New parking restrictions on Highway 1 aim to ease traffic, improve safety

Monterey County announced new no parking rules near the iconic Bixby Bridge on Highway 1. The effort, in association with Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol, is intended to ease traffic congestion, improve safety and help manage the area in a sustainable manner.

Travel along the highway, especially in the Big Sur area, has grown to unprecedented levels, prompting local tourism officials to develop management plans to alleviate congestion and improve the overall visitor experience. These include new parking rules and requiring camping permits in some areas for the first time. The no parking is specifically targeted to Coast Road near the northern approach to the bridge, where travelers pull over to take photos, sometimes blocking traffic on Highway 1 and preventing locals access to the narrow one-lane road. New guard rails and “no parking” signs have been placed.

For the past two years, Visit California has been working with JLL to develop regional tourism plans for all 12 tourism regions in the state. One of the many factors in these plans is identifying how DMOs and communities can welcome leisure travelers while also managing local resources sustainably. These plans will be unveiled in the coming months. Readers can find information about the current Destination Stewardship and Sustainable Travel plans on the industry website.