Bike Safety & Education | Los Angeles County B

Save lives:

Almost 1,000 people have been injured or killed in traffic violence along the corridor in the last ten years (SWITRS CHP Data).
Traffic crashes are the fourth leading cause of premature death in the county, ahead of homicides, strokes, and lung cancer. For Latinx and Black communities it is the third leading cause of premature death (Los Angeles County Department of Public Health). Improving safety for walking and biking will help to reduce this disproportionate impact on people of color.
A thirteen year study of a dozen cities showed networks of protected bike lanes reduce deaths to people walking, driving, and biking by 44%.

Save the planet:

Sunset4All would safely and efficiently connect ~100,000 residents with the subway
Over 50% of trips along the corridor are less than 3 miles. (LA City Planning). Sunset4All makes it possible to walk, roll, or bike for local errands without risking your life while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Provide a meaningful alternative to driving which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air and water quality in Los Angeles

Support our small businesses!

Safe streets = shopping streets
To help our businesses bounce back from COVID, let’s make our community’s “main streets” more welcoming places to walk, dine, and shop.
Sunset4All would knit all of our business districts together. Protected bike lanes on Sunset Blvd would make it possible to shop for a book at Skylight in Los Feliz and then have lunch in Echo Park without searching for a parking spot!

Create Safe Routes to schools, playgronds, and libraries:

Safe Routes National Partnership, the premier Safe Routes to School Organization in the country, reviewed Sunset4All. In their endorsement letter they wrote, “Sunset4All will be a game changer in the lives of thousands of local children and The Safe Routes Partnership is honored to support it.” (Jonathan Metz, Policy Director, Safe Routes Partnership).

Create a Model for Complete Streets in LA

Sunset Boulevard is one of the most iconic streets in one of the most iconic cities in the world. If we can transform Sunset and Santa Monica Boulevards into 3.2 miles of “complete streets” it will change the perception of what is possible and inspire other communities to do the same.

This crowdfunding campaign is following in the successful footsteps of other cities to deliver complete streets like the Arapaho Bike Lane in Boulder Colorado. Robust community led outreach is essential to ensure that the Sunset & Santa Monica corridors become the “main streets” that our communities deserve. Sunset4All has engaged chambers of commerce, community groups, schools, neighborhood councils, elected officials at community events and one-on-ones. Additionally the group has already raised $10,000 in grants. Now, in order to advance the project further, we’re raising the last round of funding needed to create the initial engineering plans the community and city will use to formalize outreach and apply for the state and federal grants to cover the cost of putting these street improvements in the ground.

No! By placing bi-directional, parking protected bike lanes on one side of the street we can maintain all travel and parking lanes on Sunset Blvd.
On Santa Monica Blvd the community would have the option of a 4 to 3 lane reconfiguration between Virgil and Vermont or send the sunset4all route down a parallel side street to the south entrance of the subway station. It’s up to the community to decide which route they prefer!
We estimate that ~46 parking spaces over 2.5 miles of Sunset Blvd. would need to be painted red in order to improve sight-lines as part of the protected bike lane design.These increased sight-lines would improve safety for all modes.

Sunset Boulevard is the irreplaceable gap in our active transportation network.

The Sunset4all route runs through a mountain pass with no parallel side streets. There is no alternate route people on bikes can take. This is why The City of LA Mobility Plan 2035 identified Sunset as one of the key protected bicycle corridors.
Every neighborhood north of Koreatown and west of the 110 freeway needs Sunset Boulevard to safely access DTLA and vice versa. These bike lanes will serve Hollywood, East Hollywood, Historic Filipinotown, Los Feliz, Atwater Village, Burbank, Glendale, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Lincoln Heights, DTLA, and all points north.
Sunset4all is among the routes with the greatest transportation significance in the entire region.

Ride on the Street – You have a right to ride on the street. You are NOT required to ride on the sidewalk. For the most part, bicycle riders have the same rights and responsibilities as vehicle drivers. CVC 21200

Exception: Freeways and some bridges may have signs posted forbidding bicyclists.

