This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Speed on Private Alamo Road a Safety Concern — Or is it?

An Alamo couple calls for a lower speed limit or warning signs for the sake of pedestrians, cyclists and wildlife in their neighborhood.

One couple’s concern for safety on a private stretch of road in Alamo seems to have fallen on deaf ears.

Eileen and Mark Frohnen, who are among 19 residents that live in the exclusive Alamo Ridge subdivision, have asked that the 25 mph speed limit be reduced to 15 mph, which is the speed called for in the subdivision’s covenant and restrictions.

The couple, who has lived in the neighborhood since 1998, is concerned because the narrow, windy strip of Las Trampas Road is largely without a shoulder and has no sidewalk. They believe cars drive too quickly on the road used regularly by families, hikers and cyclists (as well as wildlife).

Find out what's happening in Danvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

They became concerned about the speed limit a year and a half ago, when they adopted three dogs and started walking them on the road. Eileen sprained her ankle last winter in her haste to dodge two cars passing next to her.

But when the Frohnens tried to talk with subdivision leader Briggs Wood about reducing the speed limit, he was not agreeable.

Find out what's happening in Danvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

When they sent emails to all the residents about the issue, they received no response.

“No one else seems willing to speak up on behalf of public safety,” says Eileen. “This is something that matters, but apparently it doesn’t matter.”

“At least post a sign to warn drivers to watch for hikers, bikers and wildlife,” she adds.

The private road is gated, but it allows hikers and cyclists access to Las Trampas Regional Park (the trailhead is located near the top).

Three adult hikers who regularly walk the road said they often encounter cars driving too fast and admitted they are concerned.

Sometime within the past two weeks, the 25 mph signs were removed. In a Contra Costa Times article published on June 13, Briggs Wood said the association voted four months ago to remove the signs, due to concerns about liability and the Frohnens’ complaints.

Eileen and Mark were surprised to hear there had been a vote to remove the signs and just discovered the signs missing on their walk last week.

“We didn’t know he (Briggs) was going to take them down,” Eileen says.

In fact, the Frohnens say they haven’t received any notices of association meetings or elections, other than the annual open membership meetings.

“When Mark and I bought our property, no one told us about a homeowners association or anything like that,” Eileen explains.

In fact, she says, the seller’s disclosure statement specifically stipulated: “There is not any homeowners association which has any authority over the subject property.”

In the Contra Costa Times article, Wood said he thinks the real reason for the Frohnens’ complaints is their unwillingness to pay association dues, which they are disputing and haven’t paid for a year and a half.

The Frohnens say they are upset over recent changes that give the association more power to levy charges. The annual levy for road maintenance was $750 when they moved in and is now $4,000. The fee also covers weed abatement and other services — including repair of the road below the gate, which technically is not the residents’ responsibility.

Another resident, Nick Hellmann, doesn’t think there’s a safety issue at all.

“From my standpoint, this is a ludicrous situation driven by one resident,” Hellmann says. “Sure, you get the occasional car driving too fast, but there aren’t that many cars that come up here. I’ve never felt it’s an issue.”

Hellmann often rides his bike on the road and has not had any problems with drivers.

“This is all just a smoke screen,” he says. “There’s much more to this than the notion of the speed limit.”

He agrees with Wood that the Frohnens’ complaints are a diversion from the issue of not paying their association dues.

“They’ve sent inappropriate and threatening emails saying they will go to the press, and that they will take legal action,” Hellmann says.

But Eileen insists their main concern is safety.

“I want to be safe, and I want families and their children to be safe,” she says. “That’s all that really matters.”

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?