The new bike lanes on Venice Blvd are... not ideal
'Protected gutters' aren't adequate, local riders say
When the LADOT Livable Streets division took to Instagram to celebrate new bike infrastructure on Venice Boulevard, one thing stood out: Videos of the new lanes were taken exclusively from cars, not from bicycles.
From the point of view of cyclists, the experience is nothing to celebrate. Reaction from local riders is almost entirely negative, pointing to inconveniences and serious safety concerns.
At People Powered Media, we imagine Venice Boulevard as a showcase, a thoroughfare that efficiently moves people in all sorts of transportation back and forth between Downtown and the beach. In that spirit, we present criticisms we have been hearing about the new lanes.
CONCERN #1: We don’t want to ride in the gutter
Think of a big city. Perhaps Los Angeles. Try to imagine the grossest, nastiest, gnarliest place there. Did you think of the gutter?
Gutters are designed to be repositories of filth: Road debris, trash, broken glass, standing water, God knows what else — it all accumulates in the gutter. That makes the gutter not an ideal place to ride your bicycle.
Gross standing water will be flipped up onto the rider. Broken glass causes flat tires. Trash and debris can cause crashes or dangerous maneuvers to avoid it.
The city of L.A. needs gutters. It also needs bike lanes. We ask that the bike lanes not be in the gutters.
CONCERN #2: There is a seam down the middle of the bike lane. This is dangerous
Ride a bicycle for any amount of time and you’ll quickly learn to avoid seams, ruts, divots, rail tracks, and similar road features.
The reason is: The bike wheel can get into the seam or crack, and you lose control and crash.
On the Venice Boulevard bike lanes, the seam separates rideable asphalt from the debris-strewn and slanted gutter.
Even in LADOT’s promotional instagram video, you can see a scooter rider swerving to avoid the seam.
CONCERN #3: The lanes aren’t swept; they accumulate debris, trash, and glass
Both the gutter portion of the lane and the asphalt part are frequently littered with trash and debris. Broken glass is of particular concern.
Regular street sweepers cannot come through to do routine cleaning. We hear that special sweepers exist to clear the bike lanes. We ask the city that they be used.
CONCERN #4: Food trucks in the bike lane are an accident waiting to happen
People Powered Media is pro-food truck. Obviously.
But the situation on Venice Boulevard is dire. Someone is going to get hurt.
A local cyclist who goes by specialebike on Instagram documented the issue: The line to order and pick up food is directly in the bike lane.
People trying to order food are having bikes whiz by them at 10, 15, 20 mph.
For cyclists, it’s low-key terrifying. You have to duck under the awning and contend with distracted, hungry people standing in, and stepping through your lane of travel.
Concern #5: The street was repaved. The bike lane was not.
In the photo above, you can see the contrast between the freshly paved car lanes on Venice and the bike lane. To officials from LADOT and L.A. Metro, we ask: Would you feel safe cycling here with your child? With your dog in a basket?
Concern #6: The bike lanes are too narrow
Yes, we busted out the tape measure, near Venice and Mentone. Here’s what we found:
The lane from white line to curb, including gutter, came in at 58 inches, 4 feet 10 inches.
The asphalt portion, what we consider the rideable part, came in at 34 inches. 2 feet 10 inches.
Why is a narrow bike lane not ideal?
First, it’s impossible to pass. Bikes basically have to go single file. Second, it is harder to avoid debris and glass when there is less room to manuever.
Finally, a narrow bike lane doesn’t allow two riders to go side-by-side. One of the great joys of biking, rolling along and chatting with a friend, is not possible.
Comment from Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky’s office
On June 22, People Powered Media spoke with Leo Daube, communications director for District 5. We learned that there is a ribbon-cutting for the new infrastructure scheduled for this Monday, June 26. High level officials with L.A. Metro and LADOT will be there, Daube said.
We presented the above concerns to Daube, and he took notes. He said Yaroslavsky’s office is committed to keeping the bike and bus lane on Venice, but what it looks like may change.
“This is an iterative process — our goal was first and foremost — making the change to the street to include the bike lane,” Daube said. “That doesn’t mean this iteration is necessarily what it’s going to look like forever. We’re going to keep working on it.”
Daube said Yaroslavsky wants to grow an active transportation system that is not reliant on cars. He noted that she is working with Streets4All, attending a meeting with the group recently.
People Powered Media is planning to attend the ribbon cutting on Monday. We will report back.