WeHo Seeks Cycling Solution

The West Hollywood Transportation Commission meets tonight at 7pm to grapple with the challenge of encouraging cycling as a positive transportation choice while figuring out where the cyclists are supposed to ride. The streets are dangerous, the sidewalks are crowded and the bike lanes are few and far between. Where exactly should a cyclist ride?

Motorists who want cyclists to ride on the sidewalk, pedestrians who want cyclists to ride on the street and cyclists who just want to find their place in the mix will all get their chance to weigh in on the issue tonight as the Commission struggles to create an environment that works for everybody.

West Hollywood currently has a law on the books that prohibits cyclists from riding on City sidewalks. Critics claim that the streets are crowded, the bike lanes are in the dangerous "door zone" and that the sidewalks are the only safe place to ride.

Authorities respond that cyclists move too fast on the sidewalks and threaten the safety of the slow moving pedestrians who often represent our most vulnerable members of the community.

Cycling advocates are urging West Hollywood to avoid a harsh and hasty push to enforce the sidewalk cycling prohibition and to instead support cycling on the streets through engineering, encouragement, education, enforcement and evaluation.

Proposed solutions include enhanced cycling facilities, signage communicating that a cyclist has the right to ride in the streets and to take the lane when it's too narrow to share, Road 1 classes that improve cycling skill and confidence, enhanced law enforcement to protect cyclists from aggressive motorists and traffic studies that look at the people, not just the motor vehicles.

In addition to conducting the public hearing, the Commission has set up an online survey to encourage feedback. Take a ride through West Hollywood and then give them your thoughts.

See you on the Streets!

AP foto by Airchinapilot