Community Corner

PHOTOS: Look Who Came For the Bike Lanes Meeting

The latest plans for a more bike-friendly Colorado Boulevard include two new crosswalks, improved left-turns on medians, speed indicators near Dahlia, better flow near 134 on-ramp.

Photos by Herb West

Monday's public meeting about the Los Angeles Department of Transportation's plan to install bike lanes along the Eagle Rock section of Colorado Boulevard attracted a motley crowd of about 150 people from around the region, including Highland Park, many of whom spoke for or against the proposed transformation of one of Northeast L.A.'s busiest thoroughfares.

The reduction of auto traffic lanes on the boulevard from six to four and the simultaneous addition of two partly buffered and striped bicycle lanes should help reduce vehicular speeds and make it practical to add two new crosswalks as well as additional pedestrian improvements, LADOT Bicycle Coordinator Nate Baird told the meeting. Work on the bike lanes and other changes is expected to begin in about two to three months, Baird said.

A "rectangular rapid flashing beacon" signal at an existing crosswalk should improve safety by encouraging motorists to yield to pedestrians, Baird said. Further, traffic flow is expected to be improved on the eastern section of the boulevard leading to the 134 on-ramp because of a proposed design aimed at discouraging weaving by auto drivers.

Other proposed changes include speed indicators near Dahlia Drive and better left-turn lanes along Colorado's medians by adjusting the striping to allow more room for such maneuvers. The estimated cost of the traffic changes, part of L.A.'s 2010 Bicycle Master Plan, is about $50,000 to $60,000 per mile, Baird said.

Held at the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock, the meeting was convened by the office of Councilmember José Huizar as its second public outreach effort so far this year regarding traffic changes to Colorado. The first meeting, held on March 27 at Occidental College, attracted about 120 people.

On a related note, the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council is scheduled to conduct its monthly board meeting today, Tuesday, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Eagle Rock City Hall, where one of the items on the agenda will revolve around proposed bicycle racks on Colorado Boulevard. ERNC Communications Director Baker Montgomery is expected to call for volunteers for a survey about bike racks on the boulevard.

Click here to see the full agenda of the ERNC meeting.

Click here to view a bicycle map of Los Angeles. Check the "Bike Parking" option under the map to see where in the city bike racks are located.







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