Vacationers chasing the right shot of one among California’s most well-known bridges may quickly discover themselves out of luck.
Monterey County supervisors are weighing a sweeping proposal to ban parking for a full yr on the legendary Bixby Bridge after years of influencer-fueled chaos turned the scenic Freeway 1 landmark into what locals say is a harmful free-for-all.
The board voted Tuesday to have employees discover a brief yearlong ban on parking on or close to the bridge — a hotspot for selfie seekers, photographers and vacationers who clog the slender coastal freeway.
However earlier than any crackdown can occur, officers nonetheless have to iron out main points together with enforcement, emergency entry and authorized hurdles tied to California’s coastal guidelines.
The bridge, roughly 60 miles north of the San Luis Obispo-Monterey county line, has turn out to be floor zero for reckless vacationer conduct, with drivers stopping in site visitors, making harmful U-turns and swarming the roadway for photographs.
The end result has been nightmare site visitors jams stretching as much as a mile in each instructions — and mounting fears that any individual will ultimately be killed.
Some incidents have already pushed locals to the brink.
“I as soon as had the (driver of a) automobile in entrance of me cease simply earlier than the bridge, heading south, get out of his automobile, lock it, then stroll off to take a photograph. Left his locked automobile in the course of the highway,” Kate Novoa, higher generally known as “Large Sur Kate”, informed The Tribune.
“It occurs extra typically than one can think about … selfie persons are killing Large Sur.”
The current reopening of Freeway 1 after three years of landslide repairs has solely intensified the insanity.
“Visitation has surged considerably for the reason that roadway reopened on Jan. 15. Northbound site visitors at Ragged Level has grown greater than 900% year-over-year — clear proof of restored entry and pent-up demand for journey to this iconic coastal hall,” Go to California mentioned in a current Caltrans launch.
Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church warned the state of affairs is changing into a ticking time bomb.
“I’m actually involved in regards to the security subject,” Church mentioned. “If individuals get damage there, (or) when the primary younger child will get killed crossing the highway.”
Proper now, vacationers searching for a more in-depth take a look at the bridge have virtually nowhere secure to tug over.
Drivers routinely park haphazardly alongside the slender freeway — generally partially inside site visitors lanes — creating huge backups and harmful driving situations.
Officers beforehand blocked off 12 unofficial parking areas close to the bridge with obstacles in an try to hold site visitors transferring. Parking has additionally been banned since September 2024 alongside parts of close by Previous Coast Street.
Supervisor Kate Daniels, a lifelong Large Sur resident, pushed the problem earlier than the board after months of talks with the California Coastal Fee and county employees.
With no alternate routes across the bridge, Daniels argued a brief emergency ban would purchase officers time to discover a long-term answer.
“12 months offers us the time to provide you with a safer means to journey this stretch of freeway,” she mentioned.
Nonetheless, any ban may face a rocky highway forward.
County officers warned supervisors that parking restrictions in coastal areas are steadily challenged by the Coastal Fee, particularly when public entry is affected.
That concern prompted Supervisors Luis Alejo and Chris Lopez to abstain from the vote.
Alejo warned that even putting in “no parking” indicators would require a coastal growth allow that might spark years of authorized battles.
Then got here the query of who would truly implement the principles.
“Enforcement points come again to who,” Lopez mentioned, pointing to restricted staffing from the California Freeway Patrol and Monterey County Sheriff’s Workplace.
Lopez instructed different choices may go higher, together with reopening some parking areas and hiring personal contractors to direct site visitors and subject citations.
The board is anticipated to revisit the problem within the coming weeks.
