Dangerous Bike Rides: LA - San Pedro to Long Beach

[@DatuSumakwel7]

This is the most stressful cycling video I’ve seen. You’re awfully brave! Hopefully things will change.

[@susanmorash991]

You're scaring the hell out of me....geesh

[@entitledcycling]

That's what I'm here for!

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Use to ride those routes years ago. Can't say we miss it.

[@entitledcycling]

they're rough!

[@AdamFaruqi]

I've gotten flats twice from riding across that bridge on Anaheim into/out of Wilmington. So much glass and metal debris in the bike lane. Not to mention the amount of truck traffic passing at 60mph inches away... It's terrifying, especially at night. I will never ride there ever again.

[@entitledcycling]

You and me both! Can't believe they have the nerve to paint a "bike lane" on the shoulder.

[@crismendicino4633]

Westside of long beach is the absolute worst in terms of air quality/biking infrastructure. I steer clear at all costs.

[@jayel27]

To be fair, you stayed in a port city and rode to another port city through the industrial routes and rode around the neglected part of the city. Probably not the best route to ride unless it’s your commute to work. Perhaps you didn’t know that. Glad you made it out safe.

[@mattf49006]

No kidding..I was born and raised in Pedro and there is no way I'd ride that route

[@babygrill01]

I presumed this was the first route that google maps gave him?

[@Jesus.X]

I still ride this route when I got from LB to the port of call area in san pedro go through Wilmington too you also have the threat of feral dogs that pop out on anaheim st toward the Wilmington area.

[@JD010ify]

Most respect for cycling in this Madhouse of a City.

[@bikelaneslosangeles]

I’m surprised the bridge didn’t collapse under the weight of your cojones. I remember riding that route like 6 years ago and I’m still traumatized by all the trucks.

[@entitledcycling]

Lol, that's a lot of weight! Ya, it was a really rough ride. Now knowing it better I think I would make a different route decision but I'm not sure it would be any better.

[@radioguybigd]

Do you control your camera while in use or during edit? Also, what kind of bike do you ride?

[@entitledcycling]

In the description I have more specifics on my whole setup, but my road bike is a specialized Roubaix 2021 elite. I don't control the camera while riding, I use a 360 camera and edit it later in Adobe premiere with a GoPro reframe plugin.

[@radioguybigd]

@@entitledcycling those 360 cameras are great. They make the best videos.

[@gregors1422]

Used to live not far from here... yes, I'd never do that ride!

[@sampotts4565]

Need more of these please!

[@entitledcycling]

Got lots more in the pipeline!

[@waltarrrrr]

Yup. Did a similar ride from Long Beach to the South Bay last month. Bonkers how there just isn’t a low stress way to ride from east to west. Seems like the truckers around the port are really trying to kill cyclists.

[@grahamturner2640]

1:30 is that a cloverleaf interchange? If so, I wonder if there's any way to accommodate cyclists without grade separation. I imagine SPUIs are better for bikes than cloverleaf interchanges, as there's an expectation for people getting off the freeway to at least yield, and there isn't nearly as much of a dangerous merge zone. And that's saying a lot, as even trying to walk across as SPUI is stressful, even if you're not crossing the arterial road. I know, because I've done it before.

[@toiangaran]

Aiya, you're a brave soul

[@cycologist7069]

I grew up close to that area. in my 20s I lived on the corner of Wardlow and Santa Fe (mid 80s, kind of the hood but not as bas as other parts of LB). It's looking like it's still not good for biking, at least not from what you're showing.

[@wanglelife]

Those freeway on ramps are nerve racking. The psychology of drivers is that they are expecting to speed up going onto the freeway, making vehicle speeds even higher. This is a very dangeous point of conflict because slowing down and yielding to a cyclist is the last thing they want to do. That road is purely designed for car travel no matter what the sign says about a "bike route". I dare anyone at the DOT to ride this bike route. A similar situation is the north bound Glendale onramp to the 2.

[@Nonkel_Jef]

Jfc the audacity to even place those sharrows and "bike route" signs in places that show zero consideration for cyclists otherwise.

