Last Saturday, the Mayor’s Great Streets Initiative hosted a community pop-up event on Lankershim between Weddington and Magnolia, which included a pop-up protected bike lane. The Great Streets Initiative, in partnership with Councilmember Paul Krekorian, is developing a vision for the future of Lankershim Blvd from Magnolia Blvd to Vanowen St. The City has been collecting input from community stakeholders and is planning to release a concept in February 2017. A final plan will be then implemented when the City is resurfacing the entire stretch during the Summer of 2017 after the completion of the LA Department of Water and Power project. If you missed the event, you can still give your input by submitting this online survey. And sign up to be the Valley bike ambassador to get more updates about the Valley!
For the first time since we started the Ride Lankershim campaign in 2012, the City has a budget and political support to make these long-awaited improvements a reality. To showcase the area’s potential, we led the Tour of North Hollywood along Lankershim Blvd. and the adjoining neighborhood highlighting the area’s history.
Here’s what we loved about the event:
We are still here. #RideLankershim
Between 2012 and 2013, San Fernando Valley Bike Ambassadors have actively promoted and engaged the public about the benefits of installing bike lanes on Lankershim Blvd. We have conducted two bike rides of over 100 people each, conducted over a dozen tabling events at the North Hollywood station and Farmer’s Market, hosted events on Lankershim and distributed bike lights through our Operation Firefly program. The community’s support was overwhelming, reflecting a heightened interest in biking coupled with frustration over lack of facilities. Through our outreach we have collected signatures of over 2,000 local stakeholders and over 30 businesses who support installing bike lanes on Lankershim Blvd.
Bike Ambassadors and local residents still want improvements on Lankershim and were excited to see the pop-up protected bike lanes.
SFV Bike Ambassadors came out to support #RideLankershim again!
Say “Lankershim”! A group photo before the ride is a must.
Our volunteer coordinator Zack (a.k.a. Mr. CiclaValley) led the ride and told us interesting local history of North Hollywood
We <3 NoHo! NoHo Arts District is a center of arts and culture, and local businesses thrive along the Lankershim corridor.
Tour de North Hollywood is riding on the pop-up protected bike lane!
We’re showing a vision for the street!
This event demonstrated what a parking protected bike lane would look like on the street. People who tried out a Metro bikeshare bike on the pop up lane loved how safe it feels to ride in a protected bike lane. At the event, the majority of participants showed support for continuous and protected bike route on Lankershim on a survey wall. (see pictures below)
Early in the morning, volunteers set up pop-up protected bike lanes using tapes and planters.
Participants had a chance to try out Metro bikes
A vision for the community: Potential future improvements include protected bike lanes, street furniture, better lighting and shades, parklets, and more businesses along the Great Streets Lankershim Blvd.
Participants strongly agree that a continuous bike route with a physical barrier makes a good bike route.
People also think that low car speeds are important in making a safe bike route.
It’s connecting gaps
If the proposed vision for Lankershim becomes a reality, it will help close gaps between current bike routes near North Hollywood and connect to an existing bike lane network such as Vineland Ave and the Chandler bike path. The City will bring survey results and input from communities to the Council office, and release a final plan for the Great Streets Lankershim in February 2017. You can still help make this vision come true by submitting this online survey. We appreciate your continuous support for #RideLankershim. If you’d like to get more involved, sign up to be the Valley bike ambassador here!
Currently there are bike lanes on Lankershim Blvd. North of Hatteras St. However, the road condition is very poor (see the picture above), and cars speed on Lankershim.
Riders pass on the Vineland Ave buffered bike lane.