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Mt. Hamilton observatory parking lot closing to motorcycles

Lex Talionis

Lex Talionis

Inciteful
Joined
Oct 6, 2006
Location
San Jose, CA
Moto(s)
Valkyrie, DR650
Name
See Above
A friend and his group rode over to the Junction tavern for lunch today; one the way back his group stopped in at the Mt. Hamilton observatory parking lot to admire the view and use the restroom facilities.

While he was standing around in the lot, a Berkeley cop showed up in a Berkeley cop SUV and being a gregarious guy, my friend started a conversation with the officer.

The officer, whom my friend described as a pleasant fellow, told my friend that as of October 1, 2012, motorcycles will no longer be allowed to access the parking lot. Autos, SUVs and bicyclists will still be able to park there. Further, there will be no motorcycle parking anywhere along Hwy 130 in the vicinity of the observatory. This is supposedly due to complaints from astronomers and support staff who sleep during the day in the area.

The reasoning is, it is the parking lot view and restroom facilities that draws most of the motorcycles with their too-loud illegal exhausts, and so closing the parking lot will significantly diminish motorcycle traffic on Hwy 130, where the staff housing is.

Anyone else hear about this? :wtf

Lex
 
I'm not sure how that can be legally done...

So I"m a tourist who wants to ride up there, they're going to turn my business away just because I"m on a motorcycle???

I can see them getting testy about groups parking wherever they please when they get up there but to say no motorcycles, cars/trucks only, :bs
 
Hope this is wrong. I can not find anything on the Lick web site. If it is true we need to know who to send letters to. I have not seen many HD's up there, and it this is true we need to invite a group of them to ride to the top.

Bill in STockton
 
i_am_the_koi said:
I'm not sure how that can be legally done...

So I"m a tourist who wants to ride up there, they're going to turn my business away just because I"m on a motorcycle???

I can see them getting testy about groups parking wherever they please when they get up there but to say no motorcycles, cars/trucks only, :bs
Click to expand...

+1

but if it's true, it's the first place i'm heading after howler gets the new pipes i've picked out. cars are welcome, right? welcome this motherfucker. :devil
 
I got in trouble using my headlights on 130 one night at around 1am. I was trying to look for shooting stars (was actually terrible, was to bright out). Thank god he did not see the front of my car(All my lights were on, when I was coming up).

dsc0349ix.jpg



ON A SIDE NOTE!

Is the road still a terrible mess? or did they finally finish up there repaving or what ever their plan is.
 
i_am_the_koi said:
I'm not sure how that can be legally done...

So I"m a tourist who wants to ride up there, they're going to turn my business away just because I"m on a motorcycle???

I can see them getting testy about groups parking wherever they please when they get up there but to say no motorcycles, cars/trucks only, :bs
Click to expand...

It's private property. An extension of the university. They can't restrict use of the county road that passes through the property, but technically they don't have to allow access to ANYONE not directly affiliated with the observatory.

As it is, they already ban all parking after sunset.

edit: Were I a wealthy biker dude... I might make some donations to improve the ancient dormatory buildings to increase energy conservation, and sound insulation, rating up there... ;)
Or maybe see if I can talk to some "powers that be" at the university to see if they might be open to such an idea, with the goal of reopening up the parking for everyone, if funding were to be made available by riders and others.
 
Last edited:
I was just riding there a couple days go. I know if you go up quimby and make a left towards alum rock its been repaved. hella gravel everywhere.
 
I'm glad I kept my boombox from when I was a kid. I'm strapping it to my back and riding my bicycle up that road. It may take me a little longer to get to the top. but at least I'll be able to listen to Ride of the Valkyries to keep me company.
 
kiltwearinfool said:
I'm glad I kept my boombox from when I was a kid. I'm strapping it to my back and riding my bicycle up that road. It may take me a little longer to get to the top. but at least I'll be able to listen to Ride of the Valkyries to keep me company.
Click to expand...

When you arrive, switch to Peter Gabriel's "In your eyes" and hold said boombox overhead.

"Charlie don't surf!"

Best use of Wagner ever!
 
Reminds me of the time I decided to take a nice ride on the 17 mile drive. Imagine my surprise when the guard at the gate told me "Motorcycles not allowed"... :/
 
Lights, monster trucks, anything "look at me, look at me"

akballow said:
I got in trouble using my headlights on 130 one night at around 1am. I was trying to look for shooting stars (was actually terrible, was to bright out). Thank god he did not see the front of my car(All my lights were on, when I was coming up).

dsc0349ix.jpg



ON A SIDE NOTE!

Is the road still a terrible mess? or did they finally finish up there repaving or what ever their plan is.
Click to expand...

Damn, is ur penis really that small? LOL
 
littlebeast said:
+1

but if it's true, it's the first place i'm heading after howler gets the new pipes i've picked out. cars are welcome, right? welcome this motherfucker. :devil
Click to expand...

sounds like one more spot for the "places to visit" list for the bug...ported heads feeding an open megaphone should be perfectly welcome, right? :teeth
 
I hope that's not the case... I love riding up to the Observatory, and enjoy the views every time. I'd be really sad if that happened... :(
 
welcome to the world of truck's.
we have been banned in many a place for decades.


.
 
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