The Santa Cruz Ave/Alameda de las Pulgas “Y” intersection is one of the most dangerous intersections in San Mateo County. Issues of speeding traffic, red light running, danger to pedestrians and residents, and a road design that required 6,000 vehicles per day to change lanes in to a 105′ 3rd lane. That forcing of vehicles to change lanes created a dangerous and chaotic roadway with distracted drivers (trying to change lanes or dodge cars that were) where cyclists were placed in a no-mans land and at very high risk. Furthermore, that 3rd lane pushed all of that chaotic traffic up against the sidewalk endangering pedestrians and a long history of cars crashing into properties.
All of this is compounded by other unsafe conditions at the Y including long angled crosswalks, an almost always green – freeway onramp like – slip lane, virtually no cyclists safety guidance, and conditions that inspired aggressive and speeding motorists.