If you live in Los Angeles, you are most likely an attendee of the worst tailgates ever. I’m not talking about a sporting event pregame party with friends, but rather a different type of parking lot….the LA Freeways. The 405, 101 and 5 freeways are known for their infamous bumper-to-bumper traffic that can wear you out more than the 9 to 5 work day.
By 2020, California’s population is projected to increase by 6 million and this traffic, congestion and roadway crowding will only get worse. A green, environmentally-friendly solution is to get people out of their metal gas-powered cocoons and onto their bicycles.
Los Angeles has been very slow to realize the changing needs of its residents. The Los Angeles County population is currently about 10 million but most of its infrastructure and roadways were designed in an era when the population was nearly half of what it is today, causing extra stress on routes used by automobile commuters.
In response to the increased traffic, increased fuel prices, parking difficulty and newly promoted mixed use land uses, more and more cyclists are hitting the streets, but doing so in a space struggle with cars.
Last summer, Mayor Villaraigosa was hit by a taxicab while riding his bike on Venice Boulevard. Other than suffering some bumps and bruises, Villaraigosa was also “hit with the bug” to become a bicycle advocate. His partaking includes the three CyLAvia events that have taken place and the 2010 Los Angeles Bicycle Master Plan* that was released last week.
*Although named the 2010 Los Angeles Bicycle Master Plan, it was released in 2011.
While the 2010 Los Angeles Bicycle Master Plan is the first master plan since 1975 and addresses many of the needs for today’s cyclists, it leaves out an important component which caused Villaraigosa to become involved in the first place….separation of cars and bicycles.
The new master plan proposes 1,684 miles of bike routes but roughly two-thirds of those routes will be flawed in the eyes of cyclists. The issue lies in “bike lane” which is a 4-5 foot wide lane placed to the right of traffic lanes but to the left of the curbside parking lane.
Cyclists are forced to be in the path of cars attempting to park, opening car doors and exiting the parking lane. Not to mention next to cars traveling at speeds up to 50 mph, given they are following the posted speed limit.
All it takes is one driver to be not paying attention, on their phone texting, picking up that french fry that fell on the floor or applying make-up, to strike a cyclist. As you can imagine, a 2 –ton car vs a 25 pound bicycle will not be a good match-up.
Some statements from cyclists at a public hearing held by the Los Angeles Department of Transportation:
“The plan is not designed for us”
“No one asked us what we wanted, even though we are the ones using the bike routes”
Cyclists feel that they were left out of the design process and what they really want/ need for safety is a “bike path” separated from the automobile. All this would take is some sort of buffer to deter drivers from crossing into the path of cyclists.
It doesn’t make sense that Los Angeles is placing large amounts of resources to create a master plan that is not safe in the eyes of those using it. Since money is most likely the primary issue with creating such separated pathways, the LA DOT should reduce the amount of miles in their master plan but create routes that cyclists actually feel safe using.
There is no point in allocating funds to create something that no one will use. If Los Angeles is serious about creating an attractive alternative to the car, they really need to sit down and actually consider the needs of bicycle riders.
As of right now, sitting in traffic seems more fun than getting hit by an automobile. Keep trying Los Angeles!
I have never heard of this plan before but it seems ridiculous. If you look at other cities that are trying to be bicycle friendly like new york, it is and absolute mad house. Like you said this bike lane would cause more problems than alleviate them. This plan obviously did not really consider a bicyclist's safety with cars trying to park. There is just too much going on in a drivers mind sometimes to really be careful and sometimes bicyclists just come out of nowhere. Also, these lanes would cut into the roads creating more traffic than we already have. They really need to take this plan back to the drawing board.
ReplyDeleteI think this plan was created with the best intentions but in LA is just doesn't truly seem feasible. In New York you can bike from the Upper West Side to the Village relatively quickly and most people are mindful of bikers as long as the bikers are aware of what's happening on the road, but in LA drivers are viscous. Even in my car I feel like if I am going the speed limit cars are going to take me down. While adding bike lanes in residential areas and beach towns is a great idea (and a lot already do) I think biking on major streets in LA is extremely dangerous and a potentially life-threatening way to save gas.
ReplyDeleteThis sounded like a great idea, to put bike paths around the streets in LA so we have more options to get around than with cars, but when you display the reality of how this is going to work if it is implemented - this sounds crazy. I would never be able to dare to go out there next to the LA cars and take the (very high) risk of being hurt! I absolutely think, like you propose, that Los Angeles should dedicate the project money to something else to help the traffic or to make much more thought-through bicycle tracks.
ReplyDeleteLA traffic is way to insecure for anyone to feel safe in the middle of it. We need better solutions overall to improve the traffic situation.
I agree with your post Darren. As you stated in an earlier post, added infrastructure is sorely needed for bicyclists. However, like you said, infrastructure that isn't safe won't get used, and if it won't get used then it's a waste of time and money. I agree that the city needs to be less ambitious with how many miles of paths they plan to build, so that they can use the money saved to build bike paths that are set away from traffic lanes. Creating bike lanes right next to streets with heavy traffic is just asking for bigger problems.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Darren. It is unfortunate that the "2010 Los Angeles Bicycle Master Plan" was drafted with no input from those who were going to utilize it, cyclists. There are too many vehicles and such limited space on the roads. With the increasing number of cyclist, Los Angeles needs to renew this master plan. The path must safe and must allow accessibility to major areas. Traffic is a major issue in Los Angeles and by adding cyclists to mix you are only asking for trouble.
ReplyDelete