Community Corner

Why the ERNC Wants You to Attend Tonight's Bike Lanes Meeting

Councilmember José Huizar will preside over a major meeting on Colorado Boulevard bike lanes at 7 p.m. at the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock.

A public meeting about bicycle lanes on Colorado Boulevard is scheduled today, Monday, at 7 p.m., and the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council strongly encourages residents and stakeholders to attend it.

Click here to read the latest Eagle Rock Patch story about bike lanes and Monday’s meeting.

In a newsletter e-mail blast to subscribers Sunday, the ERNC called the bike lanes meeting “perhaps the most important” on the subject yet.

“Yeah, we know, there have been like a million meetings about bike lanes on Colorado,” the e-mail said in a chatty tone, highlighting some words in boldface. “But this one is different for two reasons: 1. Because our Councilperson, José Huizar, will be there, and 2. Because you are the ones who made it happen!”

Here is the rest of the ERNC’s e-mail:

“The ERNC voted unanimously in April to support the DOT's buffered bike lane plan for Colorado Boulevard*, based on the overwhelmingly positive public input we received from residents and business owners. We're officially on board with the plan, and we've been working tirelessly to make sure that Eagle Rock gets the best and most out of it we can.

“One of the concerns we heard from individuals and especially businesses was that while bike lanes were a good idea, there were other problems on Colorado that needed to be addressed—like parking, left turns, and those nutty medians, left over from when trolley cars ruled the boulevard. Some of you suggested that since all the paint is going to be stripped off the streets when the bike lanes go down, why not use this opportunity to fix a whole host of existing traffic problems?

“We've tried hard to make sure that the good folks at the DOT and Mr. Huizar's office heard this message—and now they're coming to town with a revised plan for the bike lanes that is way more specific than it's been in the past. And they're asking for your input about the design. So come on down with your ideas and questions, and let's have a great discussion that will result in a bike lane and re-striping plan that will make Colorado the best it can possibly be—for all of us.

“If you own a business on Colorado Boulevard, or if you're a parent who walks, bikes, or drives to school on Colorado, please sign up for a speaker card. Councilperson Huizar and the DOT will be listening.

“*As a reminder, "buffered bike lanes" are lanes reserved for bike travel that are shared with autos turning onto side streets or parking along the curb -- and of course, emergency vehicles. When the bike lanes are installed, Colorado Boulevard in Eagle Rock will go from 6 lanes of auto traffic to 4 lanes of autos + 2 buffered bike lanes. Among the benefits that we hope will result are that the existing freeway speeds on Colorado may slow down, and our town's main street will be a happier, healthier place to drive, walk, bike, shop, and eat.”


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