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RECENT ACTION ITEMS
(For reference only - no action necessary)
MEASURE R MEETING
Please come out to next week's Transportation Committee meeting at 2pm to continue to support 10% for bikes and peds so that it becomes officially approved! A strong showing at the meeting will make a big difference in getting 10% for bikes and peds!
10% for bikes and peds will directly affect the funding available for bike projects.
When: Wednesday, November 18, 2pm
Where: City Hall, 200 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, Ca 90012. Room 1010
At the October 14 LA City Council Transportation Committee meeting, we came one step closer to achieving 10% from Measure R local Return for Bikes/Peds. This will total to almost 11 million dollars for 5 years, which will be a significant increase for the City of Los Angeles.
This 10% is only in the draft document and still needs to be approved. The Transportation Committee will decide on the issue at the November 18th meeting.
Come to the Transportation Committee meeting and support 10% for bikes and peds in Measure R Local Return Funds!
Please RSVP if you plan to attend: aurisha@la-bike.org.
In June, 2009, LADOT Bikeways Division Engineer, Paul Meskin, presented a document to the Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) that clearly states (in item #8) LADOT's plan to install peak hour lanes on Reseda Blvd in the near future. In early July, the plan for peak hour lanes was confirmed with West Valley DOT Transportation Engineer Ken Firoozmand, in a verbal conversation with BAC chairperson Glenn Bailey.
Due to the overwhelming response to this threat, it seems that DOT has retracted their plan and is now claiming that this was just a "rumor" and that they never planned to install peak hour lanes on Reseda Blvd. They also claim that there are currently no plans to install peak hour lanes on Reseda.
We want to make sure that there will never be a plan to install peak hour lanes on Reseda Blvd.
Let's install the already approved bike lanes on Reseda Blvd!
Click here to write to Councilmembers Smith and Zine and let them know that you would like to see the already approved extension of the Bike Lane of Reseda Blvd from Vanowen to Rinaldi installed by the end of 2009.
The long awaited City of LA Bike Plan maps were finally made available to the public late last week. The maps will serve as the basic framework of the Plan. The City of Los Angeles has made them available on their website. The complete plan has not yet been released.
We, here at LACBC, feel these maps are not ambitious enough to serve as a blue print for infrastructure change in the next decade. While local connector networks could be improved by the proposed changes, major connectivity issues within the city remain unaddressed.
We are disappointed with the process and the current draft, but we see this as an opportunity to educate and influence the city to create positive movement toward meeting the needs of cyclists.
Your input is crucial! The time is NOW to weigh in on the Bike Plan!
TAKE ACTION!
Your comments are an integral and important part of the process!
What you can do:
- Review the maps carefully
- What is missing? Send in streets that you feel have been overlooked to LA City and to LACBC
- Look at the "infeasible" marked streets and choose 5 that you feel should be prioritized.
Send in your comments to:
Jordann Turner
LA Bike Plan's project manager
jordann.turner@lacity.org
LACBC
lacbc.comments@la-bike.org
SIGN THE BIKE PLAN PETITION
More and more people are starting to use the bicycle as a viable form of transportation. The updated 2009 Bike Plan is a significant opportunity for the City to address growing constituents' needs to create safer bicycle infrastructure. Historically, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation has not implemented much of the 1996 Bike Plan and LA is falling far behind other major cities in the US in regards to implementing more bike infrastructure and creating safe streets for all users.
Let our elected officials know that LA needs more bikeways.
Please sign this online petition to urge Mayor Villaraigosa to prioritize implementation of the 2009 Bike Plan.
LADOT THREATENS TO CUT THE ENTIRE BIKEWAYS DEPARTMENT!!
BIKE PROJECTS WOULD BE CUT!!
Los Angeles is facing a perilous budget crisis. All city departments are being asked to submit plans on how they will cut spending, and LADOT have proposed to eliminate the entire Bikeways staff. Not just lay off some people, but cut it altogether.
TAKE ACTION!! 2 things you can do to save LA bike projects:
1) ATTEND MONDAYS COUNCIL MEETING
NEED CYCLISTS TO ATTEND AND GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT TO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY May 18, 10 am! Get there by 9:30am to sign up for public comment.
