LA bike plan update goes to the City Council
Early next week the LA City Council is expected to approve the 2010 update to the city's Bicycle Master Plan, which calls for adding 200 miles of new bicycle infrastructure over the next 5 years, nearly doubling current bikeway mileage. Bike advocates in Los Angeles have united behind the plan after pushing for substantial revisions last fall. The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition plans a rally for Weds., Mar. 2, to celebrate the mayor signing the plan into law.
Meanwhile, the city's Community Redevelopment Agency hopes to transform Figueroa Street between the USC campus and downtown LA into LA's first complete street. The My Figueroa project calls for separated bike routes, amenities like new parks and plazas, and traffic calming features.
"We're excited about this project because it could bring the first separated bike lanes to the City of Los Angeles and that's just the baseline," said Alexis Lantz, LACBC's planning and policy director. "The proposed improvements
presented to the community would transform Figueroa into a complete street that prioritizes access for pedestrians, bicyclists and transit."
Anti-harassment ordinance: The Los Angeles City Attorney's Office has released a draft ordinance proposed by City Councilman Bill Rosendahl to allow bicyclists to sue drivers who injure, assault, threaten or intentionally distract them. Because civil suits carry a lower burden of proof than criminal actions, the ordinance could result in more drivers being held responsible for endangering bicyclists.
Smart regions: San Francisco and Yolo County, the home of bike-loving Davis, Calif., are among 15 metropolitan centers -- and the only two in California -- recognized by the Natural Resources Defense Council as America's smartest regions for transportation for 2011. The annual study identifies cities and communities with innovative, efficient and sustainable transportation programs and policies.
Fresno repairs: Fresno State University students who need to make a repair or inflate a tire can use two self-service bike repair stations installed recently on campus. Each station is a pavement-mounted bike rack with basic tools suspended by cables and a manual bike pump mounted alongside.
Silicon Valley summit: Bike advocates, academics and civic and business leaders will meet in San Mateo on Mar. 6 and San Jose on Mar. 8 at summits sponsored by the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition (the Mar. 6 summit is co-sponsored by Sustainable San Mateo County). "The overall aim of this summit is twofold," said Colin Heyne, SVBC's communications director. "We want to keep exploring new ways of getting people on bikes in our area, and we want to connect advocates and decision makers in a setting that will educate and empower both groups."
Marin and SLO paths: The Marin County Bicycle Coalition will take part in the official opening of the Lincoln Ave. Pathway on Mar. 11. The path between Terra Linda and San Rafael is located alongside a sound wall separating the future SMART commuter train line and the newly widened segment of U.S. 101. Further south along U.S. 101, a bike path opened this month between the Madonna Inn, a legendary San Luis Obispo landmark known for its way-over-the-top accommodations, and downtown San Luis Obispo. The Madonna Inn path carries bicyclists and pedestrians over U.S. 101 and through a busy downtown intersection.
Bay Bridge bicycling: Bicyclists will be able to ride on the new east span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge six months earlier than expected, Caltrans announced in late January. The early opening in 2013 is the result of a work-around that will allow Caltrans to complete the bridge project without closing traffic lanes. The 2-mile span between Emeryville and Treasure Island includes a 15.5-foot-wide separated lane for bicyclists and pedestrians. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Caltrans have proposed retrofitting the west span between Treasure Island and San Francisco with a separated path for bicycles, pedestrians and maintenance vehicles along the south side of the upper deck.
East Bay Greenway: The Alameda County Transportation Commission proposes a 12-mile bike and pedestrian path alongside elevated portions of Bay Area Rapid Transit tracks between Oakland and Hayward. The proposed East Bay Greenway is modeled after the Ohlone Greenway adjacent to elevated BART tracks north of Berkeley.
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