Where to park for Stage 8

I took the SD Union Trib info I have listed locations of parking at:
San Pasqual HS / Escondido HS
Conway Elementary / Orange Glen Elementary
Westfield Mall

For Handicap parking the closest is at San Diego County Credit Union

All the parking locations and the Center for the arts is on the map below.


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Click on "View Larger Map" to see all the points of interest

Park and Ride Wolhford KOM with SD Union Tribue

The San Diego Union Tribune ask to shadow our ride to the KOM @ Wolhford. Come join us.

A bunch of riders will be meeting at the Arts Center between 9:30 - 9:45 tomorrow to ride to Wolhford KOM. We will be meeting, gathering signs and chalk for the day. Up to the KOM to see the riders go by around 12:45 and ride back to Party Swamis. We will have a secure area for you to leave your bike while you attend the party. Party is from 2pm to 6pm

Start point: City of Escondido: California Center for the Arts-Escondido
340 N Escondido Blvd Escondido, CA 92025

Map to Wolhford below


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Check it out

Train Service Extented for Party Swamis

SPRINTER service extended for Amgen Tour

Feb 19, 2009

The Amgen Tour of California bike race comes to North San Diego this Sunday, Feb. 22, for the eighth and final stage of this largest cycling event in North America.

The North County Transit District will run extra service on the SPRINTER train system to get fans to and from Escondido to see the racers cross the finish line. With thousands of race fans and casual spectators expected to view the cycling event, the SPRINTER is smart choice in avoiding Escondido traffic headaches and parking hassles.

The finish line is in downtown Escondido at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Broadway, about a six-block walk from the SPRINTER station at the Escondido Transit Center. The finish is estimated to occur around 3:30 or 4 p.m.

Trains are scheduled to run both directions every half hour until approximately 7 p.m. In addition to regularly scheduled SPRINTER trains, the 6:03 p.m. westbound train from Escondido Transit Center and the 7:03 p.m. from the Oceanside Transit Center will operate.

A day pass on the SPRINTER costs $5 and includes unlimited rides all day long on the SPRINTER and BREEZE bus system. A single trip (or one-way) ticket is just $2 and half priced for seniors age 60 and over.

All tickets can be purchased from ticket vending machines at the SPRINTER stations with cash or credit cards. Parking is ample at almost all of the SPRINTER's fifteen stations and is offered free of charge. To locate the nearest SPRINTER station and to view train schedules, visit GoNCTD.com.

Throughout the weekend, several Escondido BREEZE bus routes will experience detours due to road closures and riders can expect delays due to traffic congestion and heavy pedestrian presence in the area. The following routes are affected: 350, 351/352, 354, 356, and 388/389.

There will be special events held in downtown Escondido closing Grand Avenue between Center City Parkway and Juniper St. for the entire weekend. All bus stops on Grand Ave. between Center City Parkway and Juniper St. will be closed during the event. There will be special event bus stops located on 2nd Ave. at Escondido Blvd. and Broadway for patrons traveling east into Escondido. All bus stops on Valley Parkway will remain open during the event.

Complete schedule and route information is available on every BREEZE bus and complete SPRINTER and BREEZE schedules are available on NCTD's website at www.gonctd.com.

Potential Parking for Sunday Stage 8

Organizers in Escondido and Rancho Bernardo also are working together to transport fans on race day without causing traffic jams on local streets. The North County stage offers cycling enthusiasts a rare opportunity to see both a start and finish to the same race -- unlike in other stages where the two are about 100 miles apart -- and shuttles are planned to take people from Westfield North County to the starting line in the morning and the finish line that afternoon.

Road Closures around Party Swamis (Escondido Arts Center)

In Escondido, Bettin said the city plans to close the blocks surrounding the finish line at Broadway and Grand Avenue, and notices about the closure, as well as temporary closures along the route through the city, have been in place more than week.

Streets will be closed 30 minutes before riders arrive and will reopen immediately after the last racers pass, and Bettin said city workers will be ready to remove the signs as soon as streets reopen.

Other things to do before Party Swamis

To entertain and educate those gathering to watch the final day of competition, San Diego North Chamber of Commerce is organizing a “Stage 8 Experience” from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Town Center (Vons) parking lot.

“It will be an interactive health and wellness expo,” said Toni Kraft, whose company Lifestyles in Focus, has been hired to coordinate the activities for children and adults.

The event will provide entertainment, food and health information. This includes a children’s section that will have free and low-cost activities, such as balloon sculptures, face painting and a puppet show, Kraft said.

Children can also enter a bicycle-decorating contest. Judging is set for 12:30 p.m. For details, call the chamber at 858-487-1767.

Bicycle fans of all ages will want to head over to “autograph alley” near the start line around 9:30 a.m., where for one hour they might meet their favorite bicyclists. Due to security reasons, officials said fans would probably not be able to meet Lance Armstrong.

Estimated times for Stage 8 Tour of California

Here are the official estimated times of various points of interest of Stage 8
KOM @ Wolford - 12:55 to 1:05
KOM @ Palomar Mtn - 1:47 to 2:06
KOM @ Cole Grade - 3:02 to 3:35
Finish @ Party Swamis - 3:51 to 4:33