2009-11-12 / Letters

Worse than drivers in Conejo Valley are its bicyclists

Fifteen to 20 percent of drivers on Thousand Oaks Boulevard between Moorpark and Conejo School roads are still driving while talking on their hand-held cellphones daily.

Cars roll through red lights and stop signs on right-hand turns, and left-turners lurch forward to beat the pedestrian who’s just stepped into the crosswalk or zoom past, close and fast, behind them at Moorpark, Rancho, Erbes and Conejo School roads.

Bicyclists on the sidewalk, riding very fast, deliberately pass pedestrians. I saw two riding side by side, neither one looking ahead, as they almost collided with pedestrians. I also saw a rider holding a large trash bag over one shoulder and another one dangling from the handlebars, forcing pedestrians to vacate the sidewalk for them.

Bicyclists ride from the sidewalk to cross the street, running traffic lights, darting between cars and gaps in traffic, even turning 90 degrees to cross an intersection in the other direction, especially at Conejo School Road and T.O. Boulevard, even after dark.

Bicycles frequently run red lights at The Lakes Drive and Dallas Drive. Bikes dodge traffic to cross T.O. Boulevard diagonally, midblock, from The Lakes to Moorpark Road on a daily basis, during “rush hour” traffic, alternating between riding street and sidewalk.

Groups of bicycles run the four-way stop sign at Conejo School Road and Los Feliz Drive on their way from Hillcrest to across T.O. Boulevard. every weekend between 8 and 11 a.m.

Bicycles in the street wait for the red light to change by weaving in and around the crosswalk and the front car, so they don’t have to stop. This is a hazard for pedestrians and blocks cars from being able to turn right during red lights at Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Conejo School Road, Erbes and Rancho Road, and at Erbes and Hillcrest.

Police officers regularly sit on Thousand Oaks Boulevard looking at their radar for speeders.

They should watch the traffic—cars and bicycles—for all of these blatant and dangerous violations taking place every day. Tracey Boyer Thousand Oaks

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