Green bike lane on Spring Street in Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Dept. of Transportation
The momentum from the Plan and its adoption has carried forward into its implementation. Upon adopting the Plan, the Mayor issued a directive to each City department to implement the Plan in all relevant City projects. The City Council adopted the Bicycle Anti-Harassment Ordinance in July 2011, providing civil remedies for cyclists who have been harassed by drivers, and updated the zoning code to require additional short- and long-term bicycle parking in new developments. Within 15 months of adopting the Plan, LADOT installed over 100 miles of bikeways, bringing the total mileage of facilities to 55 miles of paths, 245 miles of lanes and 132 miles of routes, shared-lane markings (sharrows) and bicycle-friendly streets. Public service announcements educating motorists and cyclists to share the road are ongoing. Resources were committed to establish a full-time bicycle planner position in the Department of City Planning to work side-by-side with LADOT’s Bikeways Team. The Los Angeles Police Department appointed four bicycle liaisons in its Traffic Division who are dedicated to bicycle safety and outreach. Through the Plan and its implementation, Los Angeles is continuing to build a city that is livable, bikeable and walkable, providing leadership for the region and beyond. Claire Bowin is a city Planner for the Los Angeles Dept. of City Planning. Jane Choi, is a Planning Assistant for the Los Angeles Dept. of City Planning. jane.choi@lacity.org Michelle Mowery is the Senior Bicycle Coordinator for the Los Angeles Dept. of Transportation.
Car sharing and bike sharing simplify short trips By Alissa Barber-Torres, PhD, AICP Car sharing and bike sharing systems make cars or bikes available in multiple locations for short-term rentals by residents, employees, or visitors. They have become a popular option for communities trying to reduce vehicle congestion and carbon emissions, to encourage travel through downtown and business districts, to support employees at large workplaces and university students, and to enhance the convenience and accessibility of transit systems. Car sharing also replaces the high fixed costs of vehicle ownership and operation with relatively low annual fee and cost-per-use rates, promoting transportation equity.