County Supes will consider a 12-month moratorium on parking at Bixby Bridge in Big Sur.

Of the most photographed places in California, Bixby Bridge in Big Sur may rank among the top five. But the destination was never meant to become one. Now, a chronic and growing stream of visitors looking to snap their shot alongside the highway regularly pose serious safety concerns.

On Tuesday, May 19, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to consider a 12-month moratorium on parking in the immediate vicinity of Bixby Bridge on Highway 1 in response to a request from Supervisor Kate Daniels. If passed, the moratorium would go into effect before Memorial Day weekend, one of the busiest weekends of the year, marking the start of summer.

“What’s really come to a head is the way in which people are parking and stopping on the highway. The backup has just become miles long in both directions,” Daniels says. “I hear from the public safety entities – just sheer exasperation.”

Unprecedented traffic congestion during spring break at Bixby Bridge, Point Lobos and Garrapata State Park caused issues not only for local commuters, but also for local emergency responders.

California Highway Patrol officers and State Parks rangers attempted to keep the onslaught of visitors moving, Daniels says, but the effort has reportedly stretched officers too thin, delayed emergency responses and complicated access for local fire agencies.

In March, Daniels met with California Coastal Commission staff to explore possible management strategies. The moratorium, which would be the first of its kind at Bixby Bridge, is intended to give officials time to develop longer-term solutions.

“This is a challenge that we’ve been dealing with for a very long time,” Daniels says. “But Bixby Bridge is a trip, not a destination.”