Updated: Now includes a link to the list of bike lane projects included in the Priority 1 Environmental Package.
The Department of City Planning’s Claire Bowin began the 9th Bicycle Plan Implementation Team (BPIT) meeting this past April 17th by introducing newly appointed Bicycle Planner David Somers. David has been at City Planning for over five years and has worked on environmental review of development applications pursuant to CEQA and reviewed development applications in West LA. David is charged with managing the environmental clearance and approval process for a number of bicycle lane projects, and will be coordinating the BPIT’s efforts as Claire Bowin and Jane Choi focus on the Mobility Element update.
Though Claire and Jane will continue to collaborate with us on implementation, David will take the lead with future BPIT meetings, reporting, and coordination. After being introduced, David invited attendees around the room to introduce themselves, and then took us through a packed agenda.
David gave a brief update on the First Year EIR schedule for the Priority 1 segments (a list of these will be posted by the end of this week June 18th). The process is likely to be completed (EIR certification granted) by February 2013. Time will be allocated in the next BPIT meeting to discuss projects to be included in the next list of priority segments to undergo an additional environmental clearance and approval process. Those interested should review the survey results released on the Bike Blog in February; they represent a first pass at demonstrating which bikeways would be supported for implementation next.
David then gave the floor back to Claire for the next two items on the agenda. Claire highlighted Planning’s work on the Mobility Element update where we are developing a prioritized street network based on modal emphasis, modifying street standards to accommodate bicycle lanes and other bicycle infrastructure, and revising transportation performance standards. A key component of the Mobility element update is the LA/2B project which has been established to maximize public engagement to improve how the City plans its streets. For more information about the LA/2B Mobility Element update and to join in on the conversation, please visit their blog and citywide dialogue page.
Claire then lead a discussion that took feedback on concepts for bicycle priority corridors that would emphasize protected bike lanes. BPIT participants provided preliminary feedback on goals to achieve in identifying ideal protected bike lanes corridors and design objectives. Participants discussed constraints and options in conforming to the State’s Highway Design Manual and the potential to initiate an experimental facility design process. Planning will provide future updates to BPIT participants and give opportunitie to provide feedback on the preferred bike priority corridors, goals and potential designs.
Tim Fremaux followed with a brief update on continuing progress on the downtown bike network. Lanes on Los Angeles St., First St., and Main St. are being implemented very soon (in fact, the week of this posting). Additional lanes on Olive St. and Grand Ave. will be installed later this summer, with additional connections in the future.
The next several items covered Bicycle Plan policy implementation, including updates on the process for requesting bike racks, the bike parking ordinance (still in the City Attorney’s Office), and the preliminary results of a Bikes Belong study that looked at the economic impacts of a road diet and bike lanes (presented by Alexis Lantz of LACBC).
Kevin Burton from the West Hollywood Bicycle Task Force gave an update on West Hollywood’s efforts in implementing bicycle facilities and expressed the need to work with Los Angeles to ensure connectivity between the two cities. Both cities will discuss and suggest methods on the best way to close the gap on San Vicente between Burton Way and Beverly Blvd.
Finally, Jay Slater, Chair of the Bicycle Advisory Committee presented a concept to revisit the goals of the BPIT and suggested a new framework that would establish geographically-based implementation teams to help the City coordinate on public outreach and project delivery. The BAC will coordinate with LADOT and Planning on this revised BPIT framework.
If you were not able to attend the meeting we appreciate and encourage you to leave us your feedback in a comment below. We look forward to seeing you at the next BPIT meeting on July 10th.
[…] The Source notes a number of classes to become a more confident cyclist. LADOT Bike Blog offers an update on the most recent BPIT meeting. It looks like Downtown L.A. could get Danish-style cycletracks on South Figueroa; link courtesy of […]
[…] What’s Next for City Bike Planning? (LADOT Bike Blog) […]
You state ” First Year EIR schedule for the Priority 1 segments (a list of these will be posted by the end of this week) ” – but I don’t see the list here: https://ladotbikeblog.wordpress.com/bikeway-projects/ – still says “coming soon”
I am excited to get the word out and make these projects successful. Keeping them a secret undermines public input and makes the projects less likely to be successful. EIR needs to be a public process!
Now posted. We will definitely keep you updated on the EIR process as it happens.
I like seeing the enviornmental review comment section on the bike projects tab above. The reasons why portions of streets were added and removed gives a better understanding of why something was changed.
LA has a smorgasbord of 2,600 miles of non-residential streets to choose from for installing bike lanes. So, although having someone remove the carrots can seem like a travesty, “Hey!, Carrots are popular, how can you call it a cycling meal over here without carrots? This can be substituted with green beans, broccoli, peas, cauliflower…and look, someone just added corn, small tomatos and guacamole.
Looking at this more like a business, where you first target the areas that have a lot of cyclists now, or have the potential to have a unusually high amount of bicycling quickly–such as the downtown area–should be the priority. There needs to be good progression in the cycling rate to keep the momentum going financially and politically. There should not be just a focus on the amount of stripes that can be laid.
Paying attention to the perceived stress level for cycling brings focus to trying to attract the 60% of the population that are interested in cycling, but concerned. Riding in unprotected bike lanes on busy streets with fast moving traffic is not something that this part of the adult population want to do. The target customer for using unprotected bike lanes is perhaps no more than 8% of the adult population.
[…] next BPIT (Bike Plan Implementation Team) meeting will take place on Tuesday, July 10th in the California Bear Credit Union Community Room (first floor adjacent to Broad Plaza) at […]
[…] next BPIT (Bike Plan Implementation Team) meeting will take place on Tuesday, July 10th in the California Bear Credit Union Community Room (first floor adjacent to Broad Plaza) at […]
[…] The Source notes a number of classes to become a more confident cyclist. LADOT Bike Blog offers an update on the most recent BPIT meeting. It looks like Downtown L.A. could get Danish-style cycletracks on South Figueroa; link courtesy of […]