Ordinance to prevent parking on Highway 1 near Bixby Bridge moves forward.

Although it won’t be in effect to block roadside stop-and-gos for the upcoming Fourth of July weekend, the ordinance to prevent parking around Bixby Bridge on Highway 1 passed its first reading at the Monterey County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, June 9. 

If passed by the governing body, the ordinance would establish a 12-month ban on parking at all times on both sides of Highway 1 from approximately 900 feet north of the north abutment of Bixby Bridge to roughly 700 feet south of the south abutment of Bixby Bridge. 

In late April, Supervisor Kate Daniels requested that county staff look into implementing a moratorium on parking in the vicinity of the bridge for the protection of public health and safety of residents and visitors, held up by gawkers and selfie-takers along the scenic stretch of highway.

“With limited space for stopping and parking and an increasing visitor demand that often exceeds the limited space, first responders, residents and visitors have recently observed an increase in the frequency of motorists making sudden stops and turns on Highway 1, parking vehicles on the Highway 1 in a manner that impedes traffic, and significant numbers of pedestrians crossing the highway in an unsafe manner to enjoy the views,” the ordinance reads. “These conditions place visitors, residents, motorists, and pedestrians in danger through an increase in the potential for collisions and by delaying emergency response times due to congestion.”

The ordinance would prevent parking in the short-term and allow for coordination with stakeholders, including Caltrans, California Coastal Commission and others, to develop long-term management and access of the highway near the bridge moving forward. 

The Board of Supervisors will consider the ordinance on June 23 for a final reading and adoption. If adopted, the ordinance would go into effect 30 days later.