LUMBERYARD LOGS: Cyclists taking it to the streets

Critical Mass is coming to Laguna Beach on Saturday. What is Critical Mass? You’ll know what it is when you see a bunch of bicyclists riding all over town. And don’t be surprised if some of them are wearing clown costumes. (Update: See below for route.)

It’s a parade — a spontaneous movement of the two-wheeled kind — and no one knows how many will show up to be in it.

A “critical mass,” according to Michael Hoag, an alternative-transport advocate, is when energy reaches a certain point and a powerful reaction occurs. That tells you something about what organizers are hoping for.

“Critical Mass raises the consciousness of City Hall that people on bicycles are important,” Hoag said. “We want it to be safe to ride a bicycle [in Laguna Beach].”

In other cities, Critical Mass bicycle rallies have resulted in massive traffic jams and police response; some riders have been arrested, even roughed up.

But that won’t happen in Laguna Beach, if those who put out the call for a “third Saturday of the month” mass ride in Laguna have anything to say about it.

Organizers don’t want to tie up traffic, but they do want to get couch potatoes off their couches and let the city know that bicycling is good for the environment and for health. And most importantly, to begin to establish a safe “bikeway” through Laguna.

Being a cyclist myself, I was delighted when, moving here from Los Angeles, I discovered a whole world of dedicated, paved, bike paths through local parks and wilderness.

But cycling in Laguna? Not so much. And most of the cycling folks I’ve met here feel the same way.

Laguna not bike-friendly

Lagunan Roger Taylor, who has crossed the country on a bike and ridden in AIDS rides, and even takes his bike on camping trips, is one of a number of bicycling enthusiasts who are frustrated that Laguna Beach is so bike-unfriendly.

The city’s official “bikeway” is on the Coast Highway, a road so dangerous for non-motorists it is dubbed “slaughter alley” by some.

Taylor is chairman of the Bicycle Assn. of South Orange County, which came into being about five years ago to push for better bicycling in the area. The group has gotten little for its efforts in Laguna Beach. Whereas other cities — Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano, for instance — have dedicated bikeways that are separated from fast-moving highway traffic, the best Laguna can do is a bike path with painted lines that do not always stay the course.

An attempt to establish a bike route three years ago foundered in City Council, after being endorsed by the Parking/Traffic/Circulation Committee.

“Bike riders love Laguna but it is dangerous to ride here,” Taylor said. “So we tried to create an alternate bike route to the Coast Highway.”

Mick Donoff, another Laguna cyclist and the association’s president, says this is the first Critical Mass event in South Orange County that he knows of.

“We tried for five or six years to get a bike path through Laguna to get off of the Coast Highway,” Donoff said. “The route was put together by us to bypass dangerous areas. A lot of riders avoid Laguna because of the traffic, but it’s tough to get off Coast Highway because there are a lot of hills for the average cyclist.”

Alternate bike route

It’s a cause that has not gone away, so the bike enthusiasts are quite literally “taking it to the streets” with a ride that starts at 9 a.m. at Legion Street and Park Avenue, then goes south to Nyes Place on Catalina Street, then to North Laguna via Cliff Drive, Hillcrest and Ledroit, then back to downtown Laguna, where it ends at the Laguna Beach Library on Glenneyre Street.

The “alternate” route drawn up by Taylor’s group is the one that the Laguna Critical Mass riders will be asked to use. It’s a complicated route and there are a lot of hills and steep descents. Riders will be required to obey all traffic rules, and to ride single-file when vehicles are present on the roadways.

Jill Richardson, another Lagunan who is championing the Critical Mass ride, says she hopes the sight of a mass of cyclists on city streets will make city officials take notice.

“If more people rode bikes, the city would make improvements,” she said. “I’m hoping it creates an awareness for people to bike more, and to use alternate means of transportation. Hopefully it will get bigger and bigger.”

Hoag is probably the most ambitious of the cycling advocates; he sees a future in which as many as 30% to 40% of commuters use bicycles instead of cars, as they do in some European countries.

Hoag wants to see cyclists of all ages and abilities; kids, grandparents, folks riding tandem, and in funny clothes.

“We want people to go, ‘that looks like fun,’ ” he said.

But here in car-crazy Southern California, it’s tough for cyclists to get respect.

Those “Share the Road” signs that are supposed to nudge motorists to make way for bicyclists don’t really do the job, as witnessed by the “road rage” incident on a canyon road in Los Angeles a couple of months ago, where a motorist, apparently fed up with “sharing,” is accused of intentionally braking in front of two cyclists, causing serious injuries to them.

