Following Bicyclist's Death, Council Affirms Commitment to Improving PCH

Malibu City Councilmembers spoke out Monday on the death of a bicyclist who was struck by a bus on Pacific Coast Highway earlier this month.

Marisela Echeverria, a 36-year-old Cypress Park resident known as "Mari," was killed Saturday, Oct. 13 on Pacific Coast Highway near Puerco Canyon Road in Malibu when her bike's mirror clipped a parked car, throwing her into the path of the bus.

She was training for an Ironman Triathlon, which consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a marathon.

Echeverria's family has pressed for safety improvements along PCH so that no other bicyclists are killed.

On Monday, Councilman Skylar Peak said he was sad about the death.

"I wish there was a better way to manage that very quickly," Peak said. "We don't really have enough space and it is not going to happen overnight. It's a difficult thing we are going to continue working through."

Mayor Pro Tem Joan House said the death impacted her.

"It was a tragedy and a very sad event. You have to sit back and say this woman embraced life, for every minute she was alive, which was a credit to her," House said.

Councilwoman Laura Zahn Rosenthal expressed her condolences.

"It was a very, very sad and tragic loss of what seemingly was a wonderful young woman. I send condolences to her family, friends and the whole community she was involved in," Rosenthal said.

Rosenthal said she was looking forward to seeing the reuslts of PCH Safety Study, which is underway.

Mayor Lou La Monte asked that Monday's City Council meeting be adjourned in honor of Echeverria.

Eric Bruins of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition praised the council for its work on the PCH Safety Study and other efforts to bring safety to Pacific Coast Highway.

"We are still in need for an inclusive vision for what we need along Pacific Coast Highway," Bruins said. " … People are walking and biking along the highway and they deserve to be safe."

Rosenthal agreed that an overall vision is needed.

"I think Eric’s talk about need vision for PCH is very important and I’m looking forward to looking on that and I’m really looking forward to the results of our PCH Safety Study," Rosenthal said.