Take the Lane – If a travel lane is too narrow to safely share side by side with a motor vehicle, you can prevent unsafe passing by riding near the center of the lane. The law says that people who ride bikes must ride as close to the right side of the road as practicable except under the following conditions: when passing, preparing for a left turn, avoiding hazards, if the lane is too narrow to share, or if approaching a place where a right turn is authorized. On two-lane roads where it’s illegal or unsafe to pass, you must turn off the roadway at a designated or safe location to allow a line of 5 or more vehicles behind you to pass. CVC 21202 (a)(3), CVC 21656

Obey All Signs, Street Markings, and Signals – Bicycle riders must obey the same rules as vehicle drivers. This includes stopping at red lights and stop signs. CVC 21200

Look and Yield Before You Go – You must yield to traffic before entering the roadway. CVC 21804

Ride With Traffic, Not Against It – You must ride on the right half of the roadway, with the flow of traffic. CVC 21650

Exception: you can ride on either the left or right side of one-way streets.

Ride Outside the Door Zone – It’s the responsibility of motor vehicle drivers to make sure it’s clear before opening a door. Despite this, a practical guide is to ride at least 3 feet from parked cars. CVC 22517

Ride to the Right, But Within Limits – When riding slower than the normal speed of traffic, you are required to ride as far right as “practicable” (meaning safe). You are not required to ride as far right as possible, which may not be safe. You are allowed, but not required, to ride on the shoulder. CVC 21202, CVC 21650, CVC 21650.1

Signal and Yield When Moving Left or Right – Use hand signals to indicate when you are turning, changing lanes, or stopping. Move left or right only when it’s clear to do so. CVC 22107, CVC 22111

Use the Bike Lane, But Leave It When Needed – When riding slower than the normal speed of traffic, you must ride in the bike lane in the same direction as adjacent traffic. You can leave the bike lane to pass another bicyclist or a vehicle blocking the lane, to make a left turn, to avoid debris or hazards, or where a right-turning vehicle might cut you off. You must check before leaving the bike lane to make sure it can be done with “reasonable safety.” CVC 21208

Click here for a round-up of all California Bicycle Laws from CalBike

No person may stop, stand, sit, or loiter upon any class I bikeway, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, or any other public or private bicycle path or trail, if the stopping, standing, sitting, or loitering impedes or blocks the normal and reasonable movement of any bicyclist.

(b) No person may place or park any bicycle, vehicle, or any other object upon any bikeway or bicycle path or trail, as specified in subdivision (a), which impedes or blocks the normal and reasonable movement of any bicyclist unless the placement or parking is necessary for safe operation or is otherwise in compliance with the law.

(c) This section does not apply to drivers or owners of utility or public utility vehicles, as provided in Section 22512.

(d) This section does not apply to owners or drivers of vehicles who make brief stops while engaged in the delivery of newspapers to customers along the person’s route.

(e) This section does not apply to the driver or owner of a rubbish or garbage truck while actually engaged in the collection of rubbish or garbage within a business or residence district if the front turn signal lamps at each side of the vehicle are being flashed simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side of the vehicle are being flashed simultaneously.

(f) This section does not apply to the driver or owner of a tow vehicle while actually engaged in the towing of a vehicle if the front turn signal lamps at each side of the vehicle are being flashed simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side of the vehicle are being flashed simultaneously. CVC 21211 (1)(4)

You can leave the bike lane to pass another bicyclist or a vehicle blocking the lane, to make a left turn, to avoid debris or hazards, or where a right-turning vehicle might cut you off. You must check before leaving the bike lane to make sure it can be done with “reasonable safety.” CVC 21208

You can call LADOT at (213) 485-4184 or (818)374-4823 to report what is blocking you.

Then, you can fill out this form in as much detail as possible to help the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition gather data on what’s blocking Angelenos while riding in the bike lane.

Mopeds and high-speed electric bikes are not like regular bikes. Gas-powered bicycles and type 3 electric bicycles (with top assisted speeds of 28 mph) may not be used on trails or bike paths or lanes unless allowed by local authorities. They may be used in bike lanes or separated bikeways adjacent to the roadway. CVC 21207.5 They require helmets and may not be operated by people under age 16.

Low-speed electric bicycles are almost like regular bikes. Type 1 and 2 electric bicycles (with top assisted speeds of 20 mph) are allowed wherever regular bikes are allowed unless a sign specifically prohibits electric bicycles.

Click here (external link) for all e-bike laws in California.

Helmets: Bicyclists and bicycle passengers under age 18 must wear an approved helmet when riding on a bicycle. CVC 21212

Brakes: Bicycles must be equipped with a brake that allows an operator to execute a one-braked-wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement. CVC 21201(a)

Handlebars: Handlebars must not be higher than the rider’s shoulders. CVC 21201(b)

Bicycle size: Bicycles must be small enough for the rider to stop, support it with one foot on the ground, and start safely. CVC 21201(c)

Lights at Night: At night a white headlight visible from the front must be attached to the bicycle or the bicyclist if riding when it’s dark. CVC 21201(d) and CVC 21201(e)

Reflectors: At night bicycles must have the following reflectors:

Visible from the back: red reflector. You may attach a solid or flashing red rear light in addition to the reflector.

