Bikeable Communities

03/05/2024

I know that this is a little long...with only one photo. But please...take 2 minutes and fill out the attached survey from CalTrans.

Let me start with what’s important. Here are links to a CalTrans survey that we need you to fill out regarding a vital local and regional bike connector through the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.

English link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QHJQDNM
Spanish link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LWHXT2P

The what and the why

Imagine riding from Long Beach across the International Gateway Bridge (replacement for the Gerald Desmond Bridge in the Port of Long Beach), high above the harbor, then on toward Palos Verdes and beyond. All on separated bike paths and bike lanes. You can help make that a reality by having you and your colleagues fill out the attached survey from CalTrans.

As many of you know, several of us were actively involved in making the Mark Bixby Path across the new International Bridge a reality. It now exists…BUT only takes you to the top of the bridge. We now need to make it a real local as well as regional connector. CalTrans is conducting a project feasibility study: we need your input to that study.

When Mark and others envisioned the bridge, they saw a connector that would take cyclists well beyond the port. It would connect from Long Beach to Palos Verdes, The South Bay and beyond. To make this a reality they knew that a connector would be needed across either the Vincent Thomas Bridge (to the west) or the Schuyler Heim Bridge to the north.

Recently CalTrans has undertaken a feasibility study of the route across the Schuyler Heim (see map below). Now they are asking…would it be used and how would it be used.

The survey is a vital part of creating this critical bike link through the Long Beach and Los Angeles Harbors. It will serve as both a local connection as well as a vital part of the Pacific Coast Bike Trail.

It’s critical that we get as many people to respond as possible. Let CalTrans know that we need, want and will use the connector.

PLEASE

• Fill out the attached survey!!!
• Send it to your colleagues and friends along with this brief explanation

The survey is a vital part of making this important and regionally significant project happen.

Let me know if you have any questions.

And again…the links to the survey

English link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QHJQDNM
Spanish link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LWHXT2P

Regards

Allan Crawford

02/24/2024

CalTrans PCH / Anahiem Bridges Update

First…thanks to all of you who reached out to CalTrans regarding the bike lanes on PCH across Anaheim Bay!!! It definitely made a difference!!!

For the duration of the work on the bridges, they are reducing the speed limit (only useful if it’s enforced), widening the bike lane (but only a little bit…disappointing, but better than nothing) and adding electronic warning/messaging signs. When the construction is completed, they are expected to return the full bike lanes with new striping, but we will need to monitor to make sure this occurs.

Why the restriping

The restriping was done to accommodate work that is going to be done along the center median over the next few months. Once the work is complete the roadway will be restriped to its former configuration. We are pushing CalTrans for a buffered lane instead of the exact former configuration. We’ll continue to work on that.

What is CalTrans doing to make the existing condition safer

We all know that narrow bike lanes and high speed traffic is a recipe for disaster.

As a result of your outreach to CalTrans they are:
1. Widening the southbound bike lane by a foot (to 4 feet). Not great, but better than what we have.
2. Reducing speed limit to 40 mph (the current signs say 45, but that will be changed to 40). This is a big one…but only if it’s enforced!!!
3. Providing speed “radar” feedback signs. At the present time the signs are located at the opposite ends of the project. This is not a particularly effective place for the signs, so we are requesting that they place them in the middle of the project area, between the bridges, where the vehicles are actually speeding.
4. Adding electronic signs warning drivers (and cyclists) of the narrow bike lane. From my perspective, this is probably one of the most effective things that they did.

None of this does a lot of good if traffic continues to go 50 to 60 MPH just a few feet from us. As such, we are reaching out to Seal Beach to encourage them to routinely have a police presence to help ensure compliance with the new speed limits.

How long before it is restriped

According to CalTrans the plan is to have the median work completed and restriping done by early summer. BUT…this is dependent on weather. If we get lots of rain….work will be slowed.

If you did reach out to CalTrans, you should also expect an e-mail saying “thanks” from Christine Knadler (the Public Information Officer) and/or Alyssa Murakami (the bike and ped coordinator).

Below are some photos highlighting the changes.

We will continue to monitor and push CalTrans...

Again...thanks for the support and for helping to make our roadways safer for bikes and peds.

Cheers

02/18/2024

By now many of you are aware that CalTrans has restriped the section of PCH across the Anaheim Bridges (between Seal Beach and Sunset Beach). It is now much more dangerous for bicyclists and pedestrians due to the narrow bike lane and the adjacent high speed traffic (50-60 mph).

Please reach out to CalTrans and tell them this needs to be remedied immediately. They restriped it in a day...they can fix it in a day!!!

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

The contacts listed here are the Public Information officer (PIO) and the Bike and Ped Coordinators. I've worked with all of them before...and they will be our internal advocates. The more of us they here from...the quicker they can get action!!!

Please...just a quick note to them. It will just take you a minute and it will make a difference!!!

We don't know if this is temporary or permanent, but either way... it needs to be addressed now.

Please...share with this others who want to make a difference in the safety of our roads!!!

05/25/2021

Join us tomorrow for a discussion of “the Long Beach bike boom.” Or...why don’t the bike shops have any bikes...or tubes for that matter.

Our very own John Tully is participating in a panel with DLBA tomorrow on the state of the bike boom! It's gonna be an all-star cast of bicycle advocates and overall game changers in Long Beach. Tune in at 11am at the link in our bio!

05/16/2021

Your survey response will help Caltrans plan for biking and walking near you.

04/30/2021

A great tribute to an awesome rider. Joe was in his 80’s. He had completed over 500 weekly trips up Mount Diablo. And then he was hit by a car and killed. We need safe streets for everyone!!!

Thanks John Burke for sharing this great but sad story.

Trek President John Burke reflects on the legacy and heroism of Joe Shami, who climbed Mount Diablo on his bike for 615 consecutive Sundays.

04/29/2021

Tell us about your experiences of riding!!!!