Jon T

I lost a personal friend and fellow cyclist Friday, Jan 11, 2019 at the intersection of PCH/Seal Beach Bl. He was rear-ended by a motor vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. Any one who rides that stretch knows of the dangers inherent there, especially if traveling north-bound. We all try to "time the light" there. Some times we make it, some times we don't. PLEASE be extra careful at that intersection and if you can't make the light--so be it.
RIP Paul Smith.
Jon

Unapomer

Sorry to hear that..... please accept my sympathies.
Can you give us a little more info?
Based on your brief description, he was northbound on PCH at Seal Beach Blvd and was rear-ended. Was it by a northbound car going straight, or going north and turning right at Seal Beach Blvd. or........
Having ridden through that intersection many times, there is a tricky transition to cross over the right turn lane to go straight on PCH. The challenge for me has always been when is it safe to cross over that right turn lane.

Jon T

Thank you for your kind words. Unfortunately, I don't have the answers you seek right now. I'll post more info if and when it becomes available.
Jon

Garfield Cat

https://bikinginla.com/2019/01/11/br...-this-morning/

jimincalif

TakingMyTime

I know the locations all too well.

My condolences to you, and please pass them on to the rider's family.

Jon T

Thank you all for the kind words. I shall pass them along to Paul's family.
Jon

marquhar

this is from maps.google.com streetview, just past the Weapons Station bridge. You can see the Toyota Corolla is hugging the shoulder, taking space from the bike lane. The SV car does pass him and its clear there is front end damage and his window is open.

The images are from May 2018, but considering its the first example I pulled up, its clear this stretch of road is trouble. I didn't know Paul, but I am devastated by this news.

KraneXL

Its always saddening to hear when cyclist is hit and killed. When its someone you know, I can't imagine how heart-wrenching it must feel. Sorry for your loss.

TrojanHorse

Ah, I am so sorry for your friend and his family.

That looks like another one of California's finest road designs. Bike lanes for miles and then poof - they disappear at the intersection right when you actually NEED the protection. Not that a couple mm of paint is actual protection.

TakingMyTime

I ride that section of PCH on a regular basis. I'm usually hitting it between 07:30 and 09:00 (in the summer). That section of road is susceptible and enticing to speeders. At that time of the morning you have a lot of anxious drivers trying to take advantage of an open stretch of road. It's not unusual to see people driving at 60mph+.

Elvo

Sorry for your loss

Manny66 

Sorry to hear about your Friend and fellow Cyclist.This incident hits home as I also ride that section of road.

R.I.P.

TakingMyTime

I drove by the intersection the other day and it appears a ghost bike has been placed at the intersection.