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Ranchos Palos Verdes South Receives Six Month Vehicle Ban For Two-Wheelers
A cracked sidewalk and roadway outside the Wayfarers Chapel in a landslide prone area following its closure due to land movement after heavy rains in Rancho Palos Verdes, California on February 16, 2024
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Patrick T. Fallon
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AFP
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Topline:
A two-mile stretch of road on Palos Verdes Drive South is scheduled to be closed to two-wheeled vehicles for the next six months while the city deals with accelerated land movement, which has created uneven pavement and made it unsafe to traverse.
The new ban will stretch from Wayfarers Chapel all the way to Schooner Drive.
Why it matters: According to city officials, the land has been moving at a rate of 7 to 12 inches a week. The road is a popular recreation destination for cyclists and motorcycle enthusiasts, so reaction to the proposal was met with criticism from people recommending more safety measures instead of a complete closure. However, the frequency of land movement is a problem that will require longer term solutions for recreational use. Four-wheel vehicles already have a difficult time navigating the road with many cars skidding, slamming on cracked pavement and becoming airborne over severe drops, one of which is popularly referred to as the “ski jump”.
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The backstory: The current land movement dangers were triggered by the 2024 winter storms that caused several landslides along the stretch of road, but the city has been experiencing movement on the peninsula for years. In February, the Wayfarers Chapel closed its doors due to the moving land, prompting plans to take it apart piece by piece and move it to more stable ground.
What's next: According to the city, officials will consider reopening the road to two-wheeled vehicles in six months.
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