Part 2: Evolving my commute route

Lawrence Station underpass was a welcome addition, for the most part.

Lawrence Station underpass was a welcome addition, for the most part.



It takes time to find the best route to work, and experimentation. You’ll never know if a route is good unless you try it.

It took me more than a decade to settle on the ideal route to work in the area of Kifer Road and Lawrence Expressway in Santa Clara. The route has changed in part because I got tired of dealing with the Caltrain railroad tracks.


Early on I tried taking Kiely Boulevard north from Pruneridge. If ever there was a road to avoid, Kiely is it. It’s bumper to bumper traffic, lots of stop lights and downright miserable riding. I quickly gave up on that option.


I then settled on Pomeroy Avenue (bike lane), jogging left on Warburton to Nobili Avenue (light traffic) north to Monroe Street. I’d take a left onto Monroe (no stop light so it was a chore) and pick up a frontage road, French Street, next to Lawrence Expressway. Today there’s a massive apartment under construction at the Lawrence/Monroe intersection.


However, I had to walk my bike up stairs and down stairs on a Caltrain overpass. It was a big pain. Once the Lawrence Station was remodeled in the early 2000s, I could take the underpass, although bikes must be walked through the subway.


There’s a handicap ramp, but it’s also prohibited to ride bikes on it. After a while I got tired of the hassle and quit taking that route. (The Lawrence Station area will be built out with housing and retail in the coming years. I’m not sure bicycle access will improve, but city planners do seem to have bikes in mind these days.)


Another issue cropped up when going home by that same route. I cut through an office complex parking lot to get to Nobili. Eventually I couldn’t cut through the parking lot when it was closed off, so the route home no longer appealed to me. French Street is one-way going north.


I also tried out Willow, Monroe, Timberpine, Halford Avenue, Benton, but it took me out of my way and the roads are congested from high-density housing on Halford.


Next I’ll discuss San Tomas Expressway and how I rode it daily for many years.


Pomeroy route, used for about five years. Caltrain underpass was the only issue. (Google Map)

Pomeroy route, used for about five years. Caltrain underpass was the only issue. (Google Map)


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Published on July 31, 2016 11:29
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