Q: Now that San Jose has had two cars crashing into outdoor diners and killing one, are there any changes regarding the safety of diners, like requiring concrete barriers? Or maybe moving ahead to indoor dining to avoid injury or death while eating and drinking outdoors?
It was bound to happen when outdoor dining is right next to cars moving in parking lots without barriers.
Jamie Kotsubo, San Jose
A: You raise a grave concern that hits close to our family. A couple of years ago, our niece’s husband was sipping coffee at one of a row of tables on a sidewalk next to a parking lot. A vehicle rammed into the tables when the driver suffered a medical problem and his vehicle jumped the curb. A woman sitting at the table next to my niece’s husband was killed, and others were injured.
San Jose offers various areas where dining and retail can operate outdoors. On closed streets like San Pedro Square or parklets such as on Lincoln Avenue, the city closes the street or parking spots using concrete K-rail barriers. In private parking lots, the city makes recommendations for the placement of tables and chairs, and may provide metal barriers to delineate what is called alfresco dining from the parking lot.
To help San Jose restaurants safely set up outdoor dining spaces, the city has encouraged over 500 businesses to apply for its program. At the time of these crashes, 24 locations were participating in the alfresco program, most of them in private parking lots. Since the tragedies, there has been an uptick in applications. Neither of the restaurant properties where the San Jose crashes occurred applied for the alfresco program so the city was not involved in the setup at these two sites.
If you have customers outside, call the city to get their input. If you are a customer, ask store management what they are doing to improve safety.
Q: Will we still be able to buy gas-powered motorcycles and ATVs after Gov. Gavin Newsom’s call for all new vehicles to be electric by 2035? Electric motorcycles exist but are very expensive and have short range. If it’s only electric types after 2035, then motorcycle touring will be very different, if not impossible.
Bryce H.
A: On-highway motorcycles are not included in the governor’s order for 2035. However, it does include all off-highway vehicles, which could include recreational vehicles. Used vehicles can remain in use and can be sold as used vehicles. In 15 years, the choices, costs, capabilities and range of available vehicles will likely be much different than today. Much innovation will likely occur in these next few years.
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