Thousand Oaks Police Department Bicycle Safety Tips

The Thousand Oaks Police Department strives to promote traffic safety within the community. In an effort to recognize certain hazards while driving, the Traffic Bureau has started a monthly traffic awareness reminder program, addressing a traffic topic each month. While we focus on a specific topic each month, it’s always imperative to constantly strive to follow all rules of the road. The month of March is dedicated to “Bicycle Safety.”

Each year, hundreds of bicyclists in California are involved in a collision with a motor vehicle. Most of the time, the bicyclist is the one who will receive the most injuries. With that in mind, we all need to know the importance of sharing the road with one another. Motorists and bicyclists both need to do their part in keeping each other safe.

Here are some important facts you should know:

1. California vehicle code section 21202(a) states: Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at the same time shall ride as close as practicable to the right – hand curb or edge of the roadway.

2. A bicycle ridden at night must be equipped with a lamp emitting a white light. There must also be a red reflector on the rear of the bicycle that must be visible from 500 feet when directly in front of a motor vehicle whose headlights are on.

3. Riders under the age of 18 must wear a helmet at all times. We suggest all riders regardless of age, wear a helmet at all times to reduce injuries.

4. No person shall drive a motor vehicle in a bicycle lane established on a roadway e xcept to park where parking is permitted, to enter or leave the roadway, or to prepare for a turn within a distance of 200 feet from the intersection.

5. Bicyclists must travel on the right side of the roadway in the direction of traffic, except when passing, making a legal left turn, riding on a one-way street, riding on a road that is too narrow, or when the right side of the road is closed due to road construction> (CVC 21650)

6. Handlebars must not be higher than the rider's shoulders (CVC 21201(b))

7. A driver of a motor vehicle shall not overtake or pass a bicycle proceeding in the same direction on a highway at a distance of less than three feet between any part of the motor vehicle and any part of the bicycle or its operator. (CVC 21760(c))

8. Bicyclists obey the rules of the road because they travel along the roadway with other motorists. It is important to note drivers and bicyclists must share the road. When making turning movements in a car or on a bike, use caution, be seen (appropriate lighting after dark) and be predictable.

The Thousand Oaks Traffic Bureau urges citizens to drive their cars and ride their bicycles responsibly. Wear equipment to protect you and make you more visible to others, like a bike helmet, bright clothing (during the day), reflective gear, and a white front light and red rear light and reflectors on your bike (at night, or when visibility is poor). Plan your route if driving as a vehicle on the road; choose routes with less traffic and slower speeds. Your safest route may be away from traffic altogether, in a bike lane or on a bike path.

For more information on bicycle safety, visit:

www.safekids.org/bike

www.ots.ca.gov/grants/pedestrian-and-bicycle-safety

Mariscos Cancun Seafood Grill in Thousand Oaks Has Closed Its Doors

Friend of CVG Joli C-J pointed out via the CVG Facebook Page that Mariscos Cancun Seafood Grill in the North Oaks Plaza, 1074 E. Avenida De Los Arboles in Thousand Oaks, has closed its doors. Mariscos was a favorite of many locals for years - at least 20 as I personally recall. Sorry to see it go.

Tonino's Place Pizzeria in Westlake Village Has Closed

Tonino's Place Pizzeria, which was located at The Village at Westlake (Agoura Road at Village Glen) recently closed its doors.  It opened in July 2016.

Malibu City Council Bans Single-Use Plastic Straws, Stirrers and Cutlery

The Malibu City Council voted to prohibit the sale, distribution and use of single-use plastic straws, plastic stirrers and plastic cutlery within the City during the City Council meeting on Monday, February 12 in order to protect the environment from plastic pollution. The ordinance goes before the Council for a second reading and vote on February 26, and, once finally adopted, will go into effect on June 1, 2018.

The ordinance is part of the City’s campaign to eliminate the use of all kinds of single-use plastic items in order to reduce the plastic pollution that has become pervasive and devastating to the environment. An estimated 500 million plastic straws are used and discarded every day in the United States — enough to wrap around the earth 2.5 times. In California, the annual “Coastal Cleanup Day” has tracked the amount of trash collected since 1992, and plastic straws and stirrers are the sixth most common item collected. Plastic cutlery is the fifth most common item collected. 

The ordinance also covers the commercial use and distribution of compostable and biodegradable petroleum or biologically based straws, stirrers, forks, spoons, and knifes, since these items are not easily composted and often cause issues at compost facilities. In other words, the City will only allow the commercial use and distribution of straws, stirrers, forks, knifes, sporks, and spoons that are made from non-plastic materials, such as paper, wood, bamboo, etc. 

Plastic straws, stirrers, and cutlery never biodegrade. The plastic is broken down into smaller pieces that become difficult to manage in the environment. Nearly all plastic, regardless of whether it has been recycled, still exists. It is estimated that there are over five trillion pieces of plastic in the ocean. Tiny plastic fragments in the ocean are eaten by marine wildlife and enter the food chain. 

To raise awareness among the business community of the need to eliminate single-use plastic straws, the City will provide a box of environmentally safe paper straws to each local food service business. The paper straws, which carry the City’s “Keep it Clean Malibu” slogan, will demonstrate to both businesses and consumers that the single-use plastic straw can be easily replaced. For those who wish to use them, sustainable, reusable straws and cutlery are available in metal, wood, glass, bamboo and other materials. 

