Memorial Day, the unofficial beginning of the summer tourist season is almost upon us. Tuesday the Board of Supervisors took up the issue of a moratorium on parking at Bixby Creek Bridge. It passed by a majority vote with 2 abstemsias. It will take effect at sometime in the not to distant but unknown future date. It is just the most recent attempt to address an out-of-control situation that has resulted in a dangerous and unsustainable condition that has been present ever since Big Little Lies made it part of their opening credits in 2017.
Those who live and work in Big Sur need no reminder of what it can be like to try to get anywhere that involves crossing Bixby Bridge or heading home up the Coast Road. Just this past Tuesday, a Big Sur friend who had an appointment in town on Tuesday wrote me that Bixby Bridge was “insane” — her word, not mine. That’s on a TUESDAY in May, not a weekend during the summer. Here is what Bixby Bridge was like in 2024 — when the road was still closed to the south.
See Video shot by Marcus Foster Memorial Day weekend 2024 here: https://youtu.be/cLybEK7sS9w?si=0lCEAwMke2aBrE8k or here: https://bigsurkate.blog/2024/05/28/bixby-bridge-memorial-day-weekend/ (I apologize, I did my best to embed this video here, but it didn’t’ think this version of WordPress was compatible with the current version of you tube, despite the fact that it is still playing on the prior post linked above. It is beyond my pay grade to spend any more time on it, just click on the prior bigsurkate post.)
Since it opened, Traffic heading north at Ragged Point has increased 900% — you read that right 900%. That will quickly turn Highway One between Ragged Point and Carmel into a parking lot. Of course, Mama Sur has a way of shaking off or tossing out too many people and particularly the wrong type of people who do not respect her. If in fact we get the Monster El Niño which seems to be developing for this winter, the road will close again somewhere. The only question is where. There are several places that have slid before that I notice are moving again. I am not the only one noticing.
So my advice to those visiting is to enjoy Big Sur and all her beauty, but treat her well. Be mindful of others who will pick up after you so there is no health hazard and so that others may enjoy her beauty; be mindful of traffic, and treat ALL your fellow travelers on this highway with even MORE respect than you expect to be treated. Only stop where there are turnouts and at businesses that can and will welcome you. And lastly, both the mountains and the ocean here are quite treacherous in Big Sur. Please don’t put our first responders in danger by needing to be rescued from some bad decision YOU made. We love and need them. Thank you.
Kate,
Not sure how they are going to enforce this. Most people will just ignore the signs or barricades they put up. They will have to have law enforcement there most of the day. Pt. Lobos has become a problem also. Most people are ignoring those signs also.
It’s a start I wish them good luck. Last times I have been down the pictures you show tell the story.
Richard
People don’t know how to contain their excitement about their visit to Big Sur so they focus on the unusual old bridge. They are stupid and forget how they endanger others by stopping and blocking the road. You just need to reconsider your passage., before you get there., there is no stopping the idiots.
hopefully they will have law-enforcement/traffic control in place starting Friday through Monday. For now really that’s the only answer to keep traffic moving.