Ride Start: University Park
Please park on streets & gather at building
ROUTE SLIPS: Tu21 Irvine (4/8/25)
The Olive Grove Café on Burt/Progress, west of Sand Canyon
29.9 miles (14.9) +678 ft {CF 2 22.7 ’/m}
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41602018
25* miles (14.9) +523 ft {CF 2 20.9 ’/m}
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41602046
(Skips some of Spectrum, Thomas, Rockfield, Bake and upper SD Creek on return)
Savvy Tips for Route 21:
The full route takes Bake across the 405 freeway...
All though Bake is a Class II bikeway, Irvine and Caltrans have failed to paint any of their own Complete Streets tools, and allows both right lanes to enter the freeway at two high speed entrances. Mile 19.7 to 20.3 can be a very stressful 1/2 mile.
Even though posted at 50 MPH, motorists speed on Bake, and they accelerate as they merge into the high speed entrances, making it critical for cyclists to assert their lane position early to be seen and safely cross the freeway.
You can’t signal and hope to be let over, you need to time your merge and be assertive.
Rockfield to Bake: @Mile 19.7
• Pause on Rockfield to regroup; several cyclists together have an advantage to be seen and control any lane. Pausing also lets you time the signal so less traffic is coming down Bake behind you as you merge into the road. This is a perfect place to use the Right on Green CycleSavvy tip: Stop on the red and WAIT until the green light - Bake traffic will be held with a red light and give you at least a head start on the road.
• Merge out of the narrowing #4 lane as soon as possible to control the #3 lane.
There is no room to ride the gutter & share the #4 lane with passing vehicles.
Clear the #4 RTOL: take & Control the #3 lane or take the sidewalk.
If you don’t feel safe merging over, use a driveway to get onto the sidewalk.