Comments on: Rumors are swirling that scofflaw cops may mean the death of 1st Street’s buffered bike lanes

By: It’s Official, 1st Street Bike Lane Will Lose Some of Its Buffer | Streetsblog Los Angeles

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 21:54:03 +0000

[...] week, Biking in L.A. reported on a persistent rumor that an educational campaign wasn’t the LAPD’s only [...]

By: PaulC

PaulC — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 17:14:58 +0000

Has anyone gone to the LAPD and tried to educate them on this issue? Maybe all this needs is some good ol’ dialog?

By: Today’s Headlines | Streetsblog Los Angeles

Today’s Headlines | Streetsblog Los Angeles — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 16:07:25 +0000

[...] Do LAPD Scofflaw Parkers Endanger the 1st Street Buffered Bike Lane (Biking In L.A.) [...]

By: Christopher Kidd (@BikeBlogChris)

Christopher Kidd (@BikeBlogChris) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 23:01:57 +0000

Well, yes. I’d assume introduction of a parking lane would require travel lane removal as well. That space has gotta come from somewhere if we are to satisfy both the needs of bicyclists and the desires of parking officers.

By: Guest

Guest — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 21:24:03 +0000

Currently the buffer and the lane combined are not wide enough to be replaced by a parking zone and bike lane that meet the minimum width standard. If that standard can’t be met then placing the parking in the buffer won’t be feasible.

By: Christopher Kidd (@BikeBlogChris)

Christopher Kidd (@BikeBlogChris) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 20:11:08 +0000

The Caltrans’ Highway Design Manual classifies a bike lane buffered by a parking lane as a Class I bike path. Such a project would have to conform to the bike path design requirements instead of the ones for bike lanes. Which makes parking-buffered bike lanes that much harder to implement.

A shame, because that block of first street, with no driveways or curb cuts, is a great location for parking-buffered bike lanes. Additionally, Main Street being 1-way at the eastern end of that block means there is no right-hook threat for bicyclists emerging from a parking-buffered bike lane when traveling eastbound. It’s like that block was built for it.

By: Psy

Psy — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 17:03:50 +0000

It’s such a shame about the buffered lanes – but of course the sensible solution will probably be cast to the wayside. Maybe there are some members of the LADOT or LAPD that are cyclists and will help sway things in the right direction, but I won’t hold my breath.