LACBC Kicks off 7th St. Bike Lane Campaign!
By: Allison Mannos, Urban Strategy Director
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition

There is a very exciting campaign LACBC is kicking off! We're proud to announce to all our members and the bicycle community that we will continue our work pressing ahead for bike lanes on 7th St.!

As you may know, the Bike Plan update was recently passed by the Los Angeles City Council, which means that we can now implement some of the changes we've lobbied hard to include in the Plan. We are in the process of developing a massive outreach proposal to target low-income neighborhoods in Central and South LA, working with community groups. 7th St., amongst other key corridors, will commence the new strategy LACBC will be pushing to get bike access for low-income, working folks.

The great news is that, thanks to our advocacy, LADOT has told us that 7th Street (view map) will be striped by late September and early October 2011 before the third CicLAvia of the year! The first phase of the bike lane will start from Wilshire Center/Koreatown and stretch to Downtown (see blog for more details). As the Bike Plan calls for, it will eventually extend all the way to Boyle Heights--at an impressive 5.4 miles!

In Macarthur Park There Is A Lot of Foot and Car Traffic, Leaving Little Safe Space for Cyclists.

BACKGROUND:

7th Street is a first street for the Plan to start implementing because of the high need in the neighborhood, that it runs parallel to Wilshire, and connects many schools.

In a neighborhood where most residents can't afford cars or walk, bike, and take transit already, it's an ideal street to help many immigrant and mainstream cyclists get to work or get downtown.

Winning this bike lane would be part of a bigger network that LACBC is pushing forth for equitable bike lanes and bike friendly streets (BFS or residential street calming) in South and Central Los Angeles. Because of the high volume of traffic and pedestrians in these neighborhoods and the pothole stricken roads caused by heavy bus traffic, adding bike lanes would inevitably increase safety for pedestrians and bicyclists alike by separating us.

We are going to be collaborating with many groups that work with the diverse communities in Westlake and Wilshire Center/Koreatown on the ground. Our official partners are Council Member Ed Reyes, CARECEN, KIWA, Acción Westlake, and especially those day laborer cyclists who have worked with City of Lights.

Remember, this is just the first taste of the Bike Plan coming into fruition--bring your plate and fork! Just joshing, but LACBC will continue to do heavy lifting to make sure the City implements the plan's new bicycle policies and programs. If interested in getting more information or involved in the campaign, contact Allison Mannos, Urban Strategy Director at allison@la-bike.org or 213-629-2142.

If this vision of a greener, more equitable, bike friendly LA inspires you...then please click here to make a donation to the LACBC!

For more info visit: la-bike.org