Visible from the front & back: white or yellow reflector on each pedal or on the bicyclist’s shoes or ankles

Visible from the side: 1) white or yellow reflector on the front half of the bicycle and 2) a red or white reflector on each side of the back half of the bike. These reflectors are not required if the bike has reflectorized front and back tires. CVC 21201(d)

Seats: All riders must have a permanent, regular seat, unless the bicycle is designed by the manufacturer to be ridden without a seat. Bicycle passengers weighing less than 40 lbs. must have a seat which retains them in place and protects them from moving parts. CVC 21204

f you’re just starting out riding as a family, here is a list of our articles highlighting how to get started and many stories about riding for all ages:

LACBC has a guide about buying the proper bikefor your family.

Walk Bike Glendale’s Steven Nancarrow talks about their annual Holiday Bike Ride

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Joe Linton of Streetsblog LA tells us what it’s like to bike down the Pacific Coast Highway with his family.

LA Bike Dad Terence Houston speaks about his evolution into becoming a cycling parent.

Twelve-year-old cycling advocate Matlock Grossman tells us what it’s like to bike in Los Angeles as a kid.

Nathan Lucero of On My Bike in LA is a well-known family cycling advocate and has led many Kidical Mass rides, on top of planning the route for the ride.

Record Your Serial Number: Every bike comes with a serial number that is unique to that bike, which can be located on the bottom of the bottom bracket. Be sure to record this number and save it in a safe place.

Register Your Bike: You can use a bike registry like Bike Index to register your bike, making it easier to identify and prove ownership if the bike is recovered.

Take Photos: Take photos of your bike, including some with you in the photo, to back up the claim that you are the bike’s rightful owner in case it is recovered.

If your request regards a broken traffic signal, a missing/faded/defaced sign, a faded curb, or faded striping in a roadway, you can request a repair from LADOT’s MyLADOT page. Click the “I WANT TO…” button in the top left corner and select “Submit New Request”, then fill out the form to request a repair.

To report a sidewalk problem, a pothole, or request street sweeping or maintenance, visit the City of LA’s 3-1-1 website, click on “Create Service Request” and select “Street Problem/Repair”. Select the appropriate choice from the list of options, click “Next”, and fill out the form that follows.

To request a repair outside of the City of Los Angeles, search for “Request street repair + [city name] + department of transportation”

Quick Links:

Vision Zero Questions, Comments, Concerns

Broken Traffic Signal, Missing/Faded/Defaced Sign, Faded Curb, Faded Striping in Roadway

Eroding Sidewalks, Sidewalk Safety Issues: LA Sidewalk Program

Request Speed Humps

Sidewalk Dumping/Bulky Items

LA Street Lighting

Tree Pruning (Power Line Adjacent) – LADWP Customer Service: (800) 342-5397

Tree Pruning (Non Power Line Adjacent) – Bureau of Street Services Service Request Section: (800) 996-2489

Potholes, Street Sweeping, Maintenance: Los Angeles Street Services

Within the City of Los Angeles, Neighborhood Councils are city-certified local groups made up of people who live, work, own property or have some other connection to a neighborhood. Neighborhood Council board members are elected or selected to their positions by the neighborhoods themselves. Representatives from Neighborhood Councils receive advance notice of issues and projects that are important to them and their neighborhoods so they can understand, discuss them, and voice the opinions of the neighborhood to the City before final decisions are made.

To learn more about your neighborhood council, visit EmpowerLA’s page on neighborhood councils to find out which council represents you, when and where they meet, and learn the rules which govern each council.

Bicycle Corrals are part of LADOT’s toolkit to achieve Great Streets for Los Angeles. A Bicycle Corral is an on-street bicycle parking facility that can accommodate many more bicycles than a typical sidewalk rack. They are especially useful in areas with narrow sidewalks or areas that attract a large number of people walking, where it would be impractical or obstructive to install a sidewalk rack.

The LADOT Bicycle Corrals replace one auto parking space and are installed in the vehicular right-of-way along the curb. Corrals typically occupy 20 feet (an area equivalent to a single-vehicle parking space) with enough space for up to 14 people on bicycles! Click here to apply.