In 2022, with the appointment of Clinton Elsholz, Acting Diablo Ranch Superintendent; a New Era of Partnership and Collaboration finally arrived on Mount Diablo. Special Thanks to Clint and April Marson for All their Amazing Advice and Support to Improve the Safety of Cyclists on the Roads of Mount Diablo State Park!

This is a Story of Dogged Determination to Prevent Collisions and Save Lives on the Roads of Mount Diablo. "Never doubt that a small group of people can change the world, indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”

Mission to Improve the Safety for Cyclists, Motorists, and Pedestrians on the Roads of Mount Diablo State Park. JOIN US: Mount Diablo Cyclists Facebook with over 1,800 devoted and passionate members.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Would Bike Turnouts have been created, funded ($1,500,000), and 45 installed (2016 - Present) on the Roads of Mount Diablo if Mount Diablo Cyclists (MDC) had NOT been established? The answer is NO!
• Would the Signage and Stripping Plan ($360,000) in 2016 have been created and funded if MDC had NOT been established? The answer is NO!
• Would the Safety Improvements (2016 to Present) have been created and implemented if MDC had NOT been established? The answer is NO! 

The Journey (genesis) of Safety Improvements and the creation of Bike Turnouts began in 2010.  As we pedaled up the mountain, we began riding with and listening to other cyclists. We were shocked and horrified as they shared their “Near Death” cycling stories. We discovered that Park visitor drivers were frequently passing ascending cyclists on blind curves and nearly hitting descending cyclists. When we and other cyclists reported/videoed Near-Miss Bike vs Vehicle incidents to Park Rangers, Supervising Ranger, and the MDSP Superintendent they said; “if we didn’t see it, there is NOTHING we can do.” When we asked California State Parks (law enforcement officers) about actual Bike vs Vehicle Collisions, we were told “they rarely happen, it’s usually the cyclist's fault, speed.”

As the months passed, we also realized that actual Bike vs Vehicle Collisions were occurring and State Parks were doing NOTHING to prevent them, nor analyze the cause(s) or implement any safety solutions to prevent collisions and the resulting injuries.  The San Ramon Valley & Contra Costa Fire Departments were responding to medical emergencies on Mount Diablo almost every other week. Helicopters from CalStar - Reach(cost $24,000+), and/or the CHP or Contra Costa were often seen on the mountain transporting Park visitors to local hospitals.  As we began asking more questions of State Parks Leadership, we were met with "radio silence," indifference, and a complete lack of concern for the safety of cyclists on the roads of Mount Diablo. 

In 2014, Mount Diablo Cyclists was established because of the callous indifference of the California State Parks to keep cyclists safe on the roads of Mount Diablo. Near-Miss Bike vs Vehicle Incidents and actual Bike vs Vehicle Collisions were frequently occurring and California State Parks was doing NOTHING to understand why, nor make any effort to prevent the resulting injuries to Park visitors who ride bicycles.

In 2014, we asked the Supervising Ranger if Park Aides counted cyclists as they entered the park at North and South Gate Roads. He said, " No, we don't count cyclists." A few weeks later, we discovered all Park Aides work for the Supervising Ranger and were counting cyclists as they entered the park and recording the data on a State Parks form. When we presented the evidence to the Supervising Ranger, he said, "we don't count cyclists, they don't matter!" As a result, we submitted a Public Records Act Request for the Monthly Visitor Attendance Reports (DPR 449) from 2013 to 2015. We discovered that the "Free Day Use" category was almost entirely bicycles. The form was sent each month to the District Office and then to California State Parks where it appeared each year in the California State Park Statistical Report (103,000 Free Day Use (cyclists) for FY- 2013/14).

According to the Bay Area News Group (8/3/15); "park officials say rough data indicates bikes probably outnumber cars now." According to the Mercury News (8/6/13), "State Parks officials said last week they have no figures available for bicycles in the State Park." 

