"Sharrows," [...]]]> San Onofre State Park- Immediately south of San Clemente, “San O’” provides us with a mostly car-free cycling route parallel to the I-5. Built along historic US Hwy. 101, the park offers campers and day use visitors the chance to enjoy natural beaches and bluff top habitat, preserving California the way nature made her.

"Sharrows," sharing arrows remind motorists that cyclists must use the right hand lane when bike lanes end. This installation is at one of the historic 4-lane bridges on Old Hwy. 101.

You enter San Onofre State Park the instant you turn off Christanitos and head down the trail to Trestles. South of Basilone Rd. the old 4 lane highway is posted 45 MPH, and serves Edison’s nuclear power plant with thousands of employees working three shifts daily. South of the plant the park’s 15 MPH limit calms traffic somewhat. Rangers ask that cyclists respect other park users and watch for vehicles and pedestrians on the road, all of whom are in a relaxed and less observant state of mind.

Cyclists are one of the largest year ‘round park users, yet we pay no entry fees. Peloton riders must keep their speed in check lest the rangers make good on their threat to place Stop signs at every restroom.

Southern California Edison pays to maintain the highway and bike lanes from Basilone Rd. to the campground. OCBC and San Clemente bicycle advocates have worked with park Superintendent Richard Haydon, the San Onofre Foundation, and Edison to improve signs and highway striping for bicyclists. We congratulate Edison on their bold use of sharrows at the old bridges, reminding motorists that bicyclists must use the right hand lane whenever the bike lane ends. With dwindling state funds for park maintenance, Edison’s commitment to San Onofre is much appreciated.

…and their contributions help OCBC make Orange County a better place to ride!

The Video is now on Sale. Check out the trailer now.

Chasing Legends gives you cycling heroes as you’ve never seen them before, through an intense and personal glimpse inside the most winning professional cycling team as [...]]]>

Limited posters available at the event!

…and their contributions help OCBC make Orange County a better place to ride!

The Video is now on Sale. Check out the trailer now.

Chasing Legends gives you cycling heroes as you’ve never seen them before, through an intense and personal glimpse inside the most winning professional cycling team as told by legendary riders, current and past.

92 uninterrupted minutes of lung searing action.

Using a multitude of high tech, high def cameras mounted on bikes, motorcycles, helicopters and team cars, Gripped Films will also include historical race footage, artistic travelogue of the European countryside and villages with narration from the voice of cycling for the USA, Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen.

Commentary from Eddy Merckx, Phil Liggett, Paul Sherwen, Jens Voigt, Lance Armstrong, George Hincapie, Mark Cavendish and many others. Chasing Legends highlights today’s greatest professional cyclists with a dramatic show of teamwork and panache from Team HTC-Columbia through the 2009 Tour de France– an absolutely epic ride into the race action.

Please bring your PayPal receipt with you for admittance.

This route follows the railroad and Oso Creek along the historic alignment of US 101. The original highway was ripped out when the I-5 freeway, and later, a sewage treatment plant were built. But by using the stairs at the Aliso Viejo Metrolink Station and the service [...]]]> No climbing. Direct connection, Laguna Hills to the beach.

This route follows the railroad and Oso Creek along the historic alignment of US 101. The original highway was ripped out when the I-5 freeway, and later, a sewage treatment plant were built. But by using the stairs at the Aliso Viejo Metrolink Station and the service road over Oso Creek, bicyclists can still enjoy the lowest at-grade route between inland Orange County and Doheny Beach.

Cabot Rd. below Rapid Falls

Camino Capistrano south of the Metrolink station.

Google Earth image of Oso Creek service road.

At La Paz Rd. ride:

South     Cabot Rd.

At Rapid Falls (signal):

Left        onto service road

Cross     Oso Creek on service road

Exit       through gate, and

South     onto Forbes Rd.

Cross Crown Valley Pkwy.

Left into Metrolink dropoff

Walk downstairs, under tracks

Right south, Camino Capistrano

Continue into San Juan Capistrano

– to Doheny S.P. and the beach –

Continue on Camino Capistrano, or
Jog Right   Oso Rd.

