7th Street Bike Lanes Make It to Downtown's Edge
Eric Richardson / blogdowntown
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A pair of cyclists pedal west on 7th Street, making use of a new bike lane installed this week.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Bike lanes made their first incursion onto Downtown streets this week as the city's Department of Transportation finishing painting lanes on 7th west of Figueroa.
The lanes extend through City West and MacArthur Park to Catalina Street, where 7th is interrupted by the site of the former Ambassador Hotel.
During the evening commute hour on Tuesday, a handful of cyclists could be seen using the lane to head uphill to the 7th Street bridge heading west, though several could also be seen continuing to ride on the sidewalks instead of in the newly painted lanes.
The lanes are eventually planned to extend through Downtown to Boyle Heights, though traffic and narrower streets will make that a trickier proposition.
Still, Downtown is getting set for a serious jump in bike lanes. LADOT is currently doing planning for lanes on Figueroa, Flower, Spring and Main that should be installed within the next year.
Karin Liljegren on August 31, 2011, at 08:48AM – #1
i've only seen people still riding on the sidewalk between downtown and Vermont - I guess they will figure it out eventually? Still - fantastic to have them!
Rick Risemberg on August 31, 2011, at 09:05AM – #2
I've used them several times already, 7th being my main route into downtown. It is considerably more comfortable for me on my bicycle--and I've been riding the streets of LA for over forty years--but I also noticed less congestion and confusion among motor traffic. The continuous two-way left-turn channels typically account for this effect in road diets, and it seems to be working on 7th as well. I ride it several times a week, at various times of day, and it is far better now.
LACBC and the city will hold a press conference in a few days to publicize the lanes, which should boost usage considerably (official notice: http://t.co/GeMKG4R ).
But really we should have a street party on 7th to help make the new lanes (all the new lanes, for drivers and cyclists alike) better known.
Valerie Watson on September 02, 2011, at 01:28PM – #3
Fantastic and will be even more so once they continue Eastward. A great demonstration of how a road diet makes traffic flow better along with making provision for bikes. Some stretches are even buffered bike lanes where roadway width allows. Hope to see buffered lanes through DTLA. Congrats to the LACBC for some seriously effective advocacy!
Nomad on September 02, 2011, at 09:14PM – #4
Are the lanes located on both side of the street for E and W travel?
LAofAnaheim on September 06, 2011, at 12:08PM – #5
@Nomad Yes
More new bike lanes in the urban environment!!! 1st street between Boyle and Lorena (where the Gold Line travels underneath) has new bike lanes!!! Painted over the weekend; there was no removal of car parking or car lanes as the width was big enough. Nice to see more added infrastructure!!!
LA Countybicyclecoalition on September 07, 2011, at 04:15PM – #6
As Rick mentioned, we're happy to invite the Downtown community to come celebrate our 2 years of hard work in making the 7th St. bike lane happen! Please attend our press conference tomorrow morning with Councilman Reyes at 7th/Alvarado at 9am: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=103041459801327
We will also have a ride leaving from Mariachi Plaza to the conference to celebrate: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=252531664780335
Learn more on 7th St. here: http://la-bike.org/projects/7th-street-bike-lane