NEW LA Bike Lanes Plans
Thread started by
neverclever at 06.3.09 - 3:55 pm
latimes.com
Bicyclists can review proposed new bike lanes for L.A
2:51 PM | June 3, 2009
Cyclists across L.A. have until June 12 to review and offer suggestions to city planning officials on proposed new bike lanes that would traverse the city.
City planning officials released the proposed maps last week, showing where the new bike lanes and pathways would be built on neighborhood streets in the Valley, the Westside, South L.A. and downtown.
Currently, there are 134 miles of bike paths and 321 miles of bike lanes in the city. Bike paths normally are located along flood channels and bike lanes along city streets.
Members of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition expressed disappointment today that more lanes were not proposed along major streets, which would allow cyclists to connect from one major point of interest to another, said spokeswoman Aurisha Smolarski.
City planning officials say putting bike lanes on major streets would mean removing auto lanes or parking spaces to make room for cyclists.
“While local connector networks could be improved by the proposed changes, major connectivity issues within the city remain unaddressed,” Smolarski said in a statement. “We are disappointed with the process and the current draft, but we see this as an opportunity to educate and influence the city to create positive movement toward meeting the needs of cyclists.”
-- Ruben Vives
labikeplan.org
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beverly hills sucks.
anything trying to east-west/north-south though that neighborhood is squashed. it's getting old.
sciencefriction06.3.09 - 5:13 pm
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every lane is a bike lane. sharrows would remind everyone of this
spiraldemon06.3.09 - 5:18 pm
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note: Anything in purple or blue on that map means nothing more than installing signs every few miles--no bike lane, no improvements.
stevestevesteve06.3.09 - 5:40 pm
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Bike lanes rule. We need everything bike lanes, bike paths/highways and sharrows. There is no way drivers will respect us without all of it where ever applicable...
Roadblock responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
06.3.09 - 5:50 pm
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It wouldnt just remind the average driver, but bus drivers, city contractors and cops that bikes belong in the street.
SIGNS ARE GARBAGE! I was attacked by a parking enforcement officer on the pico "bike route" because he felt I shouldnt be riding during traffic. I noticed it didnt show that "bike route" on the new draft of the map, so I must conclude that whoever did the survey didnt see the signs either. Anything less than paint on the streets is a total waste of money.
tortuga_veloce responding to a
comment by Roadblock
06.3.09 - 6:05 pm
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oops, I knew that was unclear.
I meant the wasted time and money that the DOT has been spending on this lousy "master plan" for us. We need something more substantial. We need better people in charge. People who don't bend over to the favor of car culture. I don't know. I need a nap.
Joe Borfo responding to a
comment by Roadblock
06.3.09 - 6:41 pm
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The downloads are not really that sharp and it's hard to follow. Does anyone know if there's a printed map posted anywhere? Thought I read that it's posted at some library or something. Think I'll email that address and ask if no one knows.
Yeah Beverly Hills looks like a black hole doesn't it? Really ticks me off we never go there on the LACM rides. Do the circle of death on Rodeo was a close second to doing the one on Hollywood and Highland, ------ but I digress.
User106.3.09 - 11:22 pm
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BIKE PLAN-Send in Your Comments!
Your input is crucial! The time is NOW to weigh in on the Bike Plan!
We need a commitment for more bike lanes in the plan!
TAKE ACTION by June 12th!
Your comments are an integral and important part of the process!
What you can do:
Review the maps carefully:
http://www.labikeplan.org/bikeway_maps/
What is missing? Send in streets that you feel have been overlooked to LA City and to LACBC
Look at the "infeasible" marked streets and choose 5 that you feel should be prioritized. Be specific in your comments!
-To get you going, here are a few streets that we feel are pretty feasible:
Colorado in Eagle Rock
Rowena in Silverlake
Palms in West LA
7th street
River Bikeways
Send in your comments by June 12th to:
Jordann Turner
LA Bike Plan's project manager
jordann.turner@lacity.org
LACBC
lacbc.comments@la-bike.org
Joe Borfo responding to a
comment by User1
06.4.09 - 1:33 pm
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LA River pathway needs to be worked on and connected. No if, ands, or buts about that!
User1 responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
06.4.09 - 2:31 pm
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A lot of this is total bullshit. No doubt. I wrote a little about it here:
Bike Riding in LA: Mostly Infeasible and I link Stephen, Joseph, Joe Linton and Alex T, etc.
BUT
I think it's still really important to send in specific criticism of the maps. Part of the city's plan for stalling with all this (and just turning the fucking cogs and then saying 'hey look we are turning them') is that no one cares. They don't believe there is a base of riders.
