Monterey County to study closing parking at the Bixby Bridge for 12 months

[Max Rockatansky]

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors approved the study of closing off parking at the Bixby Creek Bridge for a 12 month period:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/could-county-ban-parking-bixby-172708296.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

My understanding is that this an extension of people locally complaining about traffic stopping in the middle of CA 1.  About half a decade ago signage was erected on Coast Road east of the span indicating it to be "Local Traffic Only."  This was recently followed up with the parking area at the bridge being narrowed to prevent traffic from having to back up.  When I was last at the Bixby Creek Bridge this month there was even Jersey Barriers on Coast Road which seem to be an attempt to deter parking. 

I don't know, this phenomenon isn't new.  It seems quite contradictory to me for Monterey County to push for CA 1 to be reopened only to turn around and approve a study like this.  Outside of the normal tourism hours it isn't exactly difficult to get a parking spot at the bridge.  Hurricane Point is nearby and has a decent vantage point over Bixby Creek also.

[1995hoo]

... Bixby Creek Bridge ....

My understanding is that this an extension of people locally complaining about traffic stopping in the middle of CA 1. 

....

Don't make the local people angry. You wouldn't like them when they're angry.

[Max Rockatansky]

... Bixby Creek Bridge ....

My understanding is that this an extension of people locally complaining about traffic stopping in the middle of CA 1. 

....

Don't make the local people angry. You wouldn't like them when they're angry.

Big Sur Kate did publicly accuse me of promoting "disaster tourism" on our Facebook page back in 2017 when the Mud Creek Slide and Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge collapse were active problems.  That didn't exactly dissuade me from posting more about CA 1 and Nacimiento-Fergusson Road.

Edit:  To clarify, I got the reference to the Hulk TV show.  If anything I guess that I'm showing my hand about what I think about NIMBYs in the Big Sur area.

[pderocco]

Maybe they need a bigger parking lot, not a smaller one.

What's the status of Coast Road? (Or is it Coast Roads--Google shows about a dozen of them.) Is that public? Looks like a nice loop that has a view of the bridge from behind it.

[Max Rockatansky]

Maybe they need a bigger parking lot, not a smaller one.

What's the status of Coast Road? (Or is it Coast Roads--Google shows about a dozen of them.) Is that public? Looks like a nice loop that has a view of the bridge from behind it.

From the bridge side it is signed as "local traffic only."  To my knowledge the signage isn't on the southern end.  I don't think there really is a way to enforce something on a county highway though.  The detour on the older road is worth it if you have a high clearance vehicle.

[gonealookin]

I'm confused about the county's authority to make that decision, to the extent we're discussing parking along the SR 1 right-of-way.

No-parking zones on state highways at Tahoe are determined by Caltrans and NDOT.  The counties can make comments about proposals, but the final decisions are with the state agencies.

[Max Rockatansky]

And to that end I don't get why the state would buy in to something like this.  Apparently the hook is that there is a push in Monterey County to have a dedicated CHP officer stationed at the bridge during tourism hours. 

[gonealookin]

And to that end I don't get why the state would buy in to something like this.  Apparently the hook is that there is a push in Monterey County to have a dedicated CHP officer stationed at the bridge during tourism hours. 

And that's a funding issue.  Here in Douglas County, Nevada, the school district is too small to have its own law enforcement officers.  But schools do require a fair amount of law enforcement presence, so Douglas County School District has to fund a couple of Douglas County Sheriff's Office positions out of the school district's budget.

CHP isn't just going to say, you want a officer present at the bridge for ### hours a year?  OK, sure!  Instead, CHP is going to tell Monterey County, if you want that, it's going to cost you $##,### per year. 

[Max Rockatansky]

And to that end I don't get why the state would buy in to something like this.  Apparently the hook is that there is a push in Monterey County to have a dedicated CHP officer stationed at the bridge during tourism hours. 

And that's a funding issue.  Here in Douglas County, Nevada, the school district is too small to have its own law enforcement officers.  But schools do require a fair amount of law enforcement presence, so Douglas County School District has to fund a couple of Douglas County Sheriff's Office positions out of the school district's budget.

CHP isn't just going to say, you want a officer present at the bridge for ### hours a year?  OK, sure!  Instead, CHP is going to tell Monterey County, if you want that, it's going to cost you $##,### per year. 

Come to think of it I've never looked into whether or not local authorities like a sheriff's office can actually conduct traffic enforcement on California state highways.  I just assumed that Monterey County Sheriff could do that?  It isn't like the main county office is very far.