Should L.A. give cyclists more space on the road? Share your thoughts

In a region known for traffic-jammed freeways, a group of cycling advocates has developed a plan for a freeway system for bikes.

The Backbone Bikeway Network would create miles-long east-west and north-south corridors for cyclists along some of the county’s largest streets and heaviest-traveled corridors.

The network is one part of the plan offered by The L.A. Bike Working Group and was created as an alternative to the city of L.A.’s proposed bicycle plan.

What do you think about the proposed bike plan? Do cyclists deserve a larger chunk of the road? Can motorists share the road? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

-- Ari B. Bloomekatz

Comments

[mike]

There needs to be more space for bikes, and bike lanes need to continue through each neighborhood. Currently, I dare not ride my bike on Sepulveda or Avaition near LAX, which are the only N/S routes near the airport.

[Lee-Roy]

This would be wonderful, and would take L.A. a good step toward being a modern city. However, I think a bike lane/path should at minimum be separated by a curb or narrow sidewalk from regular traffic lanes, and also to separate bike traffic from pedestrian traffic. Amsterdam's design is a great example of how well this can work. Too many L.A. drivers simply pay no attention or have no respect of other living things.

[Fred Stanger]

Bike riders should have more room; but they should be have to have license to ride. The license should price high for those who will be riding in bike lanes only.

[Joe Anthony]

Less traffic, cleaner air, healthier angelenos, economic savings for cyclists, less dependence on oil, sustainability...

What's not to like?

The biggest challenge, beyond better infrastructure, is cyclists and drivers learning to share the road. This can be done, and this plan can be a big step towards meeting that challenge.

[Adam Holman]

I think any proposed bike plan that increases ridership and the ease of riding throughout LA is great. I ride my bike downtown to work every morning and have often felt the anger of motorists towards bike riders. Too many of LA's roads are narrow two or four lanes roads with little room for a biker and an angry, speeding car driver. More distinct bike lanes are required everywhere so it isn't the bike rider infringing on the car lane but the car infringing on the bike lane. I'd love to see the day when Glendale Blvd into Downtown is a two lane car and two lane bike roadway.

[aj1984]

If L.A. wants to continue it's standing as a world class city it is imperative we update our infrastructure to accommodate bicyclists and join the rest of society. Not just that, it would encourage other to leave their cars and pick up a bike and live a healthy lifestyle also while simultaneously reducing L.A.'s carbon footprint also.

[Michael Laurence]

Yes. Isn't it obvious?

[MIke]

I would love to seem more road space dedicated to bikes. Unfortunately I am not in the area that these are proposed. With that said... you build them and I'll ride on them.

[Bobb-e]

Of course cyclists deserve a larger chunk of the road . As America's attitudes toward the environment are swinging in a positive direction, let's get started early. Let's not wait too long to let cyclists lead the populace into healthier and more conscience lifestyle decisions.

[able baker]

NO!

[jER]

I don't believe the issue is if LA /should/ give cyclists more space on the road -- it is _required_by_law. The space we need on the road is simply three feet; but, many drivers are not willing to even give this wide of a berth to a cyclists... because... well cyclists don't really mess up cars when you hit them--so why not pass with an inch clearance. Not cool. I do notice cars will give big trucks and other cars MORE than three feet because... well if a car hits that it messes up your cars pretty bad. What needs to change is ROAD ATTITUDE and the only way that will change is by improving the current infrastructure, policing and educating motorists, and keeping a high level of maintenance of our roads. Thats exactly what the Backbone Bikeway Network establishes. It is the only way safety and efficiency will be improved for _all_road_users. We all deserve a better transportation environment free of frustration -- I see you all trapped in your cars going APE everyday. That's got to be _really_ bad for your health!

[Roger Nani]

Cyclists absolutely deserve a freeway system dedicated for bikes throughout LA. Even for experienced riders navigating any part of the area in the proposed map above is dangerous, due to the high traffic volume and lack of bike lanes/appreciable shoulder. This system would be a boon for current riders and perhaps also provide incentive for others to get into cycling, as a major barrier for new cyclists is being able to ride safely in LA. If the city ever wants to attempt to reduce air pollution and improve the health of it's residents this bike system would be an excellent first step.

