Hollywood sign traffic worse after re-opening of Beachwood Canyon trailhead
HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Hollywood sign is a symbol of Los Angeles, drawing in tourists and locals alike. But for those who live nearby, the traffic is becoming unbearable.
On any given day, there are streams of cars all trying to get through tight, winding roads below the Hollywood sign. It might seem like just a nuisance, but some say it's a serious problem.
"Emergency vehicles can't enter at certain times. That's a problem for the tourists, the hikers and everybody," said Fran Reichenbach with the Beachwood Canyon Neighborhood Association.
Reichenbach said the re-opening of the Beachwood Canyon trailhead earlier this month has made the traffic problems in the area worse.
Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge wants seven-day-a-week permit parking but says residents only want it on weekends. He's also proposing a city-operated shuttle service in the area.
"You can buy a ticket for $10, $15, $20 to the trailhead and you don't even park in the neighborhood," LaBonge said.
LaBonge blames most of the problems on the latest technology. Smartphones can now guide tourists and photo seekers farther into the neighborhoods than in past years.
"So if I tell them to go to the observatory and GPS tells them to come up Beachwood, they're going to come up Beachwood," LaBonge said.
The city just recently installed a gate to keep cars from heading farther up the trail. And even though the trails are open, a pedestrian gate and signs send a different message.
"They say it's closed to the public," said Mia Brunsmann of Santa Clarita. "So it's kind of like they don't want it to become a big thing."
Meantime, some hikers say while it's important to be respectful to the residents, it's also important for them to realize that they chose to buy homes in the shadow of the Hollywood sign.
"If you live here, you're going to know that this is a landmark and people are going to come and try and see it," said Shannon Pedroza of Santa Clarita.
