BREAKING
NEWS
LA Bike Plan Delayed by Planning Commission
Bikers uneasy about the feasibility of plan
Los Angeles cyclists may soon have their own slice of the road.
After an all-day meeting, the LA Planning Commission delayed vote on its LA Bike Plan Thursday in order for more review. The delay pleased the united community of local bikers who oppose the plan, claiming the plan would make the city less bike-friendly.
The plan's goals include creation of 1,633 miles of designated bike lanes implemented within 5 years.
"The draft [bike plan] is like glass ornament -- shiny, beautiful and utterly fragile. The Mayor and City Planning have touted it as including 1,600 miles of bikeways, but you would have to walk between the raindrops to make that a reality," said bike blogger Alex Thompson at BikesideLA.
The Planning Commission cited that of the almost 4 million daily commuters in LA County, less than 1 percent use bicycles.
However, some groups feel that the Bike Plan will stifle, instead of encourage, more bike usage in LA.
"Sure, the draft has hundreds of miles of bike lanes 'designated.' But when you get down in the details you find out 511 of those miles fall in the 'further study' category -- a category that has previously gone by the name 'potential' and 'infeasible.' Only 56 miles of bike lane are left," Thompson said.
The Planning Commission will vote on the Bike Plan in its Dec. 16 meeting.
