Mount Diablo State Park Cyclist and Motorist Safety Report                  Oct 2017

Purpose: To improve the safety of cyclists and motorists on the roads of Mount Diablo

 

Background: Mount Diablo has become a  premier climb for cyclists and a destination for motorists not only within the Bay Area, but also throughout the nation. The Amgen Tour of California has put Mount Diablo on the cycling map throughout the world. But for cyclists and motorists is it worth the risk?  Traffic on the roads of Mount Diablo has significantly increased. On a typical weekend day, up to 500 drivers share the roads with approximately 700 cyclists. Drivers striking cyclists in head-on collisions on blind curves pose a serious threat that State Parks have been slow to adequately address.

 

In 2016,  State Senator Glazer and Assemblywoman Baker convinced CA State Parks to accept Caltrans Standard engineering recommendations to paint a double-yellow centerline and install advisory signs. These safety improvements have decreased unlawful passing and speeding on the mountain. However, near-miss collisions continue to occur frequently at blind curves, of which there are over 300. Uphill-bound drivers still cross the centerline to pass cyclists, thereby entering the lane of downhill-bound cars and bikes, unseen because of the blind curve. The next head-on collision may be imminent, and the result will be a serious injury or a fatality.

 

For over one year State Parks have been presented with two additional solutions to this dangerous situation, but they have been slow to respond: 1) Bike Turnouts allow cars to safely pass bicycles when traveling uphill, without crossing the center line; 2) providing a Verbal Motorist Safety Advisory to all drivers entering the Park informs them of the Bike Turnouts and how to pass cyclists while ascending the long, slow, winding road with little or no shoulder.

Bike Turnouts are supported by State Senator Glazer, Assemblywoman Baker, Mount Diablo State Park staff and volunteers, Bike East Bay and other cycling organizations, motorists, cyclists, and the California Highway Patrol.  Multiple surveys of drivers and cyclists identify Bike Turnouts as the critical next step in preventing Bike vs. Vehicle collisions.  Three Bike Turnouts have been installed as a trial, and have been overwhelmingly successful according to many. According to Park leadership,  "Ten more locations with sufficient pavement for a Bike Turnout already exist on the mountain.  They only need to be swept and painted." The cost to paint these ten Bike Turnouts is under $5,000.  Why hasn't State Parks spent this small amount of money on a huge investment in saving lives?  Locations for 35-40 additional Bike Turnouts over the eighteen miles of roadway on Mount Diablo have also been identified.

 

The Verbal Motorist Safety Advisory is vital, but can only be provided to a driver if there is someone in the entrance kiosk to provide it. According to a Public Records Act Request; during 2016, South and North Kiosks have Not Staffed 52.4% of the hours the Park was open from 8 am to sunset.

 

According to Park Leadership FY 17/18, "Mount Diablo State Park receives an annual Park Aid budget to fully staff North and South Gate Kiosks for the entire year." Many motorists entering the Park never hear the safety message. As a result, they pass cyclists on blind curves, unwittingly causing a Near-Miss or an actual Bike vs. Vehicle Collision. Moreover, no fee is personally collected from these motorists, and there is no one to answer their questions or give directions. Park Leadership report that "the majority of them never stop to pay at the Iron Ranger." An estimate of lost revenue is over $100,000 per year. How could State Parks best utilize this revenue to save the lives of cyclists and enhance the experience of motorists visiting Mount Diablo?

 

When 100 Motorists were asked:

 

    1. Is this your first visit to Mount Diablo; the majority said Yes

       

 

    1. Did you receive a Verbal Motorist Safety Advisory; the majority said No

       

 

    1. Did you know there would be so many bicycles on the roads of the Park; the majority said No

       

 

    1. Did you know that the roads are narrow and winding, with lots of blind curves: majority said No

       

 

    1. How many bicycles did you pass as you drove up the mountain; 25-30 bicycles

       

 

    1. Did you cross solid double yellow lines to pass some bicycles; 95% said Yes

       

 

    1. Do you think Bike Turnouts would allow motorists to pass bicycles without crossing the Solid Double Yellow lines; 100% said Yes

       

 

    1. How wide and long should a Bike Turnout be on a blind curve for you to safely pass a bicycle; the majority said 5ft wide & 50-100ft long

       

 

    1. What's the phone number to report an unlawful act to a Park Ranger; 100% said they did not know

Findings:

 

    • We reviewed the California State Park System Statistics Reports from 2007 to 2014, MDSP Monthly Visitor Attendance Reports (DPR 449s), and documents received through Public Records Act requests (2016/17). The handwritten DPR 449 that the North/South Gate Kiosk staff fills out daily, weekly, and monthly actually says "Free bikes." We also spoke to Park Leadership, volunteers, and visitors at Mount Diablo State Park.