According to the MDSP Superintendent "in 2014 between 130,000 to 150,000 cyclists rode up Mount Diablo." On a typical weekend day, up to 500 drivers share the roads with approximately 700 cyclists. According to our surveys, 60% of the vehicles on Mount Diablo are bicycles!  Since 2014, there has been a significant increase in the number of cyclists riding up/down Mount Diablo. According to the Bay Area News Group (10/2/15): "there is already too much blood on the hands of lax park officials. If they don't move quickly, there will be more." According to Channel 3 News (2/3/16: "it's only a matter of time before someone dies or gets seriously hurt."

In January 2015, we began meeting in the Training Room on Mount Diablo monthly with Park Leadership. We continued to meet monthly throughout the winter and spring in the hope that Park Leadership would realize the daily threat to public safety and implement solutions. According to Channel 7 News (10/23/15): "State Park officials are taking too long to fix a dangerous problem that has led to bike vs. car crashes and serious injuries." We requested California State Parks conduct the first-ever Road Traffic Survey per Caltrans standards. We were repeatedly told there is no need and no money, “it’s never going to happen.” After months of stalling and delay followed by "I'll get back to you." We realized that Park Leadership was NOT serious about improving the safety of cyclists and motorists on the roads of Mount Diablo or implementing any changes to prevent collisions! Promises were made but not kept, emails went unanswered, and multiple excuses were made. According to the Bay Area News Group (8/3/15), "Unfortunately, they continue to meet bureaucratic foot-dragging. "As a result, we decided to contact elected officials, local newspapers, and Bay Area TV stations, distribute a petition (1,225 signatures), gather public support, and meet with local organizations. According to the Bay Area News Group (10/2/15): "Too much blood of bicyclists is spilled on Mount Diablo road," and, "if they don't move quickly, there will be more."

On April 2, 2015, we submitted a Public Records Act Request to State Parks for all Traffic Collision Reports from 2005 to the Present. On April 17, 2015, we received 112 Traffic Collision Reports from 2010 to the Present (4/17/15). According to Park Leadership: "(we) recommend contacting the California Highway Patrol to get a complete picture of all of the collisions on Mount Diablo State Park." Therefore, we worked with the California Highway Patrol and discovered that a collision was occurring on these roads approximately every two weeks. 

We identified the "commonality factor," the majority (80%) of ALL types of collisions were occurring on or near blind curves. That equated to 25-30 collisions per year!  Unfortunately, according to Public Records Act Requests, Park Leadership did not conduct any analysis of the Traffic Collision Reports from as far back as 2005 until April 30, 2015.

We showed Park Leadership our analysis and offered to work with them concerning the 112 Traffic Collision Reports. We asked them if they met regularly to analyze Traffic Collision Reports or had implemented any safety recommendations.  According to Park Leadership, "a Ranger fills out the Traffic Collision Report, it's reviewed by the Supervising Ranger and Park Superintendent, and then filed in a cabinet in Clayton." We even contacted the California Highway Patrol and arranged for Park Leadership to learn how to analyze Traffic Collision Reports hoping they would implement safety improvements.

According to our research, there is no evidence that Park Leadership meets annually to collectively analyze Traffic Collision Reports. According to Park Leadership: "we just don't have the staff or the time to analyze them." According to Park leadership: "that's how it's always been and we see no reason to change."

Public Record Act Requests: Unfortunately, California State Parks has not been willing to openly share public documents with the public. As a result, we have submitted numerous Public Records Act Requests.

 In 2016, Park Leadership told us: "we made a mistake giving you (April 17, 2015) the 112 Traffic Collision Reports for 2010 to 2014. We will not provide any more Traffic Collision Reports for Mount Diablo State Park."

On April 4, 2016, we submitted a Public Records Act request for Traffic Collision Reports(CHP-555), all vehicle and/or bicycle collisions from 2014 to the present. The 49 TCRs were not received until 10/20/17, 18 months later, and only after State Parks received a letter from King & Spalding LLP.   

 On August 8, 2017, we submitted a PRA request for MDSP Park Aide Schedules and received the documents 68 days later on 10/13/17.

 

On October 7, 2014, we published the Mount Diablo State Park, Free Day Use (cyclists) Report, which was reviewed and edited by the MDSP Superintendent.

• • According to this report: "Mount Diablo State Park (chart below) has been significantly under collecting and under-reporting by tens of thousands the number of park visitors (cyclists: road/mountain bike) from 2008 to 2014.