WHEN: Monday, May 18, 10:00AM
WHERE: City Hall Council Chambers. 200 N. Spring Street 90012, Room 340
2) WRITE EMAILS AND CALL- 1st THING MONDAY MORNING BEFORE THE MEETING to LADOT, the Budget and Finance Committee Members and to the Mayor.
See below for contact information
Background:
A May 4th Inter-departmental Correspondence titled Shared Responsibility and Sacrifice signed by LADOT General Manager Rita Robinson and addressed to the Budget and Finance Committee, contains the following text under the heading, Transit Capital Programming:
"Discontinue bikeways function, including bicycle path maintenance, bicycle programs, and school bicycle and transit education. Discontinue work on Safe Routes to School."
Numerous bicycle projects are underway which will be curtailed or compromised by this short-sighted move, including:
- The update of the city's Bicycle Plan, already behind schedule.
- Numerous bike lane projects.
- The Expo Bikeway, in which the city must complete its environmental review by the end of the year (to keep pace with the light rail project) or the bikeway may be delayed for years.
- The Sharrows study, which should lead to an implementation plan for this much-needed bikeway enhancement.
Some talking points:
- With more people riding bikes than ever before, with a vibrant cycling culture developing and with congestion and climate change consequences screaming at us, this is exactly the wrong time to cut the entire bikeways staff.
- This city faces rising health problems, obesity and high pollution problems. Encouraging cycling is an easy and cost-effective way to start reducing these problems.
- Cycling is not being prioritized in Los Angeles, if there is no staff at all to work on more infrastructure to create safer streets for ALL users, more injury and deaths will occur.
TAKE ACTION!
ATTEND THE MEETING and/or WRITE EMAILS AND CALL IN ON MONDAY!!! NEED YOUR VOICES IN NUMBERS!!
Contact Info:
Mayor Villaraigosa
(213) 978-0600
mayor@lacity.org
Rita Robinson
Fax: (213) 972-8410
rita.robinson@lacity.org
Budget and Finance Committee Members:
Councilmember Bernard C. Parks, Chair
(213)-473-7008
councilmember.parks@lacity.org
Councilmember Wendy Greuel
(213) 473-7002
councilmember.greuel@lacity.org
Councilmember Bill Rosendahl
(213) 473-7011
councilman.rosendahl@lacity.org
Councilmember Jose Huizar
(213) 473-7014
councilmember.huizar@lacity.org
Councilmember Greig Smith
(213) 473-7012
councilmember.smith@lacity.org
SHARROWS IN LA NOW!!
As you may be aware, LACBC has been advocating for the implementation of Sharrows Pilot Project throughout LA for many years.
LACBC launched the Sharrows Pilot Project in 2005 and LADOT has committed to implementing the pilot, but the project has been repeatedly delayed.
We are asking you to please sign on to a letter urging Mayor Villiargosa to use his influence in getting LADOT to implement Sharrows by the end of 2009.
TAKE ACTION NOW and sign on to the letter! It will only take a minute of your time. Please go NOW and send your letter to the Mayor.
Copies of your letter also will go to the Deputy Mayor for Transportation, Jaime delaVega, and Transportation Policy Office of Mayor, Borja Leon.
The Mayor needs to hear that his constituents want Sharrows NOW!
NO MORE DELAYS!!
TAKE ACTION NOW! and sign on to the letter urging our Mayor to support the implementation of Sharrows Pilot Project before the end of 2009. It is a shovel-ready green project that can put LA on the map for being a green city!
Time to Act! We need your help with the Economic Recovery Bill
LACBC has been submitted Ready to Go bike projects to Tunderhead Alliance and Transportation for America last month. Now it's time that Our elected officails here from you.
In January Congress and the President will sign an economic recovery bill that will include hundreds of billions of dollars, many of which will go to build transportation infrastructure, but very few of which include bicycle and pedestrian projects.
It is critical that we ensure that bicycle and pedestrian projects are included among the projects to be funded with federal economic stimulus funds.