[@Free-g8r]

It's just so the city council can announce "30 miles of new biking routes added last year!" and pat themselves on the back

[@Valley.Visitor]

Brave journey 👀 👏 Sharing Road with cars can get wild.

[@phuturephunk]

All of these lanes are just a scheme to get matching funds from the feds for road work. Such a racket.

[@cycologist7069]

Really you're not a fan of the ocean?

[@entitledcycling]

Lol, I grew up on Cape Cod but never liked the beach, can barely swim. I've only been in the Pacific once in the 17 years I've lived in LA

[@cycologist7069]

@@entitledcycling Oh wow. I guess for me it’s just interesting. I grew up in SoCal surfing. I don’t surf anymore but love to paddleboard. Cape Cod is a popular kiteboarding and windsurfing area.

[@cantseenothing]

Is Google maps the best guide for cyclists? Might Waze have a cyclist's setting? The directions you're getting seem to be part of the problem (although admittedly I'm unfamiliar with the area) Other parts of PCH certainly are bike-friendly.

[@Chris-0703]

I have a goal of collectively cycling the entire western US coast and knocked out this same segment last November. It was the worst cycling experience of my life. I was almost mauled by an off-leash pit bull but luckily the owner got a hold of it before it got to me. I don't understand how people even live in Wilmington, it may be the worst place I've ever been.

[@docouchi7929]

Del amo BLVD is not for the faint hearted … when I hit it.. I try to max out to keep up with traffic

[@Primeros1000]

Yeah thats why its hard to bike as a hobby in LA

[@joshuaconstantine1209]

@2:22 Oh the square rotary with the stop sign you rolled through? hahahah

[@entitledcycling]

It's a rotary. You yield at rotaries, you don't stop.

[@joshuaconstantine1209]

@@entitledcycling Bro there's GIANT letters on the ground that say stop, a bright red stop sign, and a sign that says cross traffic does not stop (that would be the dudes coming to your right and left). There is no situation where Stop signs are optional bud, but like most cyclists you're clueless and a danger to everyone around you. Good luck with getting better at reading I guess.

[@ribstogo12]

@@joshuaconstantine1209 You're right. He did roll through the stop sign. Although, stop signs are really there for the 2ton+ vehicles that speed through the streets. Drivers are a danger to everyone around them.

[@joshuaconstantine1209]

@@ribstogo12 Cyclist are legally required to follow the same rules of the road in all 50 states as a motor vehicle. If you make the conscious choice to take your life into your own hands on a 11lb bicycle thats on you, not the reasoning adults in motor vehicles around you. As for danger, when a cyclist blew a stop sign and pushed me into the choice of running him over or moving into oncoming traffic, I'm quite glad a cop was behind me to pull him over.

[@ribstogo12]

@@joshuaconstantine1209 there are actually exceptions for cyclists. And while I know that cyclists do cause dangerous situations sometimes, it's dwarfed by motor vehicles.

[@mrbadguysan]

I rode from downtown LBC to San Pedro once. Never again.

[@cycologist7069]

On another note, Whiskey Flats BBQ S. Pacific Ave (SP) has some seriously good eats if you are in a carnivore mood.

[@chrisdurso6289]

Oh Oh Oh I know the answer, or maybe an update because this path might not have been open at the time this was filmed. The long awaited bike path on the Seaside Highway (710) has been opened part way (just wait another 50 years and maybe the St. Vincent Bridge will continue it to go directly to San Pedro) opening a passage from Ocean Blvd to Pico, Pier B, Anaheim Way so that much of Anaheim Road can be bypassed with somewhat better roads. Also zigzagging through the streets North and West of Alameda Street while congested with large trucks I find more sane than the more direct Alameda Street because at least these vehicles are maneuvering in cramped space and are not traveling at excess speeds on very bad pavement. Why is this important? Answering @jayel27 and others, though I infrequently ride here myself, and as bad as it really is, this is the best way (and I solicit better suggestions) for those touring along the coast. This whole section has got to be in the top ten worst choke points of all the Western United States coastal touring. I would not comment on such an old @entitledcycling video except for my desire that this non obvious detour might just help someone out!