Off of the South Bay Blvd. bridge in Los Osos construction is well underway and some cyclists are concerned about how it’s affecting their safety.
“The biggest concern is that there is not enough room for cyclists and a car to pass each other side by side,” said Tim Rich, San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club (SLOBC) Vice President.
SLOBC members told KSBY News they ride along South Bay Blvd often, and have heard of multiple dangerous incidents since bridge construction started earlier this year.
“Somebody almost ran them right into the barrier and then off the road I guess at the bottom," said Paul Hershfield. "They were pretty frightened.”
San Luis Obispo County Public Works officials said it was necessary to eliminate the shoulder through the construction zone.
“The purpose for that is so that the contractors have some room to work in and that allows them to do the work without us having to shut down and cause traffic delays," said Shelly Cone, Public Works Information Officer.
They’ve added signs to warn both drivers and cyclists and reduced speeds from 55 to 35 MPH.
“Right now we’re just asking everyone to work together and cooperate," Cone said. "Just leave some extra time when you go through there.”
Bicycle club members are also encouraging drivers to be mindful behind the wheel.
“All of us are motorists besides we all own cars and so we are used to sharing a road we just wish that everyone else would be willing to share the road," Rich said.
“It could be somebody’s mom, somebody’s kid or I know there’s more folks our age who have not been on a bike for years who are now out riding,” Hershfield said.
Public works expects the bridge construction to be complete by Fall 2027. Once it’s done, there will be eight-foot-wide shoulders for bicyclists, and a five-foot wide pedestrian path.
