City Council Decision Prioritizes Cyclist Safety and Comfort for All Future Projects
By Dolores Quintana
The West Hollywood City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday, November 7 to become the first city in the Los Angeles area to exclusively develop protected bike facilities in all future projects. Councilmembers Chelsea Byers and West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tempore John M. Erickson, Ph.D., spearheaded the directive to ensure that forthcoming facilities prioritize safety and comfort for all cyclists. West Hollywood Mayor Sepi Shyne and former Mayor Lauren Meister supported the measure in the vote.
The agenda item (6C) resolved to direct the city’s staff to construct only Class I (off-street) or Class IV (physically protected) bike facilities, eliminating the construction of door zone bike lanes within the City. Significantly, this initiative mandates the transition without removing any existing bike facilities outlined in the general plan.
It specifically approves an agreement for services with Here Design, LLC in the amount not to exceed $311,880 to create a concept design plan, community engagement, and a temporary test installation for the Willoughby Avenue and Vista/Gardner Street Neighborhood Greenway.
This pivotal decision promises to enhance the safety of the City’s bike lane network, guaranteeing that streets designated for bike lanes, such as Beverly Boulevard, will feature protective measures, including lanes shielded by parked cars, bollards, or, ideally, concrete curbs. West Hollywood sets a precedent for a more cyclist-friendly future in the region which is important since the MOVE program in Culver City was curtailed after a promising start.
