It is a slightly easier/shorter drive from LA to the Bradford Ridge trailhead. Definitely without the 6 miles of dirt road it seems shorter even if in the end it isn't too much shorter in actual time. You will hike for longer as Wizard says. As for safety for cars, I don't know the history. Someone told me there is a camera pointed at the road near the trailhead? Maybe closer to where the road is closed? The trail is pretty clear once you are on it - it is not as much of a trail as Bowen, more a path, single file and thus not very wide - I didn't have much trouble following it the first time until the descent to the creek - there are a few options see the recent thread on this board.