PCH stands for the Pacific Coast Highway.
This is Highway 1, the California State Route.
This is the main road that runs along the coast of California.
It ascends the California coast from San Juan, Capistrano in the south, to the San Francisco Bay area in the northern part of the state.
If you live in or near Los Angeles, then you've doubtlessly driven on the PCH before.
However, you probably also know that this area tends to be thick with traffic, especially during peak traffic points-such as during morning and evening rush hour.
But what can you do to avoid this traffic?
It's obviously problematic.
Some people find themselves waiting for hours to make what should be a simple 30-minute trip!
Well, in this blog post, you're going to learn some tips for how you can avoid traffic on the PCH while driving to or from work, school, or some other important event or function.
Plus, you're going to learn how to do it safely.
Let's dive into it.
1. Use online GPS
Whether you use Google Maps or some other type of navigation software, trusting in live GPS services to provide you with the best route is still one of the best ways to navigate the PCH in real-time.
Granted, this may not necessarily keep you from experiencing some delays and wait times.
However, if you set your app up to avoid long delays, you can sometimes find alternative routes that will shave some time off of your trip.
2. Avoid Peak Hours
Unfortunately, the gridlock on the PCH can be truly brutal.
But this doesn't mean that you have to be at its untamed mercy whenever you drive.
The good news is that, depending on which area you're driving in, you can sometimes avoid peak traffic hours and travel in between these times to skip the worst of the congestion.
For example-on weekdays, if you can make your trip before 6:30 am, you can usually avoid getting caught up in the worst of the morning traffic.
In the evenings, if you can find a way to make your trek either before 4:30 pm or after 8 pm, you can generally skip the worst of it at night.
3. Consider Using A Rideshare Service
Sometimes, jumping into an Uber or a Lyft to make your way up or down the PCH is just the best way to go.
Not only will this help to eliminate stress for you, but it'll also give you some extra time to get some things done.
You could, for example, catch up on emails, make important phone calls, create to-do lists, or even sort through paperwork for the next day-all during your transit.
Hey, if you're a freelancer who can work from the back of a vehicle, you might even be able to earn more money during the trip home than your ride will cost you.
This is sort of like getting paid to get stuck in rush hour traffic.
And hey, we'd all rather get paid than to just be sitting in traffic all day-right?
4. Consider Other Public Transportation Options
Depending on where you live, you may be able to take a bus or a train to help avoid some of this traffic congestion as well.
Now, keep in mind-this option won't necessarily work for everyone.
However, if you live in the proper location, and if you have access to public transportation that will actually get you where you need to go, then this can actually be a very cost-effective and time-effective way to shave some hours off of your commute every week.
Hey, it may not be the Ritz Carlton-but if it gets you where you want to go at a faster pace, that's nothing to scoff at.
5. Always Protect Yourself
In the dense and congested traffic of the PCH, accidents and crashes occur with startling frequency.
And it's crucial that you prepare for the possibility of such disasters before they befall you.
One big problem that people run into on the PCH is traffic accidents with rideshare drivers.
You'd be surprised at how difficult it can be to collect the payout or settlement you deserve in the wake of an Uber or Lyft accident.
This is why it always pays to have high-caliber legal protection in your corner -even if this just means writing down their number and sticking it in your pocket.
You never know when you may need to call an attorney and get some advice on a legal matter pertaining to a rideshare accident.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this post has helped you to understand how you can save time, stress, and energy by avoiding traffic on the PCH.
Hey, California is a wonderful place to live-and highway 1 is beautiful.
Just make sure that you take these steps, and you should be able to arrive at your destination in a much better timeframe.