To read the staff report or learn more about the City’s efforts to reduce plastic pollution, visit www.MalibuCity.org/plastic.

Malibu previously banned polystyrene foam products effective January 1, 2017. That ordinance bans the sale or distribution of food ware, meat and fish trays, packing materials ("peanuts" and shipping boxes), coolers, ice chests and similar containers and other items made of polystyrene.

Drive Thru Starbucks Coming to Southwest Corner of Thousand Oaks Blvd and Auto Mall Drive

UPDATE: Opened on February 15th!

As if we didn't need another Starbucks in the Conejo Valley, here comes another one, this one another of the extra-popular drive-thru variety. This new Starbucks is located at the southwest corner of Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Auto Mall Drive. It looks to be opening quite soon.

Let's take a look. Other drive-thru Starbucks locations in the local area: Thousand Oaks & Rancho Road (T.O.), Lindero Canyon & Kanan (T.O./Oak Park), Hillcrest & Ventu Park (NP), Country Club & Wood Ranch (Simi), Los Angeles & 1st (Simi), Hwy 118 and 1st (Simi), Cochran and Galena (Simi), Wendy & Grande Vista (NP), Arneill & Las Posas (Cam), Lewis & Las Posas (Cam), Gonzalez & Rose (Oxnard), Channel Islands & Rose (Oxnard - open 24 hrs), Saviers & Channel Islands (Oxnard), Palm & Harvard (Santa Paula), Highway 126 & A St (Fillmore), Telegraph & Day (Ventura),  16 other drive-thru Starbucks locations in Ventura County, soon to be 17.

www.starbucks.com

County of Ventura Food Facility Closures in January 2018

The County of Ventura Environmental Health Division (EHD) protects public health and the environment by ensuring conformance with State laws and County ordinances pertaining to food protection, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, individual sewage disposal systems, land use, medical waste, ocean water quality monitoring, recreational health, solid waste, underground fuel tanks and vector control.

The EHD publishes food facility closures at www.ventura.org/rma/envhealth/community-services/consumer-food/closures.html.

The following facility closures (exclusive of mobile facilities) were noted in January 2018. Keep in mind when reviewing this that there are many possible reasons for the closures, most of which are very temporary issues.

Montezuma Restaurant, 112 Stroube Rd., Oxnard;
Insanitary conditions and plumbing in disrepair;
Date Closed - 01/30/18; Date reopened - 01/31/18

Maria's Restaurant, 2513 Sycamore Drive, Simi Valley;
Operating without a valid permit;
Date closed - 01/29/18; No reopen date

Sawadee Restaurant, 217 Arneill Road, Camarillo;
Unsanitary conditions, no water for washing of hands and sanitizing utensils;
Date Closed - 01/23/18; Date reopened - 01/25/18

Cold Stone Creamery, 2950 Johnson Drive, #115, Ventura;
Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions inside the facility;
Date Closed - 01/22/18; Date reopened - 01/23/18

Sumo Japanese Restaurant, 1730 S. Victoria Avenue, Ventura;
Inoperable exhaust system resulting in unsafe conditions inside the facility;
Date Closed - 01/19/18; Date reopened - 01/22/18

Roger's Cafe, 1026 Mountain View Avenue, Oxnard;
No hot water available at the facility for washing of utensils and hands;
Date Closed - 01/17/18; Date reopened - 01/18/18

Conchita Bakery Panaderia, 2631 Ventura Road, Port Hueneme;
Operating beyond the permit limitation;
Date Closed - 01/11/18; Date reopened -  01/12/18

Subway #39850, 440 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks;
Inoperable refrigeration resulting in unsafe food temperatures;
Date closed - 01/09/18; Date reopened - 01/09/18

Kiki's Kitchen, 1751 N. Lombard Street, #B, Oxnard;
No hot water available at the facility for utensil washing and hand washing;
Date closed - 01/08/18; Date reopened - 01/08/18

Sake 2 Me Sushi, 3920 Cochran Street, Simi Valley;
Cockroach infestation, unsanitary conditions;
Date closed - 01/03/18; Date reopened - 01/04/18

101 North Eatery & Bar Opening Soon at The Shoppes at Westlake Village

101 North Eatery & Bar is opening soon in the former home of Olio Pizzeria at The Shoppes at Westlake Village, 30760 Russell Ranch Road, Westlake Village.

Stay tuned at www.101northeateryandbar.com or www.facebook.com/101NorthEateryandBar.

Que Pasa Mexican Cafe Opened Recently in Old Town Camarillo (Closed July 2019)

August 2019: Eviction notice on front door. Que Pasa appears to be closed.

Que Pasa Mexican Cafe & Tequila Bar opened a couple weeks ago at 2433 Ventura Boulevard in Old Town Camarillo, in the historic "J.F. Lewis & Sons - 1916" building previously occupied by JJ Brewsky's, The French Bulldog, the Old Town Tavern and most recently, for a short time frame in 2017, Julian's Restaurant & Bar. Que Pasa Mexican Cafe was established in 1999 with its first location in Bakersfield.

Visit www.qpmexicancafe.com for more information.