[Jesus Hermosillo]

YES--absolutely. We all pay for street maintenance in through our taxes so it doesn't make sense that must own a car to be able to use them. We should be encouraging bicycling (as well as walking and public transit) and this means making it the streets less dangerous.

[Ezra Perez]

As someone who commutes to work 3-4 times a week I welcome the bike plan. It's about time. We can't build more roads to accommodate more and more cars. What we can do is build this bike network and get more and more people out of their cars and on their bikes.

Ezra

[Daniel]

Yes, dedicate more roads to bicycle-only traffic. Many large cities do it. It's not that hard, just takes some good planning and will.

[David Sackman]

YES! Kudos to the L.A. Bike Working Group. I've read the official LA City Plan, and it is useless.
Bikes are required to observe the same traffic laws as cars, but they are also required to stay to the far right, and stay in bike lanes. That means driving exactly in the path of doors suddenly opening from parked cars. There are no truly safe "bike paths"or "bike lanes" in L.A. (other than recreational).
No matter how much "smart" planning we do for streets and freeways, traffic, congestion and pollution will only increase. We must plan for more bike, pedestrian, and mass transit use, or our entire infrastructure will fall apart.

[jennydonut]

Yes, many more cyclist are commuting now, and I think many more would if it were safe to do so.

We have the perfect set up for a bike friendly city, great weather, health conscious community, vast network of paved roadway, a river bed cutting through the middle of our city.
The only thing working against us is the superiority complex of a car centered society.

[joe]

i'm all for more room to cycle, but the proposed map above is not what i really have in mind. yes, we need multiple n/s and e/w routes, but not on the busiest thoroughfares in the city. i think using less busy, nearby alternate roads for bikes would be a much better idea and would lead to a lot less accidents.

[Bruce]

I am in total favor of more bike paths and lanes to ease traffic, air quality and promote a healthier lifestyle.

[James Sullivan]

Anything that can be done to get the sanctimonius and self-righteous yet unable to follow the rules of the road, bicyclists off the road is to be encouraged. That is of course until it rains or gets too windy or cold or dusty or hot and then the bicyclists will just drive their cars and the bike freeway will be empty.

[john]

Yes, Just make sure they are licenced and pay fee's like car owners do, and make em get insurance too!

[Sean]

yes! cleaner air, less fuel use, less wear and tear on the roads, healthier public, etc. the only bad part is putting your life at risk while you try to get to work. bike lanes help weary cyclists takes their first steps. people on public transit, on the sidewalks and on our bikes can make Los Angeles a more livable city by adding to the sense of community. the psychological make-up of a city of people locked away in their bubbles called automobiles is troubling. so, yes! double yes!

motorists please remember if you see one cyclist do something dumb, do paint a swath over all of us. it's just easy to notice a cyclist, where we all become immune to drivers do all kinds of crazy things like u-turns in every situation imaginable, the scarcity of turn signals, speeding, rolling through stop signs.

L.A. for all!

[Klaas van Gelder]

Yes! Our roads are so wide anyway, I can't believe it would be hard or that expensive. I would love to ride to work but not without some protection offered from motorists.

[Sean]

damn, i meant "don't" paint a swath over all of us.

peace.

[bikinginla]

This is not about giving cyclists "a larger chunk of the road." Bicyclists already have a legal right to ride on every street and roadway in California, with the exception of major highways. It's about providing cyclists with connected routes that will allow them to reach every section of the city and encourage more people to get out of their cars and onto their bikes.

Every bike on the road represents one car that isn't, easing congestion for everyone else. At the same time, bike lanes provide riders with a lane of their own outside of the flow of vehicular traffic, improving safety and speeding traffic flow. And at just $5 million, the projected cost to build out this entire plan represents just over 1% of the cost to add carpool lanes on the 405 over the Sepulveda Pass, yet will do far more to reduce congestion for years to come.

This plan will do every bit as much to benefit drivers as it will the cyclists who will ride it. That's why everyone — especially drivers who hate bikes or are annoyed to find a bike in the lane ahead of them — should call their council members and demand that this plan be adopted.