If anyone knows how important it is to take bicycle safety seriously, it’s Mount Diablo cyclist Alan Kalin.
“I always have a flashing light in the front and back, I always have a flashing red light. Wherever you drive, it’s important that motorists see you,” Kalin said during a recent drive.
But even with full safety equipment, things can go wrong in seconds, as Kalin found out firsthand when he was hit by a car on a quiet road leading to Mount Diablo two years ago.
“Luckily I had a front camera and a rear camera. I went flying through the air. I was qualified for the air for the second time. I was not seriously injured, but I was sent to the hospital,” said he. .
At the time, Kalin — a retired teacher and colonel in the Army Reserves — was already leading an effort to make the road to Mount Diablo safer for cyclists and motorists.
The collision added its name to the growing list of crashes, close calls and near-death experiences for cyclists on the mountain. Many of these incidents have been registered by the cyclists themselves.
In 2019, one cyclist was killed outside the entrance to Mount Diablo and the cycling community has installed a white-painted ‘ghost bike’ to mark the spot.
“Maayan Jones, husband and father of three young boys, was struck and killed just down the street,” Kalin said.
Hoping to reduce or eliminate tragedies, Kalin studied collision reports and mapped the locations of all incidents.
“I realized that 80 percent of all collisions occurred on or near blind curves,” he said.
When drivers pass cyclists on the steep and winding road, they often turn into the opposite lane without being able to see if anyone is approaching. And with a thousand bicycles and cars on the mountain on busy weekend days, that is often the case.
But this week, State Parks and a crew of contractors started working on what could be a life-saving solution: bike change lanes on blind curves.
“Cyclists join the bike path, motorists are allowed to stay in their lane and not hit a descending cyclist,” Kalin said as he took in the turnout on the way to the mountain.
A total of 22 bike switches will be added to the 17 previously built on South Gate Road, and a total of 67 will be built on the mountain over the next few years at a cost of approximately $700,000.
“I love bike changes. Every bike change has the chance to avoid a collision and save a life,” he added.
Mount Diablo State Park Chief Ranger Ryen Goering said the turnout is already making a difference.
“Many of the safety improvements we have made over the years with the local cycling community and our partners. We have been able to significantly reduce many of the collisions, so we are very pleased to be able to install 22 additional bicycle switches in the park,” said Göring. “Hopefully we can install a few more in the future with additional funding.”
Kalin is nationally recognized for its safety efforts, which also include flashing message boards and smaller road signs all the way up the mountain.
“I can’t thank California State Parks enough. Motorists love the bike switches. It’s safer for motorists, it’s safer for cyclists, it’s safer for everyone,” Kalin said.
Whether you climb to the top or descend back down, Mount Diablo has long been a challenge for cyclists. The steepness and turns will ensure that this is always the case, but at least now there is a little more margin of safety.
Len Ramirez
