Category Archives: road work

Signal light stops traffic for nonexistent cars, pedestrians, reader says

Posted on January 25, 2015 by Ramona Turner

Dear Street Smarts, Q: I have noticed, on many occasions, that both traffic lights turn red on westbound Soquel Drive toward Santa Cruz at Cabrillo College will turn red when there are no cars nor pedestrians to trigger them. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Caltrans, Highway 17, Highway 9, road closure, road work, roads, Santa Cruz County Public Works, traffic light, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sparkling, new pavement looks like broken glass, reader says

Posted on October 26, 2014 by Ramona Turner

Dear Street Smarts, Q: I have a question regarding most surface/pavement/asphalt on the streets of our city of Santa Cruz. As a bike commuter, I’m always scanning to make sure I won’t ride into shattered glass, which happens a lot … Continue reading →

Posted in Paving, public works, road closure, road conditions, road construction, road work, roads, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Public Works, sidewalks, traffic safety, transportation, transportation projects, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Striping, paving and Sharrows

Posted on October 23, 2014 by Ramona Turner

Dear Street Smarts, Q: Although paving work was completed weeks ago, a long stretch of Mount Hermon Road before the road ends at Graham Hill Road is still without reflectors and a double yellow line. Many of the temporary reflectors … Continue reading →

Posted in bicycle, bicycle education, Bicycling, bike lanes, bike safety, Caltrans, driver education, Driver safety, Highway 17, potholes, public works, road work, roads, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County Public Works, share the road, Sharrows, speed, transportation, transportation projects, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

King Street needs paving, bike lanes, reader says

Posted on October 19, 2014 by Ramona Turner

Dear Street Smarts, Q: King Street is a major thoroughfare and, for bicyclists, is often a suggested alternative to Mission Street. It is also used daily by countless school kids who are going to either Mission Hill Middle School or … Continue reading →

Posted in bicycle, Bicycling, bike lanes, bike path, bike safety, consumer affairs, county, Mission Street, money, Paving, public works, public works projects, road closure, road conditions, road construction, road work, roads, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County Public Works, Santa Cruz Public Works, share the road, Sharrows, Soquel, traffic, transportation, transportation projects, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Well-meaning sign puts cyclists in danger, reader says

Posted on October 8, 2014 by Ramona Turner

Dear Street Smarts, Q: While driving last Wednesday down High Street from Bay near Peace United Church at 900 High Street, I nearly had a collision with a bike rider who had to swerve out into the street to avoid … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, alternative transportation, Aptos, bicycle, bicycle education, Bicycling, bike lanes, bike path, bike safety, California Driver Handbook, California Vehicle Code, CHP, consumer affairs, detour, driver education, Driver safety, Highway 17, law enforcement, potholes, public works, public works projects, road closure, road conditions, road construction, road work, roads, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County Public Works, Santa Cruz Police, Senior drivers, seniors, share the road, Traffic Enforcement, traffic hazards, traffic laws, traffic safety, transportation, transportation projects, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

When cyclists must follow rules for cars, pedestrians

Posted on October 5, 2014 by Ramona Turner

Dear Street Smarts, Q: On Thursday morning, while biking with my kids to DeLaveaga Elementary School, I was scolded by the crossing guard for riding my bike against the crossing signal, which had a red hand up. The light at … Continue reading →

Posted in bicycle, bicycle education, Bicycling, bike safety, California Vehicle Code, Caltrans, commute, crossing guards, crosswalks, cycling, driver education, Driver safety, Paving, Right-of-Way, road construction, road work, roads, Safe Routes to School, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Public Works, school zones, share the road, traffic laws, traffic light, traffic safety, traffic signal, transportation, transportation projects, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bike to Work/ School Day

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Ramona Turner

Thousands of people countywide are expected to ditch their motor vehicles and participate in Ecology Action’s Fall 2104 Bike to Work/School Day Thursday, Oct. 2. Besides doing it for the benefit of their health and to improve air quality, participants … Continue reading →

Posted in bicycle, bicycle education, Bicycling, bike lanes, bike safety, Bike Week, road conditions, road work, Santa Cruz, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Don’t toss flaming cigarette butts out car windows

Posted on August 24, 2014 by Ramona Turner

Dear Street Smarts, Q: In this high fire danger period, is it illegal for a driver to toss a lit cigarette out the window? I observed a spark trail from a cigarette tossed out of a black mini SUV with … Continue reading →

Posted in CHP, driver education, Driver safety, environment, Highway 1, Highway 17, highways, law enforcement, Mission Street, parking, Paving, pedestrian education, pedestrian safety, pedestrians, police, Public safety, public works, public works projects, road construction, road work, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Public Works, share the road, traffic, traffic laws, traffic safety, transportation, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Soquel Village road striping temporary

Posted on August 20, 2014 by Ramona Turner

Dear Street Smarts, Q: I don’t know what you have written about the road construction in Soquel Village, but I drove through today and realized that the right turn lane from southbound Porter Avenue to westbound Soquel Drive has been … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative transportation, bicycle, bicycle education, Bicycling, bike lanes, bike path, bike safety, California Driver Handbook, California Vehicle Code, congestion, consumer affairs, cycling, DMV, driver education, Driver safety, insurance, Intersection, Lane closure, public works, public works projects, road conditions, road construction, road work, Santa Cruz, share the road, Soquel, traffic laws, traffic safety, transportation, transportation projects, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What to do when school bus lights flash, stop arm’s engaged but no one’s there

Posted on August 10, 2014 by Ramona Turner

Dear Street Smarts, Q: On Ocean Street, headed toward Highway 17, there was one of the smaller school buses a little bigger than a van parked in front of Finn’s, with its lights flashing and it’s ‘stop’ sign out. I … Continue reading →

Posted in California Vehicle Code, child passenger safety, children, consumer affairs, driver education, Driver safety, driveway, Highway 17, Lane closure, law enforcement, Paving, police, Public safety, public works, public works projects, road construction, road work, roads, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Police, Santa Cruz Public Works, school bus, stop signs, traffic, Traffic Enforcement, traffic hazards, traffic laws, traffic safety, transportation, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment