Westside Neighborhood Council -- Bike Lanes On Westwood?!?

[Overland Avenue]

Please come to the Westside Neighborhood Council meeting this Thursday evening at 7 p.m.

 

There will be someone from the LA Bike Coalition discussing proposed bike lanes on Sepulveda, Westwood, and Avenue of the Stars -- something that is scheduled for hearing on February 19th.

 

We love cycling and want to create a bike network on the Westside, but anyone who walks or drives down Westwood between Pico and Santa Monica knows that taking out lanes, or parking, or creating a bus/bike transit lane (that was vigorously opposed on Wilshire) will necessarily reduce lanes, and motorists will "peel off" onto the residential streets to find the path of least resistance.  This will not work for the community, for the businesses, or for the safety of cyclists.

 

In short, Westwood Blvd. simply can't handle this proposal, and even the local cyclists find the proposal unworkable.

 

Please come to the meeting and voice your opinion.  At Westside Pavilion, third floor, Community Room A, behind the food courts.

[Eddie North-Hager]

Traffic is at such a terrible level in the area that we need to start thinking about how to deal with it. And it's not by just having more lanes for cars.

[barney desimone]

It might be a good time to discuss increased congestion in the area overall due to the effects of the Expo Line. There is a station planned at Westwood and Exposition that will bring increased foot traffic ( bikes piggybacking also possible ). There will be a station at Sepulveda and Pico along with the large Casden mixed use apartment development there, and another station near Palms and Motor with it's mixed use apartments. The driving experience in the area is going to change radically over the next few years as more of these areas around transit build up. Santa Monica already has these developments in the works and the Valley has them along the Orange busline. Look at the area around the Canoga Station. There is already a huge complex being built there and several hundred more in the planning stage. This isn't just about bikes. It's about our whole way of life in L.A. Look at the towers planned in Hollywood along the proposed subway. What happens when they put that through to Westwood? The answer is "densification", the planning people's term. Have young kids? Is this what you want them to grow up with? Is this why you moved to the Westside? The developers own the politicians. Don't trust those people. They don't represent you.

[michael derek mccoy]

I see, that is a hot topic. I do hop common sense is used in the discussions.

[Jane Richardone]

I agree, Barney.  Being against bike lanes on Westwood is not being *against* bike lanes.  I am all for them where appropriate & safe.  Unfortunately, Westwood Blvd is neither.

[barney desimone]

This whole walk/ bike thing is being pushed down our throats. There is no way in hell that Westwood north of Pico can accomodate any intrusion into the existing lanes. I like bike lanes where they can be put in safely and without increasing congestion, but Westwood Bl is not one of those places. There needs to be some common sense inserted into the mix here. Bicyclists will die on Westwood as sure as the sun rises.

[michael derek mccoy]

I believe, that we need more transit. Too many cars on the street. People need to learn, to get out and walk/bike. There has to be a solution.

[Jane Richardone]

I am terrified by the thought.  Westwood is horribly congested as it is & adding bike lanes can only make things worse.  

[michael derek mccoy]

I am all for bike lanes.