 

• • According to State Parks policy, "Conversion factors should be established anew twice a year, on the assumption that there will be significant differences between figures relating to the recreation season and the offseason." Mount Diablo State Park should "make a survey in the same manner as described for Paid Day Use," per California State Parks, Departmental Notice No. 96-24.

• • If an accurate process were implemented to collect Free Day Use (cyclists) data, the true number would be closer to 150,000, not the reported 103,804 for 2013/14. 

• • Publishing true and accurate Free Day Use (cyclist) historical data is essential for many reasons: it's the foundation for State Park and elected officials to make informed budgetary decisions concerning local State Parks and the overall Park system.

• • Since 2014, we have asked for a report of an accurate count of Free Day Use (cyclists).  To date, that report still has not been provided.

 

 

In addition, the only evidence we've discovered that Park Leadership implemented any safety improvements to prevent collisions from 2005 to 2015 was a sign. DMC (Diablo Multi-Sport Connection), a woman's cycling/swimming/running club initiated and funded two permanent and two sandwich board signs (8/16/13). All Park Leadership did was install the signs in the ground.

Since 2015, we have met numerous times with Park Leadership and requested we work together to analyze Traffic Collision Reports. According to the Bay Area News Group(7/31/15), "Indeed, the accident reports understate the injuries. That's because accident victims often get transported off the mountain before the incidents are reported to park rangers." As of March 2018, Park Leadership has not seemed interested in collaborating to analyze the 161 Traffic Collision Reports from 2010 to 2017.

In addition, Park Leadership told us they are not interested in working together to locate the 161 Traffic Collisions Reports on a Google Map. This would allow State Parks to identify the most dangerous curves where collisions repeatedly occur and perhaps install Bike Turnouts to prevent injuries and possible fatalities. We have made this request since 2015.

Frustrated by what we felt was a lack of sufficient concern on the part of State Parks, we met with State Senator Steven Glazer and Assemblywoman Catharine Baker in 2015. We showed them the Traffic Collision Reports, 24 of which documented Bike vs Vehicle Collisions. They quickly recognized a clear and present danger to Mount Diablo State Park visitors.

As a result of their bipartisan leadership and the support of the public and the media, California State Parks was then pressured to begin implementing significant safety improvements for cyclists and motorists on Mount Diablo.

In 2016, funding was found to implement a Road Striping and Signage Project on the roadways of Mount Diablo, engineered according to Caltrans standards. According to the Bay Area News Group (10/2/16): "It's a welcome reversal from the foot-dragging just a few months ago." The new safety improvements of the project include: DO NOT PASS BIKES ON BLIND CURVES (35 signs), AVOID CRASH SLOW DOWN (35 signs), Bike Sharrows every ½ mile in the ascending lanes, additional STOP signs, revised warning/speed signs and Solid Double Yellow centerlines.

In February 2017, we met with Park Leadership to discuss safety issues and near-miss collisions which occur frequently at blind curves. Uphill-bound motorists were still crossing the Solid Double yellow centerline to pass cyclists, with the possible result being a serious injury or fatality. However, we were told, " State Parks has done enough to improve the safety on Mount Diablo and we are not going to do anymore." As a result, we once again reached out to elected officials, local media created a website, distributed a Bike Turnout Petition (1700 signatures), met with local organizations, and gathered public support.

On Dec 1, 2017, State Senator Steve Glazer and Assemblywoman Catharine Baker sent a letter to Lisa Mangat, Director, California Department of Parks and Recreation requesting, "working to develop a plan to implement the overall bike turnout program in Mount Diablo State Park." In addition, "immediate installation of the 10 to 11 bike turnouts that have been mutually identified by Mount Diablo State Park Leadership and Mount Diablo Cyclists." According to the letter; "these turnouts can be installed by sweeping away rocks and debris and painting existing asphalt for under $5,000." On Feb 1, 2018, 10 New Bike Turnouts were installed/painted on Mount Diablo for a total cost of only $5,000!

