To the runners preparing for the Rock ‘N’ Roll Half-Marathon this Saturday, Oct. 5: Good luck!

To the motorists planning on driving through the city this weekend: Good luck! You will meet plenty of road closures, clogged freeway exits and a lot of athletic-type people running around. They get their exercise while you continue to pollute, which makes these traffic headaches even more guilt-inducing.

But never fear! Here’s a map to help you avoid running over those athletic-types with your SUV (click to enlarge, and notice I said AVOID):

And here’s more traffic information I got via the marathon’s Web site:

Freeway Information

No freeways will be closed on race day; however, expect delays on Highway 87 near downtown and Highway 880 near Bascom Avenue due to the close proximity of the race course to those roads.

Specific Access Routes
Fairmount Hotel / St. Joseph’s Basilica:
Due to close proximity to the finish line at Plaza de Cesar Chavez, allow extra time for alternate access and expect delays before the race starts (7- 8:00 am). Use the following access route during the race (8:00 am – 12 Noon): From San Carlos Street, use 1st and 2nd Street to connect with San Fernando Street. Hotel guests will be metered in/out on Market Street.

Hotel DeAnza
Please notify the hotel’s valet parking service on Saturday night if you will
be leaving between 7:00 and 10:00 am. The race organizers have arranged
for hotel parking on Notre Dame, between Santa Clara and Carlysle
Streets. From this parking area, you will be able to drive north on Notre
Dame, turn left on Julian Street, and access Highway 87/Guadalupe
Parkway. To access the San Jose airport, follow directions above to
Highway 87 north and follow signs to airport. Prior to the complete
reopening of Santa Clara Street/The Alameda at 12:30 pm, use Highway 87
to return to the Hotel De Anza before 10:00 am. From Highway 87, exit east
on Julian Street, turn right on North Almaden Blvd, left on Carlysle Street
and right onto Notre Dame Ave.

Cory Neighborhood
Residents between Newhall and Hedding, Monroe and Bascom, can use
Cherrystone Drive to exit this part of the route between 7:00-11:30 am.
Roiscrucian Neighborhood – YMCA, Calvary & Scientology Churches
Residents, YMCA patrons and church visitors can use Park Avenue for
inbound access and The Alameda for outbound access between 8:00 am
and 12 Noon.

For more assistance regarding road closures and alternate access routes, please
email SJCommunity@eliteracing.com. Please provide as much information as pos-
sible, including your starting and ending destinations, so that we can more readily
assist you.

On Monday September 22, people from around the world get together to celebrate a day without cars. With gas prices at an all time high, Carfree Day is the perfect time to leave your car at home and get around your neighborhood and the region by foot, bike, bus, and train or by sharing the ride.

I did not find any events listed for San Jose nor did I find any information on the VTA site saying what a great day to take public transit. Carfree Day is not mentioned on the San Jose Green Vision site. People asleep at the wheel. You and I knew about World Carfree Day, right?

San Jose-based eBay with an auction featuring flights.

Take a look at JetBlue on eBay

The VTA will be replacing the embedded light rail track in the roadway at the First and Devine streets intersection beginning Friday afternoon 1:00 pm through about 4:00 am Monday morning.

During this time a free “bus bridge” will replace light rail service between the Convention Center station and the Civic Center station with stops at the San Antonio, Santa Clara, St. James and Japantown/Ayer stations. The substitute “bus bridge” service runs at the same frequency as light rail service.

In addition, during this time northbound vehicle traffic on First Street will be detoured west on Devine Street, north on Market Street, east on Julian Street and then north on First Street.

All light rail bus bridge stops, including the one for southbound Japantown/Ayer passengers, are located adjacent to the affected stations; however, northbound passengers ending their trip at the Japantown/Ayer station will be dropped off at a temporary bus stop at Third and Empire streets.

The repair work involves demolishing existing concrete, removing old, worn rail, laying new track, and pouring new concrete.

More detailed information here.

Downtown Light Rail Closure
Beginning Friday August 22, 1:00 pm

VTA Customer Service 408-321-2300

The SJ City council approved a meter increase:

$3.50 flag drop - ($5 flag drop out of SJC.)
$3 per mile
$30 per hour wait time
$1.50 extra for any trip to SJC

A study will be conducted to evaluate customer reaction to a $15 minimum taxi fare out of SJC.

I betcha no one will be for that one! Especially the people that like to park at a near by business, and then take the cheap (taxi) way.

With my last months gas receipts adding up to $1,500, I was almost giddy to find gas at $4.13 a gallon. We (taxi drivers) have been only hanging in there for sometime now. If the city council approves a meter increase this afternoon it won’t totally fix the situation, but it will help keep the taxicabs rollin’.

The new ‘flag drop’ would be $3.50 - the per mile charge would then be $3.00.

A $15.00 minimum out of SJC would be appreciated.

Mayor Chuck Reed is for the hike, and hopefully he will have some influence with the city council.

While driving south on 280 between 85 and Apple’s main campus I noticed a humongous white plastic looking object on the left side of the freeway. What could it be? — A utility pole? A transmission tower? Would it soon be seeking signs from Martians?

This is what I have discovered:

Once upon a time, (two decades ago) the city of Cupertino was busy getting ready to connect Mary Ave. This would be accomplished with a car overpass spanning 280. Earthen ramps were readied on both sides. Then the city began to hear that the residents living near Stevens Creek were raising concerns. What impact would the traffic have on their neighborhood? The work was halted.

Fast-forward to 2008 and we find that the city of Cupertino is once again attempting to traverse 280. This time it will be with a Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge. For reference: walkers and bicyclists will be able to move from the area of De Anza College to Homestead High School with ease.

Unless you have been asleep at the wheel, you should know that the new wireless hands free while driving law has begun.

Actually, there are two new laws taking effect today, July 1, the first prohibits all drivers from using a handheld wireless phone while operating a motor vehicle. Drivers 18 and over may use a hands-free device. The second law is that drivers under the age of 18 may not use a wireless phone or hands-free device while operating a motor vehicle.

Drivers 18 and over will be allowed to use a hands-free device to talk on their wireless phone while driving using a Bluetooth earpiece, corded headset, or the wireless phone’s speakerphone.

The base fine for the first offense is $20 and $50 for subsequent convictions. With the addition of penalty assessments, the fines can be more than triple the base fine amount.

DMV FAQs

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All this week, any form of exercise (like biking) is dangerous for your lungs. Yesterday a garbage truck flies over the center divider and crashes into a truck carrying coffins on 880 near San Leandro. Both drivers killed and 880 closed for 10 hours. This morning, BART 12th street station is shut down due to a bomb threat with bomb dogs and the bomb squad being called in (turned out to be a false alarm.) 

Commuting is getting more dangerous every day.