CA - Speeders being watched along Palomares Road

[StlouisX50]

Speeders being watched along Palomares Road
Complaints result in promised crackdown
By Karen Holzmeister, STAFF WRITER
Article Last Updated: 04/14/2007 08:01:13 AM PDT

Traffic moves along Palomares Rd. Friday April 13, 2007 in Castro Valley, California. (Aric Crabb /The Oakland Tribune)
CASTRO VALLEY — Here's a warning to the motorcyclist on a green Kawasaki who whizzes along Palomares Road around 6:30 p.m. daily.

Area residents have complained about your speed, and law enforcement motorcycle patrols are looking for you.

The rural, winding road linking Castro Valley and Sunol has become a raceway resembling the Laguna Seca course in Monterey County, residents told Alameda County and California Highway Patrol representatives last week.

Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley called an informal meeting Wednesday after Palomares Road residents complained about traffic.

"You cannot walk on the side of the road safely without being ever vigilant," Louise Zizileuskas said.

"Palomares has one way in and one way out," added Doug King, saying many motorists traveling at unsafe speeds "have more power than brains."

They asked for help in dealing with cars, motorcycles and bicycles that speed with apparent impunity at all hours on weekdays and weekends.

You got it, county sheriff's Sgt. Tom Rodrigues told them Wednesday.

On Thursday, Rodrigues started extra patrols during morning and evening weekday commutes, and is scheduling two motorcycle patrols on Saturdays and Sundays.

In addition, he'll talk with the county's traffic engineer about preparing a Palomares Road traffic count and installing "Area patrolled with radar" signs.

A few homes and ranches line the approximately eight-mile valley created by
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Palomares Road between Interstate 580 in Castro Valley and state Highway 84 in Sunol.

It is a popular route listed on bicycling Web sites, because bicycles can descend through that area at more than 50 mph.

It was the second time in a month Castro Valley residents have pleaded with the county and CHP to help reduce traffic speeds on their streets. In March, Stanton Avenue residents complained about cut-through traffic from Castro Valley Boulevard in downtown Castro Valley.

"The chief concern to people is traffic, speed and illegal parking," Rodrigues told the neighbors and county Supervisor Nate Miley. "Not crime. They just talk about traffic."

Karen Holzmeister covers Castro Valley, the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District, and county government for unincorporated areas. She can be reached at (510) 293-2478 or kholzmeister@dailyreviewonline.com.

[FlyinZX-10R]

"They asked for help in dealing with cars, motorcycles and bicycles that speed with apparent impunity at all hours on weekdays and weekends."



Bicycles lol.

[edweird]

It's an alternative to the I-580 parking lot, during rush hour. As more and more folks move into the central valley and commute into the Bay area, the traffic congestion gets worse, and folks who once lived in outlying or out of the way rural areas begin to complain about traffic.