Verbal Motorist Safety Advisory

• • According to Park Leadership and supported by responses in our Motorists Surveys: "most motorists entering the Park have never been to Mount Diablo before and are unaware that they will share the narrow winding roads with hundreds of cyclists."

• • According to Channel 7 News I-Team Investigation (10/23/15): "motorists are unaware of the over 369 curves, many of them sharp blind curves.

• • According to Channel 5 News (9/13/16): "the beautiful ride on Mount Diablo can be dangerous, even deadly" and "greater challenge just staying alive."

• • According to a State Park Report published in 1991: "over 90% of the vehicles observed crossed over the centerline to negotiate the curves."
  • According to California State Parks, the attendants at the North and South Gate kiosks are required to read the Verbal Motorists Safety Advisory to all drivers entering the park. Unfortunately, Park Aides are NOT reading the Mandatory Verbal Motorists Safety Advisory to drivers.
  • According to the Contra Costa Times (10/4/15): "Rangers must provide unambiguous admonitions to every driver."

• According to a Public Records Act Request, North and South Gate Kiosks were Not Staffed during the following hours that the Park was open between 8 am and sunset for 2016 & 2017:

 

 

Unstaffed Hours	2016	2017	Combined
South Gate	36.7%	51.6%	43.1%
Northgate	45.8%	53.3%	48.9%
Combined	41.5%	52.4%	46.1%

 

• • It is also unfortunate, according to Park leadership, that most of these motorists who enter the Park before the kiosks are staffed do not stop to pay the entrance fee.
  • In addition, there is no one available to make changes, answer questions, or give directions.
  • The Park frequently opens its gates between 7:15- 7:30 am. On many weekdays, Park Aides are not on duty at the North or South Gate Kiosks until 8 am.  Even on weekend days, when the kiosks are staffed at 8 AM, there is still a gap of 30-45minutes when motorists may enter the Park before an Aide is on duty.
  • Therefore, thousands of drivers enter the Park every year without hearing the mandatory Verbal Motorists Safety Advisory. Thus they are unaware of the difficult nature of the roads, and the fact that many cyclists will be sharing those roads with them.
  • According to the Bay Area News Group, there have been "countless Near-Misses."
  • According to a Channel 7 news story, some cyclists report (10/23/15): "near-misses every third ride."
  • We believe there are significantly more Near-Miss Collisions on days when the Kiosks are not staffed and the Verbal Motorists' Safety Advisory is not given to drivers.
  • We have discussed the staffing and Near-Miss Collision issues with Park Leadership since 2014.

 

According to a Public Records Act Request, MDSP has an estimated annual loss in revenue of over $100,000 per year.

• • Park leadership has said: "the Parks FY 2017/2018 budget for Park Aides is sufficient to fully staff the North and South Gate kiosks for the entire year."

• • Mount Diablo Cyclists has also presented different staffing solutions to Park Leadership, including simply increasing the number of volunteer hours, thus avoiding any additional cost to the Park.

• • In addition, we have suggested applying for funds from the State Parks Revenue Generation Program.

• • Park leadership has assured us that providing the Safety Advisory to all motorists when the Park is open is a high priority.

Park Leadership and Mount Diablo Cyclists worked together from 2016-to 2017 to design and install three Bike Turnouts as a pilot study. Bike Turnouts allow a cyclist pedaling uphill to move slightly to the right, thereby allowing a motorist to pass safely without crossing into the downhill lane, and possibly colliding with a descending cyclist.

• • Bike Turnouts have the potential to significantly reduce Bike vs. Vehicle Collisions, especially on blind curves.

• • The majority of collisions occur on or near-blind curves.

• • They are typically only 100-150 feet in length, and relatively inexpensive to construct. Comments from motorists and cyclists were very favorable; motorists do not have to cross the centerline into the wrong lane to pass a cyclist, and cyclists do not need to pull off the road onto the dirt and gravel in order to allow a driver to pass.

 

• • Following a review of these positive experiences, 10 additional Bike Turnouts were installed in February 2018. Cost $5,000. These required only painting. Anecdotes and surveys from drivers and cyclists alike and video images taken at these turnouts all support the increase in enjoyment and safety already experienced by many with the advent of the Bike Turnouts.