A protected bike lane project in Downtown Los Angeles has ceded too much ground to cars, according to this opinion piece. If only it were the only example to choose from.
Matthew Fleischer, senior digital editor of the Opinion section of the Los Angeles Times and founder of its Livable City vertical, takes a strong position on Los Angeles bike infrastructure in a recent opinion piece.
In short: it isn't good enough.
Fleischer is mostly writing about the MyFigueroa complete streets project (see also the city's website for the MyFigueroa project), which in the decade since renderings that announced a potentially groundbreaking advancement in creating walkable and active public space (I wrote credulously on the subject in 2012) has transformed into a reality that Fleischer describes as a "monument to half-baked efforts."
Fleischer knows well the stakes of the choices made to provide people on bikes with safe facilities for riding around a city: he fell off his bike in Downtown Los Angeles and suffered a head injury.
"For bicyclists, walkers and, increasingly, scooter users, my story will hardly be surprising," writes Fleischer. "Yes, L.A. has bike lanes and pedestrian 'scrambles' and other 'alternative transit infrastructure' designed to protect vulnerable road users. But the infrastructure is spotty, badly maintained and confusing for drivers and cyclists. It can be almost as dangerous as no infrastructure at all."
Los Angeles' transit projects have also been accused of similar shortcomings in the past, as have projects in many other cities, and it's always a good time to consider whether a more complete commitment to allowing safe travel for more efficient modes would help deliver results that reflect ambitions.
FULL STORY: MyFigueroa is everything wrong with L.A.’s alternative transit efforts
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.