As I have been saying for almost a year now, I won’t be posting the horror stories of overtourism any longer — they are multiplying faster than I can keep track. It is a worldwide phenomena.
Big Sur is exploring solutions, but to get there, we need data. Counters have recently put in a number of places (5?) on Carmel Valley Road, and I expect the same will happen here on Highway One. I have suggested a number of additional places NOT on Highway One. CABS put out an email request for suggestions on where they should be, and I answered.
Once I have something concrete to report, on anything about overtourism and Big Sur, I will do so. In the meantime, want to do something? Write to your state representatives (in CA) and point out the hypocrisy of this state’s position of climate change vis-a-vis the position of our tourist agency — visitcalifornia.com
California wants to be a leader in tackling climate change and yet it, through its tourist agency (paid for with our state taxes), uses the “road trip” as its major selling point for our state. We pay taxes for emissions control and development of green technology, for example, while we also pay taxes to invite people from all over the country and the world to take the ultimate road trip here — SF to LA — the usual route taken to sell our state to other countries. This adds to the environmental impacts we are trying to avoid — by tens of millions if not billions. This is the height of not just hypocrisy but of idiocy. Climate change is real. The science supports it. And where is California on the issue? Bringing in millions and millions of airplanes, cars and drivers to accelerate this change. I thought we were smarter than this. Contact your representatives and ask them to be smart.
agree wholeheartedly. pimping our glorious outdoors for bucks, despoiling them in the process. Happening in SLO county too, while encouraging alcohol consumption as a major goal to the trip!
Kate, 5 counters is about right on CVR. I gather it also includes the speed detection LED sign as well located across from the library going eastbound..Keep in mind: Our cycling / scooter/ motor 2 wheel community is another group who would like to be counted in this traveling crowd too.
7 segments of CVR, divided for the traffic studies and data, so there must be at least 7……also, on Carmel Rancho last week…..
Best of luck with Caltrans………hold their feet to the fire! We can do this! Use our taxes to support this!
Our counting system is part of the MC general plan, and CVLUP……goes back decades….lots of data. Also, a rather expensive corridor study. More data. It sure is valuable.
The LED signs were paid for by local fundraising…..a triumph! The CVRAC and traffic engineer applied for grants…..didn’t get, locals raised the funds…..
We support, and share, your goals
Kate, my scope on CVR data and mind stops at Esquiline Rd, so, I could easily short circuit/change the number of data points when considering CVR intersects Arroyo Seca Rd way beyond Cachagua and Tassajara. The second LED Speed Detection sign going westbound is feet away from PGE transmission station near Esquiline; there could be plenty more I’m not aware of elsewhere. I’m happy to see Katie is all over this – where can locals access all this data online? Thanks..
Andrew, go to County website, RMA, then Carmel Valley Road Advisory Committee…….there you will find DATA! Years of meeting minutes, reports, corridor studies, CVTIP reports, future meetings, agendas for the upcoming meeting, etc.
I have served on the committee for roughly ten years. Please, attend a meeting and introduce yourself. The problems and solutions are complicated and take lots of time and effort……I think those electronic speed signs took about 6 years after being proposed. Locals made it happen, with County support and guidance.
The formal traffic counts take place twice a year….June and October. Then, the road segments receive a rating: LOS ( level of service ) A-F. Intersections and accident statistics are studied. The data helps with land use planning.
Hello Central Coastal Folks,
Climate change is definately real and our weather pattern lining up this Fall is directly in line with what climatologist have predicted could become the new normal-DRY! The global teleconnective variables are alligning now for strong West Coast Ridging or the persistence of the “North Pacific High” thru October and a very good chance thru mid November and maybe even December. For those asking, the NPH is the atmospheric phenomena that creates our dry summers and sometimes even our dry winters. The specific variables at play are the Madden Julian Oscillation and Indian Ocean Dipole with ENSO in Neutral and not predicted to have much influence on the larger scale global pattern. The IOD has been moving toward a positive regime for the last 10 months or so and is one major reason Australia is in a severe drought in large areas, and wild fires are burning hot and dangerous in New South Whales! This positive phase of the IOD concentrates the warmer ocean sea surface temperatures toward the west equatorial basin of the Indian Ocean, with cooler water off Indonesia and Sumatra. So why do we care about the Indian Ocean and how does this relate to Fire weather in Big Sur? The answer is the interplay and forcing it exerts on the propagation of the Madden Julian around the equator and the subsequent equatorial Rossby waves and Atmospheric Kelvin waves it creates. The positive phase of the IOD has been locking the MJO into the phase 8 or in the Central and Eastern Pacific equatorial region and while this phase supports wetter cooler weather in the early Fall it transitions to warmer drier weather in Central California as the Westerlies build strength and the jetstream rides over California and dips into the Intermountain West forming down sloping off shore winds or Santa Anas.This is the pattern lining up at the moment with dry weather predicted- besides a couple rain drops maybe tomorrow morning Thursday 10/17-that appears to be establishing thru the Fall and maybe into the early Winter.The Joint Typhoon Center is watching to see if the models predict a shift of the MJO into the Indian Ocean and what the strength of this event will be- some models do not see the +IOD destructively interfering with the MJO, however as the MJO moves over cooler water in the East equatorial Indian Ocean the outflow should diminish along with the thunderstorms or low pressure that could help break down the ridging off California and allow wetting rains and repreive from the wild fire danger. If the MJO stays intact our chances for rain increase as the Asia Pacific jetstream extends into the Central Northern Pacific but this does not look too probable. So the takeaway from this comment is fire season is no where near done and everyone needs to be vigilant and prepared for dry fire weather into November and report any signs of fire danger immediately!
Katie, CPC/CC: “DRIVERS GET NEW WARNING SIGNS ABOUT VILLAGE SPEED LIMIT” pg 6/18a, Surprise.
http://pineconearchive.fileburstcdn.com/191018PCA.pdf