       

    • The Free Day Use category consists primarily of road cyclists, a few walk-ins, and equestrians on Mount Diablo.

       

    • Monthly Visitor Attendance Reports for 2014: South Gate Kiosk was not staffed for 181 days and North Gate Kiosk was not staffed for 86 days

       

    • According to a Public Records Act Request; during 2016, South and North Kiosks have Not Staffed 52.4% of the hours the Park was open from 8 am to sunset. 

       

    • Data is collected by park employees on days when the North and South Kiosks are staffed.

       

    • The attendant at the kiosk manually clicks a hand counter to count road bikes when he/she has the opportunity; in between taking money, answering questions, and giving directions to Paid Day Use (vehicles).

       

    • Road cyclists are frequently not counted as they ride past the kiosks.

       

    • Mountain bikers typically enter the park on dirt trials and are not counted.

       

    • According to Park Leadership, " In 2016 and 2017, the majority of vehicles on Mount Diablo have been bicycles."

       

    • For years, the kiosks at the North and South entrances to the Park have not been staffed 40% of the hours that the Park is open.

       

    • According to park records, several times per week the Park is opened at 7:15 am, but the Kiosks are not staffed until 10 am.

       

    • The Verbal Motorist Safety Advisory is vital, but can only be provided to a driver if there is someone in the entrance kiosk to provide it.

       

    • Therefore, many motorists entering the Park never hear the safety message.

       

    • The majority of motorists have never been to Mount Diablo before and are unaware of the narrow winding roads, blind curves, and hundreds of cyclists.

       

    • According to the Bay Area News Group, there have been "countless Near-Misses." We believe there are significantly more Near-Miss Collisions on days when the Kiosks are not staffed.

       

    • According to Park Leadership, "Mount Diablo State Park receives an annual Park Aid budget to fully staff North and South Gate Kiosks for the entire year."

       

    • Moreover, when the kiosks are not staffed, no fee is personally collected from these motorists, and there is no one to answer their questions or give directions.

 

    • Park Leadership report that "the majority of them never stop to pay."

       

    • An estimate of lost revenue is over $100,000 per year.

    • California State Park System Statistics Reports (2007/14)

       

      Year                        Total Free Day Use    Increase of Free Day Use per year  

       

                                       (Road Cyclist)                    (Road Cyclist)

       

      2013/14                       103, 804                                 23,979

       

      2012/13                        79,824                                       5,193

       

      2011/12                        74,631                                        7,859

       

      2010/11                        66,965                                        2,820

       

      2009/10                       63,845                                        9,927

       

      2008/09                       53,918                                        6,682

       

      2007/08                       47,236

 

    • MDSP (2013/14): Paid Day Use (Vehicles) 232,651 and Free Day Use (Cyclists) 103,804.

       

    • 60% of all vehicles are bicycles.

       

    • MDSP (2007 to 2014): Increase of 56,568 of Free Day Use (Cyclists). Over 100% increase in the number of bicycles.

       

    • According to Park Leadership on weekdays and especially weekends "there are twice as many bikes than cars on Mount Diablo"

       

    • During FY 2013/14, over 60,000 cyclists were reported to have entered MDSP via the South Gate entrance.  However, based on our research and input from Park leadership and volunteers, the actual number of cyclists entering via the South Gate that year was closer to 80,000.

       

    • We conducted an 8-hour survey in 2015 of cyclists using Diablo Scenic Blvd, Alameda Diablo (CA State Easement), and South Gate Road to enter MDSP (South Gate Kiosk).

       

    • Sunday (March 15, 2015): we counted 484 cyclists, and the MDSP Visitor Attendance Report counted 100 cyclists and 332 Paid Day Use (vehicles).

       

    • Thursday (March 19, 2015): we counted 130 cyclists, MDSP Visitor Attendance Report counted 0 cyclists and 0 Paid Day Use (vehicles) (Kiosk not staffed).