Left      de la Vista, to end

Left      San Juan Creek trail to the beach

Riders of Silence stretch for half a mile on Alton Parkway Wednesday night.

MAY 19 – IRVINE Wednesday night’s Ride of Silence in Irvine attracted hundreds of road and mountain bikers who toured a 9 mile route which included Alton Pkwy., one of the city’s busiest arterials. With Irvine police protecting the intersections the silent [...]]]>

Riders of Silence stretch for half a mile on Alton Parkway Wednesday night.

MAY 19 – IRVINE Wednesday night’s Ride of Silence in Irvine attracted hundreds of road and mountain bikers who toured a 9 mile route which included Alton Pkwy., one of the city’s busiest arterials. With Irvine police protecting the intersections the silent peleton rolled mostly two abreast, riders’ black armbands reminding motorists of the event’s intent: a tribute to bicyclists killed or injured by drivers who fail to safely share the road.
It was a sad reason to hold what was otherwise a beautiful twilight ride. After winding along Alton Pkwy., riders turned onto the regional bike trail to return along San Diego Creek through Windrow and Civic Center Parks to City Hall.
Irvine is one of 310 cities worldwide which held a Ride of Silence this year.

Reprinted from the Secretary’s blog, Fastlane. To read the whole story, click here.

By now you may have heard about my “tabletop speech” at the National Bike Summit last week.

If you missed the summit or want to relive the excitement, here’s some footage [...]]]>

US Sec'y of Transporation, Ray LaHood addresses bike advocates in DC, Monday.

Reprinted from the Secretary’s blog, Fastlane. To read the whole story, click here.

By now you may have heard about my “tabletop speech” at the National Bike Summit last week.

If you missed the summit or want to relive the excitement, here’s some footage courtesy of Streetsblog SF; it’s a bit jumpy, but that seems entirely consistent with the scene.

Somewhere in the frenzy, I managed to thank summit-goers for being such effective advocates for livable, sustainable, bike-friendly communities.

Well, that was fun, but the dust has settled and I have news. The crowd’s enthusiasm was so contagious, the idea of introducing a major policy revision in that setting quickly evaporated.

Today, I want to announce a sea change. People across America who value bicycling should have a voice when it comes to transportation planning. This is the end of favoring motorized transportation at the expense of non-motorized.

We are integrating the needs of bicyclists in federally-funded road projects. We are discouraging transportation investments that negatively affect cyclists and pedestrians. And we are encouraging investments that go beyond the minimum requirements and provide facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.

To set this approach in motion, we have formulated key recommendations for state DOTs and communities:

• Treat walking and bicycling as equals with other transportation modes.
• Ensure convenient access for people of all ages and abilities.
• Go beyond minimum design standards.
• Collect data on walking and biking trips.
• Set a mode share target for walking and bicycling.
• Protect sidewalks and shared-use paths the same way roadways are protected (for example, snow removal)
• Improve nonmotorized facilities during maintenance projects.

Now, this is a start, but it’s an important start. These initial steps forward will help us move forward even further.

And the Obama Administration hasn’t been sitting idle on the bike front this past year either.

Just last month through our TIGER program, we funded major bicycle projects in Indianapolis and in the Philadelphia-Camden-Trenton region.

And our ongoing inter-agency DOT-EPA-HUD partnership on sustainable communities actively encourages planning for walkability and bikability. We think livability means giving folks the flexibility to choose their own mobility.

Look, bike projects are relatively fast and inexpensive to build and are environmentally sustainable; they reduce travel costs, dramatically improve safety and public health, and reconnect citizens with their communities.

So, thank you to the League of American Bicyclists and all those who gave me such a raucous welcome the other night.

Last year’s summit was something; this year was something else. I can’t even imagine what next year’s gathering will produce, but I know I want to be part of it.

This Web site is dedicated to you, the Orange County bicyclist. It’s here because, while cycling is growing faster now than it has in 20 years, riding in OC is not all green lights and blue skies.

Like cyclists throughout America, we face challenges: