Will Hansfield

As a refugee of the golden state, I look back at my former home with wistful thoughts of what could have been. Like Denver, Southern California is a sunny, flat place, with the advantage of temperate winters. Despite fervent road, track, and mountain biking followings, bike commuting remains a pursuit for the stout of heart and fearless in the Southland. I personally gave it a genuine attempt, but after three weeks and two very near misses caused by reckless and careless drivers, I gave it up.

These two articles may explain why:

Beverly Hills SUV Driver Attacks Bicyclist, Only Bicyclist Gets A Ticket

Malibu: Sunshine, movie stars, and senseless deaths on PCH

While I stayed out of Beverly Hills for just these types of reasons (angry Hummer Drivers using their cell phones and running you down), PCH in Malibu is one of my favorite rides, and very popular among cyclists. It’s got great scenery, and if you don’t mind the harrowing traffic and inexplicable narrowing, illegal parking, and other safety features, you’ll have fun. I’m sure Stan and Scott were having fun up until they were run down and killed by a thoughtless driver on a particularly bad stretch made worse by poor decisions from CalTrans and the City of Malibu.  (The entire stretch of Highway 1 through Malibu is the official Bike Route along the Pacific Coast).

I’m happy to say, Denver is a much better place to commute, and I can count on one hand the number of days I’ve driven to the office this year. Until Southern California embraces cyclists and what they contribute towards traffic alleviation, they will be cursed with awful traffic, and more cyclists will be killed for no reason.

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