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On the afternoon of Sunday, Aug. 16, the intersection of Skyline Boulevard and La Honda Road was packed with motorcycles and cars, some belonging to locals and others from visitors as far away as Montana and North Carolina.
The area known as Four Corners has long been a hot spot for car clubs and motorcycle meet-ups on the weekends, and over the past five years or so, its popularity has grown, with hundreds gathering there. But, as local residents point out, the allure of curvy scenic two-lane highways like Skyline and La Honda — officially, State Routes 35 and 84 — can come with deadly consequences.
In July, bicyclist Jakub Solovsky died in a collision with a speeding Porsche in the area, less than a year after Redwood City cyclist Eric Biron died in a collision with a pickup truck at Four Corners. This summer, a vocal group of locals, bicycle riders and Peninsula residents have joined forces and are lobbying for an end to dangerous driving through tougher enforcement and roadway changes to lower speeds on highways in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
The winding lanes of highways 35, 84 and 9 have seen a surge in online fame among a growing group of young drivers and motorcyclists. A search on Reddit for “best roads for motorcycle rides in the Bay Area” or “best roads to drive for fun” will list Alice’s Restaurant at Four Corners and highways 35 and 84 among the top recommendations.
Some of the motorcyclists who spoke to this news organization said they are aware that irresponsible driving and riding can be dangerous and cause a nuisance to local residents.
Four Corners draws a mix of long-timers and newbies. Some motorcyclists have been riding the hills of Woodside to the coast since the 1970s. A few young motorists in their 20s told this reporter that they came to the area from Southern California.
People gather in the parking lot of Alice’s Restaurant off of La Honda Road in Woodside on Aug. 16, 2026. Photo by Michael Molcsan. 
Motorcyclists park and socialize in the parking lot of Skywood Trading Post on Skyline Boulevard in Woodside on Aug. 16, 2026. Photo by Michael Molcsan. 
Two people get into their car outside of the Skywood Trading Post on Skyline Boulevard in Woodside on Aug. 16, 2026. Photo by Michael Molcsan. 
People walk towards Alice’s Restaurant on Skyline Boulevard to stand in line in Woodside on Aug. 16, 2026. Photo by Michael Molcsan.
One of them is Nicholas, a 22-year-old motorcyclist from Los Angeles who declined to provide his last name. He said he was visiting a friend in the Bay Area and was looking for “nice roads” nearby. After riding through Highway 84, he said he enjoyed the scenery and being able to see other nice cars and motorcycles gathered at Four Corners. Nicholas said that he likes riding around corners and compared the experience to skiing.
“It seemed like this is the area closest to San Francisco that has nice roads,” he said. “They’re twisty, well-paved and the scenery is nice.”
Nicholas said there are areas of Los Angeles that are similar, like Mulholland Highway, a scenic 30-mile road with a winding section known as “The Snake.” This stretch of the road has a reputation for frequent accidents from speeding motorcyclists and car races, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Snake was reopened in December 2025 after a fire and mudslide damaged the area in 2018, but its reopening came with new safety improvements and increased enforcement and patrols by CHP officers.
“For every thousand people who have a great time, one person has an accident, but some people do drive irresponsibly,” Nicholas said. “I think there’s a balance to be had but it would be a shame if they put speed bumps or closed the road.”
A sign at the intersection near Four Corners where Biron died in August 2025 speaks to those irresponsible drivers. It lists the statistics: “854 crashes, 26 dead in five years. Not your racetrack.” A white bicycle memorializing Biron stands next to it.
Drivers and motorcyclists are noticing the sign.
Ramon Burgos, 76, said he’s been riding his motorcycle up to the Skywood Trading Post on Skyline Boulevard since he moved to the United States from Puerto Rico in 1992. He said he comes to Four Corners from San Francisco every Saturday and Sunday.
Burgos believes the numbers on the sign are true. He said sometimes motorcycles can be traveling too fast and he’s witnessed inattentive car drivers run the stop signs at the Four Corners intersection.
“We have (young) people at a higher income level, so they’re making significant amounts of money and they put it into flashy cars,” he said. “And they have the car, but not the skills to drive it.”
Jamie Kerr, co-owner of Alice’s Restaurant located at Four Corners, said most of the people who are getting in accidents are in their 20s. Kerr serves on the South Coast Traffic Advisory Panel with San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller to provide recommendations on how to improve road safety on the highways.
While concerned residents and officials debate solutions, the number of accidents ticks up. While covering this story on Aug. 16, photojournalist Michael Molcsan witnessed a solo motorcycle crash at Four Corners at around 12:13 p.m. The rider suffered a broken ankle and road rash and was transported to a local hospital by ambulance.
