Comments on: Fremont moves to ban trucks from Niles Canyon Road

By: californiaguy

californiaguy — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 01:55:33 +0000

I like Pauls Idea about closing Niles Canyon to auto traffic, There would be some small inconviences, but look what we gain, a beautiful walking, hiking and biking trail. This would allow people to see the beautiful scenery without getting into a auto accident.

By: MikeOnBike

MikeOnBike — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:47:39 +0000

Don’t worry Marty, it’s almost 3 miles from Weibel to the intersection of North Mission and 680, so the Niles Canyon traffic diverted to 238/680 is outside the radius.

By: Marty

Marty — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 20:24:01 +0000

Let’s just close Niles Canyon to all vehicles that weigh more than 20 kilograms. I'm sorry Paul, but that would put more traffic onto 680, which is in the prohibitive zone defined by the FCN as a 2 mile radius surrounding Weibel elementary.

By: Paul L. Knight

Paul L. Knight — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 19:59:27 +0000

I have a better answer to Charlotte Allen (comment 21). Let’s just close Niles Canyon to all vehicles that weigh more than 20 kilograms. That is, make the road into a bicycle and pedestrian pathway between Sunol and Fremont. By lowering the speed and mass of the objects moving along that road, the death and injury rate from accidents will approach zero, the death rate due to accidents for people while using the Alameda Creek Trail.

By: Charlotte Allen

Charlotte Allen — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:26:08 +0000

We can solve the problem by putting speed bumps on Niles Canyon all the way from Fremont to Sunol.

By: VOR

VOR — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 22:20:38 +0000

Let’s plant oak trees down the center median, add more curves and calm the traffic. Make it so slow that trucks won’t want to take it and the speedsters using it as a commuter short cut will get frustrated and avoid it. Just a nice country ride.
Just look at Hwy. 17 over the summit. What a nut ride that can be!

By: MikeOnBike

MikeOnBike — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 21:58:07 +0000

Def2251 said “I also think that bicyclists should not be allowed.”

Since Niles Canyon isn’t a freeway, bicyclists can’t be restricted:

http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21960.htm

There’s no practical alternative cycling route. Motorists have the option of taking 680 over the Sunol Grade.

Here’s a detailed summary of the laws about cycling:

http://www.cabobike.org/articles/bicycles-and-the-law/

By: californiaguy

californiaguy — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:26:04 +0000

Jen, The problem is not the drivers that are following speed limit and is paying attention.
It is the drivers who do not. I have witnessed two head on collisions in Niles Canyon Road. The innocent people had no where to go. The hill went straight up on there side of the road., there was no place to go and avoid the head on. If the road was wide enough then perhaps some head-ons can be eliminated. I have been driving Niles Canyon for 54 years.
I still remember high school kids killed in the Canyon and having there demolished car put on display at Washington High School

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:47:24 +0000

Unless you are visually impaired or drunk, Niles Canyon Road is not a difficult road to navigate IF you are driving the speed limit and paying attention.

That goes for any road. The Highway 37 comparison is a good one. That is long and straight and is well known for being a particularly deadly road. I think Highway 4 (or is it 12?) has quite a few head on crashes and the same goes for that one – very straight.

I’ve been driving Niles Canyon Road since I had a learner’s permit. It’s not too narrow. It is a mildly windy two lane road. It even has the rumble strip down the middle now. It makes no sense to spend money to widen the road even further.

By: Martin

Martin — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 06:54:11 +0000

I remember a skit by “Galliger”(? spelling) about every driver having a dart gun that would shoot “stupid darts” and when a car had several “stupid darts” on it the police would then pull the driver over and give the driver a ticket for being “stupid”.

I doubt any “oak trees” would have “stupid darts” stuck to it.

I have NEVER had a problem driving Niles Canyon (in my car or on my motorcycle). Each lane is probably 12′ wide……and it’s considered narrow ??? For what, a battleship ?

Blind curves ??? Where ??? If you practice “looking through” the corner while driving, making the turn is a basic driving skill that most drivers perform daily without issues.

Poor visibility at night ??? That what your headlights are for, and if needed and/or possible use your high beams.

38% of the accidents “involved” trucks…the remainding 62% involved “cars and motorcycles”

The supposed reasons for changing Niles Canyon just don’t add up.