburban locations. Seems to me this intersection is a prime candidate for one. It's Caltrans property, and that's been enough lately to overrule local preferences. The lower speed limits come with the new infrastructure.

Scott Mace

On 2/10/2026 8:28 PM, Serge Issakov wrote:

Speed limits have little effect on traffic speeds.

Road design governs traffic speed much more than numbers on signs.

Serge

[Pete Penseyres]

You are correct Scott. The roundabout that was constructed at 76 and Valley Center Road had plenty of local resistance, but with the full support of the San Diego Bicycle Coalition and many others, the more expensive roundabout won over the traffic light option. 

Pete Penseyres

League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructor #2020

https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/caboforum/e3027497-59db-42c2-a65f-52c2037461d6%40wiredmuse.com

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