LADOT has just announced that road diets and bike lanes have been approved for Figueroa and Colorado Blvds in Northeast L.A., over the objections of a small but very vocal minority.
This is a huge victory for supporters who have been battling for the lanes, including Flying Pigeon’s Josef Bray-Ali, Fig4All and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition.
I’m guest editing LA Streetsblog once again tomorrow, so look for a full report there. You can read a PDF of the full General Manager’s determination on link below.
Update: So much for that. Just moments after I got my story online at Streetsblog, the city sent out a notice that yesterday’s announcement was merely procedural, and that no final decision has been made.
Not only is the war not over yet, it seems the battle has barely begun.
At least you can console yourself with a mostly bike-centric look at today’s headlines.
WOOHOO!
HALALUYA praise the lowered!!!!!
NELA cyclists get their lanes!
Hooray!!!!! Thanks to all who fought hard for the lanes.
Yup, great news but I’ll celebrate when the lanes actually go in.
You are wise beyond your years, my friend.
Yeah, I’m not sure I’d assume this is a done deal yet. Huizar is still hosting meetings on them. I’m guessing the councilmen could still gum up the works if they think the public or neighborhood councils are too strongly against it. And it looks like DOT is using “should” and “may” a lot when discussing dates for installation.
Write your councilman!
This is great news.
Will they also be installing turnstiles? And will transponders be required to ride in the bike lanes?
If installing turnstiles and requiring transponders on bikes would ensure that the city was designed for bikes as exclusively as it is for cars then I would be all for your idea.
There are numerous findings by health professionals that so-called “active transportation” (i.e. walking, bike riding, etc.) represent the single most effective means of combating the diseases of a sedentary lifestyle crisis we are in. Adding fees and permits to “actively transport” our own bodies would work against the initiative to incentivise bicycling and walking as a means of fighting obesity, heart disease, diabetes, etc.
Hooray, that’s fabulous news! Hopefully it will turn some of the road hog automobiles into bicyclists!