I know a few people biked this portion of Old La Honda, and you know that sometimes I see “road closed” signs as an invitation to bike or walk the road if it’s not too obviously impassable, but San Mateo County Public works says the western Portion of Old La Honda Road between Skyline and Highway 84 isn’t safe. Per SMC Public Works:
The road is officially closed where it is failing to all modes of traffic. The hillside that supports the road is actively failing and we do not consider it safe for any users. The closure to all was effective last Friday, so while folks may have biked through the area this past weekend, they should not have done so. Thanks for checking.
SMC Public Works doesn’t normally post information online about road closures, but apparently this is enough of an issue that they reached out.
H/T Emma at the the Bike Coalition.
More information on the West Old LaHonda closure on our website here-
You can read more about the West Old LaHonda closure here- http://www.chainreactionblogs.com/diary/2017/03/06/which-looks-like-the-safer-road-to-ride-let-the-county-know/. Nothing has changed since SMC Public Works “reached out” to the Bike Coalition; the roadway condition has not deteriorated much (if at all) in the past two weeks. Meantime, there is a huge active mudslide on east 84, the alternative for cyclists heading back from the coast. This mudslide continues to eat into the upbound lane, on a corner, creating a very dangerous condition for cyclists.
I have yet to see any survey markers or other evidence of activity at the site of the closure. I fear that a road that is used far more by cyclists than motorists may not be getting the attention it deserves, and/or that the county is reluctant to consider making the road officially passable by cyclists and pedestrians but not motorists, even if it might be safe to do so.
Nobody is arguing that cyclists should be allowed through that area once repair work commences. Right now, we don’t even have a timetable for that though. Mike Jacoubowsky, Partner, Chain Reaction Bicycles.