TELL YOUR MAYOR AND GOVERNOR TO INCLUDE BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS IN THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY BILL
Tell Them:
- There are over $2 billion worth of "ready-to-go" bicycle and pedestrian projects across the U.S. that can create jobs right now.
- Bike and pedestrian projects are quick. Because they are smaller, states and cities can spend the money quickly and IN the local economy.
- Building biking and walking infrastructure creates jobs. Bike and pedestrian infrastructure is more labor intensive and less material intensive than building roads, thus netting more jobs for dollars spent!
- Sidewalks and bike lanes makes streets and downtowns into destinations for shopping and entertainment. Investing in walking and biking facilities helps local business and is an investment in the local economy.
- 24% of all trips in the US are less than a mile, 40% are less than two miles. Walking and biking facilities, including those that connect to transit, give American families economical transportation options and lay the foundation to address some of our nation's major crises, such as climate, energy, and health.
- A recovery package that includes funding for transportation infrastructure but does not include investments to improve bicycling and walking denies the current trends in transportation and the safety needs of the American public. Bicycling has increased in the US - in some cities its increased more than 35% in the last two years.
- Biking and pedestrian improvements also help wean us for foreign oil and support a healthy and sustainable future for America!
Send letters to:
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
200 North Spring Street, Room 303
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 978-0600
Fax: (213) 978-0750
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (213)897-0322
Fax: (916)558-3160
COMPLETE STREETS
After nearly a year of procedural delays, Assembly Bill 1358, the Complete Streets Act, is scheduled to be heard by the full Senate next week, the last stop before reaching Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk.
Sponsored by the California Bicycle Coalition and AARP, this bill would require cities and counties to design roadways that safely accommodate all those who use them, including bicyclists, pedestrians, transit riders, children, the elderly and the handicapped, as well as motorists. Read more about AB 1358.
!!Contact your State Senator today about AB 1358!!
CBC needs your help in urging the California Senate to approve the Complete Streets Act. After nearly a year of procedural delays, Assembly Bill 1358, the Complete Streets Act, is scheduled to be heard by the full Senate as soon as this week.
Urge your State Senator today to vote YES on this important bill.
For a sample text click here.
Take Action!
URGENT:Take action to support AB 2558
AB 2558 would enable Los Angeles' Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Bay Area's Metropolitan Transportation Commission to develop, and voters to pass, a carbon emissions fee. The revenue generated from the fee would go to air pollution and congestion alleviation programs-programs that currently do not receive sufficient funding to address these critical challenges.
The bill itemizes the eligible expenditures which include infrastructure to promote safe bicycling and walking, maintenance and rehabilitation of local streets and roads, sidewalks, or bicycle routes.
Your voice is incredibly important because lobbyists from the oil industry, auto dealers, and the California Chamber of Commerce turned out in force against the bill at the committee vote.
WE NEED YOU TO SEND IN LETTERS OF SUPPORT for AB 2558 TODAY!!
Please Fax a letter to Senate Appropriations Chair Tom Torlakson at fax #916.445.2527 and to Assemblymember Feuer at fax# 916.319.2142. Use our sample letter as a template.
ACTION ITEM: NEED DEDICATED FUNDING FOR BICYCLES
Metro is proposing to put a 1/2-cent sales tax measure on the November ballot. The earliest serious vote shaping the tax will be at the Metro Board Meeting on July 24th at 9am. The current proposal includes a projected total of 40 billion dollars in Metro revenue over 30 years. At this point, there's money planned to be set aside for rail, bus, highways, local cities, and even freeway soundwalls, but not a penny specifically set aside for bicycle or pedestrian projects.
We need to get funding specifically allocated for bicycle and pedestrian projects!
Please read more on this action item and what you can do to help on LACBC's bike blog.
After reading the blog, check out the opportunity to submit an online letter/petition.
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Already successfully used in other cities like San Francisco, Shared Use Arrows (sharrows) are road markings placed in regular traffic lanes, away from parked cars. Studies have shown that they are an effective way to provide a safer environment for cyclists and drivers to co-exist. They indicate where it's safe for bikes to ride, promoting awareness for both drivers and cyclists. Safer roads will encourage people to ride bikes more often.
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