Donoff is aware of the effect that bicyclists can have on impatient motorists.

“People either like cyclists or hate them, but we hope to just get along,” he said.

To contact the Bicycle Assn. of South Orange County, e-mail mail@bikeoc.net

To participate in the Critical Mass ride, just show up at 9 a.m. at Legion Street and Park Avenue, and follow the leaders. The ride is planned for the third Saturday of every month.

Here’s the route, as provided by the organizers:

CHECK YOUR BRAKES and TIRES, IF YOU DON’T HAVE BRAKES DON’T DO THIS RIDE!

RIDE START

Begin from LB High School at Legion and Park Avenue

-Right Legion Avenue

Take Legion Avenue toward Ocean

-Left Catalina Street

Head South along Catalina Street 6 blocks, prepare for the right jog at Thalia Street

-Right Thalia and immediate left on Catalina again

Continue on Catalina another 6 blocks, prepare for the right jog at Calliope Street

-Right Calliope Street

Take the immediate left on Glenneyre

-Left Glenneyre

Continue south 11 blocks, take the dogleg onto Highland Way

-Dogleg Highland Way

Highland begins a decent toward Pacific Coast Highway, take dogleg onto Solana

-Dogleg Solana

Continue the decent to PCH

-Right Nyes Place

The road levels out here, obey the stop light at Pacific Coast Highway

-Right PCH

Take PCH eight quick blocks heading North to Diamond street and leave PCH there

-Right Diamond Street

Take one block inland from the ocean, turn left on Glenneyre

-Left Glenneyre

Take Glenneyre eleven blocks, look for Thalia Street

-Right Thalia

Look for Catalina Street coming up on the left

-Left Catalina

-Left Park

-Right Glenneyre

-Right Mermaid Follow this sequence of streets toward Laguna Canyon Road,

-Left Second Street at the Canyon Road turn left Broadway and we head toward

-Right Forest Street North Laguna through the back streets…….

-Left Broadway

Stop at the light on Broadway and Canyon Road. Follow Broadway toward the ocean for a block, then bear right and climb Cliff Drive

-Right Rosa BonHeur Drive

Climb Rosa B. for a block and turn right on Cypress

-Right Cypress

-Left Monterey Drive

Take the gentle incline eight blocks heading north

-Dogleg Left Hill Street and right on Hillcrest

Take Hillcrest 10 blocks North. We will cross PCH at the signal on Viejo Street. IGNORE

THE LOOP SHOWN ON PCH ON THE MAP, you will need a Gate Pass in Emerald Bay to use it.

-Left Viejo Street

Begin the descent to PCH here, The hill is steep so watch your speed and use your brakes!

Cross PCH at the light and prepare to turn right immediately at Cliff Drive.

-Right Cliff Drive

Follow Cliff Drive heading south to Myrtle Street

-Left Myrtle Street

Cross PCH again and continue up Myrtle street for a block

-Right Cypress Drive

-Right Rosa BonHeur Drive

This street should be familiar, this begins the downhill back to the center of town.

-Left Cliff Drive

If you know the way to the LB Library, you can turn right on Broadway here and left on Beach to for a shortcut and the end of the route. Otherwise follow the map and go left on Broadway.

-Left Broadway

Heading away from the ocean go a block and take Forest Avenue at the signal light.

-Right Forest/Third St.

Pass City Hall, pass the Fire Station, at stop sign continue straight on Third Street past the water company. The very steep hill in front of you is the infamous Third Street hill. Unless you want to climb it, turn right on Mermaid here.

-Right Mermaid Street

Take Mermaid to the intersection with Glenneyre. The Laguna Beach Public Library is located across the street at this intersection, the Library parking lot is underneath the building and the ride ends here. Walk your bike through the parking lot to the Pizzeria located in the short alley behind the Library, walking West the Pacific Ocean is only one block away.

CINDY FRAZIER is city editor of the Coastline Pilot. She can be contacted at (949) 494-2087 or cindy.frazier@latimes.com.

WATER: Drinking Fountain at HSPASTRIES: Andree’s Bakery in French 75 plazaCOFFEE: Heidelberg Deli at Oak StreetBIKE STUFF: Laguna Cyclery Thalia and GlenneyreDRINKS FOOD: Pavilion MarketDRINKS: Stop and GoBIKE STUFF: Rainbow Bicycle 485 N. Coast Hwy & MyrtleBIKE STUFF: Crank Brothers 310 BroadwayWATER: fountain at Forest & GlenneyrePIZZA: New York Pizza behind Library

Critical Mass

Bicycle Route Directions

Meet Saturday 9:00AM September 20, 2008