Bicycle safe on Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1)?

I plan to ride a bike with some friends from my house to San Francisco to Long Beach this summer. I was wondering whether or not it is safe/legal to ride a bicycle on PCH? Also, are there some good sites with bicyclist maps that have lodging info, food, ect.? I would prefer to take PCH because it is along the ocean, but other safe routes are good too. Thank you very much!