Hazardous Conditions on California Street

Current conditions

Narrow sidewalks: The sidewalks along California Street vary in range from 5 to 6.5 feet in width.  On a long stretch from Castro Street  to Escuela Avenue, the sidewalk has no planting strip or buffer against automobile traffic. Pedestrians waiting at bus stop benches are particularly vulnerable because parked cars, which would provide a safety barrier, are disallowed.

Insufficient set-backs: Many residences along California Street have very shallow yards and no access to a side street. With a narrow 5-6 foot sidewalk and no planting strip, residents are exposed to the risks of street traffic as soon as they step out their doors.

Sidewalk obstructions: Sidewalks are often obstructed by utility poles, street light poles, street sign poles, trees, fire hydrants, utility boxes, and benches. It is not possible to walk side-by-side, pass pedestrians coming from the opposite direction, or lead a child by the hand comfortably,

“Dooring” hazard: Narrow bike lanes put the cyclists in the “door zone” of parked cars.

Street Hazards

Poor visibility when crossing: When crossing California Street, pedestrians lean very far into the roadway or must be on the roadway itself to view oncoming traffic. There are no crosswalks at unsignalized intersections.

Speeding: Motorists on California Street frequently exceed the posted speed limit, 35 miles per hour. The Mountain View Police Department is not able to enforce a lower speed limit because the current street is designed for slower moving automobile traffic.

Long crossing distances:  To cross California Street, pedestrians must traverse four lanes of traffic and frequently must wait on the centerline. Motorists are often travelling over the speed limit making it harder for them to notice those crossers and for the crossers to judging timing.

Uneven sidewalk surfaces: Uneven sidewalk surfaces caused by driveway breaks and tree root uplift cause trip hazards. Navigation is difficult for strollers, wagons, and wheelchairs.

Injuries and fatalities

Since 2010, there were three pedestrian fatalities on California Street. All fatalities occurred along the section of California Street between Castro Street to Escuela Avenue. This section of California Street is characterized by narrow sidewalks (5 feet to 6.5 feet wide) and the lack of a physical buffer, such as a planting strip, to protect pedestrians from fast moving automobile traffic.