So email them what you think needs to change based on where you ride. Be specific. Be pissed, but be clear.
bike punk06.4.09 - 5:51 pm
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Comparing those routes to the
map from the 1996/2002
Bicycle Master Plan, it's interesting to see how many of their designations have been
downgraded. There are some quite useful sections of San Vincente, Mission/Huntington, Figueroa, Olympic/9th that were proposed as Class II (actual paint-on-the-ground bike lanes) in that plan, but which are now "infeasible." Wonderful.
My cynicism doesn't permit me to think that LA would seriously be presenting us with an inspirational and forward-looking piece of urban planning (at least not without significant prodding), but it would be nice if they didn't
take back the bike lane proposals that they developed
over 10 years ago.
nathansnider06.5.09 - 1:08 am
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Also, the 1996/2002 plan has a
sharrow as the first image in their document. Oh, LA City Planning Commission, you're such a tease.
nathansnider06.5.09 - 1:12 am
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"Yeah Beverly Hills looks like a black hole doesn't it? Really ticks me off we never go there on the LACM rides. Do the circle of death on Rodeo was a close second to doing the one on Hollywood and Highland"
BHCM?
Gav06.5.09 - 8:01 am
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I was thinking same thing. As much as LA sucks in the bike facilities department, Beverly Hills is down right at ground zero, with no bike routes at all, and yet the sit right in the middle of things. I hate Beverly Hills, because it's giant block of suck in the middle of my route to Hollywood.
GarySe7en responding to a
comment by Gav
06.5.09 - 10:11 am
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Thanks for posting these links up. Lots really good comments about this sham. This plan is a joke. How does the plan go backwards from 10 years ago? I thought the city wanted to plot a course to be more green? If anything, this current plan should have expanded on the plan set forth previously.
And yeah, I wouldn't mine seeing the bike community start legal proceedings against LADOT. Mr. Box would be a prefect spokesperson for this too!
User1 responding to a
comment by bike punk
06.5.09 - 11:02 am
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We should organize a late late late nite ride where we paint our own bike lanes. perhaps this is already in the works and not being advertised???
alexdc06.5.09 - 11:50 am
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LADODIY
LA Department of Do It Yourselfs
User1 responding to a
comment by alexdc
06.5.09 - 12:43 pm
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This is a job for...
CAPTAIN SHARROW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joe Borfo06.5.09 - 12:47 pm
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The city of Beverly Hills--i believe in the best of intentions--interpreted a certain study that showed that bike lanes create a false sense of security and led to more accidents because cars didn't respect this space and didnt expect bikes to be anywhere outside of the bike lane.
generally, i haven't had any problems with bhpd, which was a surprise considering that their bike laws are actually pretty draconian. go figure...
but BHCM? DEFINITELY! just don't get killed by a bentley. BH is going to be the last place in the world to "get" cyclists rights, but it's actually a pretty nice place to ride if you're not getting attacked.
BRING PEPPER SPRAY AND HELMETS!
tortuga_veloce responding to a
comment by Gav
06.5.09 - 3:05 pm
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yeah BHPD is cool. There was a circle of death in front of an officer at 328 and all he said to be careful because only a few minutes earlier, down the block, a car crashed and he could have collided with us if we arrived a few minutes earlier.
drivers in Bh suck though, I always get honked at in side streets
Gav06.5.09 - 3:11 pm
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We've got to start going nuts trying to organize negative shit about this horrible plan and the lack of bike amenities.
This is not just about bikes - building streets with more options for active transportation actually is a huge health issue that HMO's and others are spending money advocating. Bike facilities also reduce automobile trips - better for air quality.
A couple of bike nerds have figured out some specific sources of funds to tap into to pay for a revised bike plan, but we need to get out the word that this plan sucks and hold an event or events to get the press and politicians on board with a better bike plan!
If this goes to council, we should make it clear that the plan should be re-funded and re-done through the Planning Deptand with tons of community input and a broader scope and vision.
ubrayj0206.6.09 - 1:11 am
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BHPD has been cool at times, not so cool others. My friend and I were recently doored and the police handling the report were very courteous and professional. They knew the law well and explained it to the driver, who seemed incredulous that it was actually her fault!
But yeah, I really hate riding through Beverly Hills for the most part. Charleyville, Gregory, and Carmelita are OK but very slow unless it's late at night. I dream that Santa Monica Blvd. could some day be a good bike street in Beverly Hills.
cabhauler06.6.09 - 1:33 am
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