ESCONDIDO: Tour of Traffic

By GARY WARTH - nctimes.com

Cycling fans directed to lots to avoid jams

NORTH COUNTY --- With more than 40,000 fans expected to watch the final stage of the Tour of California in North County on Sunday, motorists are being asked to take shuttles, ride their own bicycles and park in assigned lots to avoid traffic jams.

Even during the rain-soaked first stages of the race that began Feb. 14 in Sacramento, thousands of race fans braved wet weather to watch some of the world's top cyclists ride through their towns. With the National Weather Service predicting a partly cloudy day with highs in the 70s on the tour's final day, local organizers are bracing for large crowds of cars and pedestrians along North County's normally quiet Sunday streets.

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Unlike in other stages throughout the state where the start and finish lines were as far as 100 miles apart, the start and finish lines in the 96.8-mile final leg looping around North County are separated by only about seven miles.

Many fans are expected to try to catch both ends of the race ---- watching the racers take off from the starting line at Bernardo Center Drive between Lomica Drive and Bernardo Plaza Court in Rancho before catching the finish at Broadway and Grand Avenue in Escondido.

To avoid a sudden mass northern migration, motorists are advised to park in one of three locations that offer free shuttles to the start and finish lines. From 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., shuttles will run to the Rancho Bernardo starting line from Westfield Mall in Escondido, San Pasqual High School at 3300 Bear Valley Parkway and National University at 16875 W. Bernardo Drive. Shuttles to the Escondido finish line will run from 12:30 to 6 p.m. from those same sites.

Parking near the starting line is available at The Plaza in Rancho Bernardo, but motorists must enter through the Lomica Drive entrance because of road closures. From Interstate 15, take Bernardo Center Drive east and turn right at Lomica Drive.

Parking for people with disabilities will be at the Bank of America parking lot, 16849 Bernardo Center Drive. For more information, call (858) 487-1767.

Parking near the race route in Escondido can be found at Escondido High School at 1535 N. Broadway, Conway Elementary School at 1325 Conway Drive, and Orange Glen Elementary School at 2861 East Valley Parkway.

Pop's Pedicab of Ramona will take fans in Escondido to the finish line for a fare of $5 to $10 a person, depending on distance, and Bike Bling bike shop of Escondido will operate a bike valet service from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For $3, cyclists can drop off their bikes at 224 E. Grand Ave., where a valet will take it to a secured location until the owner returns with a ticket to retrieve it.

In Valley Center, where spectators will converge at Cole Grade Road and Lake Wohlford Road to watch the race, parking will be available at Valley Center High at 31322 Cole Grade Road, Valley Center Middle School at 28102 N. Lake Wohlford Road, Valley Center Elementary School at 28751 Cole Grade road, Valley Center Primary School at 14249 Fruitvale Road, and at 29919 Valley Center Road.

Motorists can park along South Grade Road and East Grade Road to watch the racers ride up and down Palomar Mountain, but they better arrive early. Sgt. Lew Hill of the California Highway Patrol said people were expected to begin parking recreational vehicles on South Grade Road on Friday night to stake out the best spot to see the uphill ride.

Because of such early arrivals, South Grade Road will be closed to vehicular traffic by 9 a.m. until about 3 p.m. Sunday.

Contact staff writer Gary Warth at (760) 740-5410 or gwarth@nctimes.com.