As a longtime biker, Burgos said other motorists need to be spatially aware. When he rides, he tells himself to “be present,” and be aware of his ability or lack of ability.
Building the motorhead community
Motorcyclists pose for a portrait in the parking lot of Skywood Trading Post on Skyline Boulevard in Woodside on Aug. 16, 2026. From left to right: Jason Weir, Robert Ward, Bill Broyer, and Tanner Weir. Photo by Michael Molcsan. 
Two motorcyclists talk with each other after they park in the parking lot of Skywood Trading Post on Skyline Boulevard in Woodside on Aug. 16, 2026. Photo by Michael Molcsan.
Monterey Car Week took place this year from Aug. 7 through 16, bringing gearheads from across the world to Northern California. The annual event draws thousands of visitors to the Central Coast and Bay Area, with some making a pitstop at Alice’s over the weekend.
Miles Aseniero and Tyler Kang said they drove up to Woodside with a group of friends from Southern California for the week. They said highways 35, 84 and 9 have become popular recently but five years ago, it was “pretty niche.”
Driving on the state highways, Aseniero said what he loves the most is being surrounded by like-minded people and building community and friendship through car culture.
“I love driving but I also love the people,” he said. “They match me in a way that other people have not.”
Kang brought his Nissan 240SX Kouki S14, a sports car manufactured in the 1990s, and Aseniero drove up with his white Honda S2000, a convertible produced in the 2000s. Both are considered project cars — older vehicles that can be modified and require tune-ups. The 2024 “Future of Driving” survey by Hagarty, a car enthusiast brand, found that 60% of Generation Z respondents expressed an interest in owning a collectible classic car.
The young drivers described the Four Corners car culture as “insane” and said they found the community to be extremely friendly.
Nicholas said he “likes the vibe around here,” and enjoyed being able to talk to people about their bikes and cars. He was fascinated by some of the rarer vehicles, such as an MV Augusta, parked in the lot.
For over 30 years, Burgos said he has met motorcyclists from across the world at Four Corners, building lifelong friendships with other bikers.
“The reason I like it is because you meet people from all walks of life with different kinds of motorcycles,” Burgos said. “In the event of an issue, a crisis or an accident, the motorcycle people rally around us.”
Despite differences in ethnicity, religion and beliefs, the common box they all check is having a motorcycle, and that’s all they need to build community, Burgos explained.
‘That’s not our demographic’
Anyone who’s driven past Alice’s Restaurant over the years can’t help but notice all the motorcycles gathered outside. The scenic highways that intersect at Four Corners have long been a draw, with Alice’s as a popular pit stop for riders. It’s also been a popular spot for bicyclists and hikers since the 1960s.
While many might point to the restaurant being a driving factor into the increased traffic and accidents in the area, Kerr disagrees.
“These are young kids that are getting into accidents. They’re probably not going to eat at Alice’s,” Kerr said. “That’s not our demographic. Our average age is probably close to 50.”
His brother Andy, who’s co-owner of Alice’s, said the number of cars parked in their lots increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s become a space where car enthusiasts will gather and admire each other’s vehicles. Teenagers and customers of Alice’s can be spotted walking around the parking lot looking at luxury cars like the Lotus Evora GT, a sports car worth nearly $100,000.
While some of these drivers may patronize Alice’s, the Kerr brothers have made it clear that they don’t support the reckless driving that’s taking place. A sign posted outside the restaurant reads, “This is our community. No racing.”
The Kerrs said they believe that the Bay Area’s growing population, along with an increase in attractive destinations along the scenic state highways, are bringing more people through Four Corners. Within a few miles of Alice’s there are dozens of hiking trails at open space preserves like El Corte de Madera Creek and La Honda Creek.
And whether Alice’s is open or not, the area draws drivers and riders at all hours of the day — even in the middle of the night.
Taylor Skeels, Alice’s general manager, showed The Almanac security camera footage of a car doing donuts in the intersection of highways 35 and 84 around 2 a.m. The tire marks were still visible in the daylight.
Even early in the morning, car clubs will attempt to park in the restaurant’s parking lot, but Andy Kerr said he turns them away unless they’re there to buy breakfast. He said the restaurant discourages car meetups from being hosted in their lots.
The restaurant leases over 65 parking spots from Caltrans for its patrons, although not all spots will be used by Alice’s customers.
“It’s a misconception that we’re the problem,” said Andy Kerr. “We’re not a motorcycle bar.”
As he walked through the restaurant he pointed out the number of families who were dining with their children along with a handful of motorcyclists and hikers in the mix.
The Kerr brothers say they will keep asking for more enforcement from CHP and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office in response to the deaths, accidents and illegal activity.
