Bike path cut from Expo line?
Thread started by
0gravity at 02.14.09 - 1:12 pm
FYI....copied from Bicycle Fixation....sounds like plans for a bike path along the proposed Expo line might now be cut out. Public response could affect it.
02/13/2009: "LA Readers Note: Expo Line Meetings Coming Up"
If you live anywhere in central or western Los Angeles, try to attend one of the meetings mentioned in the link below: Phase Two Overview.... If you live anywhere in central or western Los Angeles, try to attend one of the meetings mentioned in the link below:
Phase Two Overview
http://www.buildexpo.org/phase2_overview.php
Metro is seeking input on various aspects of the Line's final shape. Meetings will occur on February 18th, 23rd, and 25th, and you can also submit comments online.
According to the Los Angeles County Bike Coalition, Metro is cutting out the bike path slated to be built along the ROW to save money; it won't save much, and the bike path would be extremely useful to the central area communities, so keep that in mind as you read and prepare your comments.
LACBC says:
A new light rail line, called the Expo Line, will eventually extend from downtown to Santa Monica. The project is divided into two phases. Phase I is under construction and will end at Robertson & Venice in Culver City. Phase II will extend the line from there to Santa Monica. Phase II is still in planning phases, and a draft environmental impact report was released last week.
One of the things that has been promised for the Expo Line is a bikeway adjacent to the train line. This would create a continuous bikeway from Santa Monica to downtown if it were built!
Recently, the Expo Construction Authority decided NOT to include the bikeway in the environmental review for Expo Phase 2, to avoid the burden of doing a federal environmental impact statement. Thus, the bikeway segment of the plan will not be considered by Expo Construction Authority even though it has federal funding.
This has created serious uncertainties about how, when or if an Expo Bikeway will ever be built.
Again, for meeting schedules or to comment directly, go to: Phase Two Overview.
http://www.buildexpo.org/phase2_overview.php
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bump
a safe and direct route through LA would be grand
Gav02.14.09 - 5:52 pm
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Awesome. I'm glad bicyclists were petitioned to approve Measure 1A. Enjoy the tax hike while you're dodging traffic. Why spend the monies on a bike path when you can just stuff the pockets of a crooked, or just plain incompetent, Metro contractor who will give us a mile of track for $100 million (five years behind schedule)?
pretzels02.14.09 - 9:58 pm
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I hope any bike path they build has more lights than the Culver City Bike Path.
That thing is f'ing scary to ride alone at night. Every underpass is pitch black and filled with garbage and obstacles.
I'd almost rather ride in traffic...
stillline02.17.09 - 5:08 pm
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Stilline, tell me you don't ride the Ballona Bike Path at night. I rode it ONCE at night, after riding it every morning for, like, six months. One time. Never again at night. It's not lit at all, there's crap on the roadway, there's no easy exit should someone come at you, and you can't see them even if they do; there's lights from the houses behind it, so anyone on the side of the path would be backlit.
Now, I'm not a timid rider — I've been told maybe I should be more timid. But that path at night is terrifying. You're spot on; riding in street traffic is safer.
As for the meeting, I have it down as on the 23rd. I'm going!
katiepoche02.17.09 - 6:11 pm
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I'm with Stilline, but take out the "almost." Riding in traffic can be dangerous, but bike paths are dangerous and tedious.
PC02.17.09 - 6:40 pm
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Thought provoking points you guise make about bike paths being sketchy. It's a real good point. Maybe for LA, separate bike paths are overrated and the effort would be better to push for more dedicated bike lanes on existing streets.
0gravity02.18.09 - 8:56 am
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I think that misses the point. We need more _quality_ bike lanes. The fact is that there is no safe way to get from SaMo to DTLA, day or night. Having a well maintained area, which gets attention from cyclists as well as Metro personell will make this the primary east-west corridor for low-impact transportation. The fact is that if we don't get the bike lane now, there will be no second chance. If we don't fight for it now, WE WILL NOT GET OUR BIKE PATH.
NOW GET TO THOSE MEETINGS AND MAKE SOME GOOD COMMENTS!
tortuga_veloce02.18.09 - 10:00 am
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Man they should at least have a standard to go by when constructing a bike path. I nominate the one next to the Orange line as the standard!
User102.18.09 - 11:58 am
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hopefully Ridazz take this info to the meeting!
SKIDMARCUS02.18.09 - 12:18 pm
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yeah, what a success story. it would be retarded if they disregard the popularity of that bike path, then throw away federal funding that should be going into our fair city.
fucking outsourcing.
tortuga_veloce02.18.09 - 1:59 pm
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To clarify: this part of the meeting deals with Santa Monica's portion of the Expo line. If you only go to one meeting go to the Cheviot Hills meeting on 2/23.
And don't forget to write!!!!!
tortuga_veloce02.18.09 - 3:58 pm
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