Hollywood Sign Expected to Read 'Save the Peak' on Thursday
![_Bye, Bye Hollywood Sign... at Least Temporarily [Updated]](http://laist.com/assets_c/2009/12/view_behind_hwdsign-thumb-110x110-464762.jpg)
Bye, Bye Hollywood Sign... at Least Temporarily [Updated]
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Photos: Laundry Day in L.A.
For years, the city of Santa Clarita (my former employer) has made great strides in furthering non-motorized transit throughout the suburban valley chock full of six-lane roads with 45 or sometimes higher speed limits. The high speed limits combined with hills plus soccer moms or pedal-to-the-medal teens are not exactly attractive for street biking without some kind of safety net. A lot of the city is connected by 60-plus miles of off street trails, paseos (well-maintained HOA paths open to the public) and street bike lanes with more to come, pending funding.
One of the newest bike lanes that connects the Valencia and Saugus neighborhoods has a cushy safety buffer between the lane and car traffic as local blogger Jeff Wilson shows in the above video. Apparently, some citizens are angry, which has caused a big debate on Wilson's blog, SCV Talk.
“The lane now is so narrow, my minivan won’t fit,” said Heide Prinsze, 52, to The Signal newspaper. “It’s a nightmarish road as is. We don’t need bike lanes that no one would use. I feel like I’ve been ambushed."
Wilson's video shows Decoro Road as not that busy and in past years, we used it because it was a breeze to travel along. Luckily, you can ride most sidewalks in the city, per municipal code:
12.96.010 Riding on Sidewalks.Subject to the provisions of this chapter, bicycles may be ridden on all sidewalks except the following:
A. A person shall not operate any bicycle in a business district, as defined in Section 235 of the California Vehicle Code, except at a permanent or temporary driveway or at specific locations where the Director finds that such locations are suitable and has placed appropriate signs or markings.
B. Where designated bicycle lanes exist on adjacent roadways.
C. The Director may designate and declare certain portions of any sidewalk to be prohibited for bicycle use and shall place appropriate signs or markings. (Ord. 09-12 ยง 1, 7/14/09)
(h/t LA Streetsblog)
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Today's "Letters to The Editor" section of the Signal is FULL of letters bitching and moaning about the bike lanes. That section of the newspaper is completely mindblowing.
I'd say a lot of the congestion in this area stems from poor light timing, rather than a shortage of lanes.
I moved here from Santa Ana a couple weeks ago, and am delighted in how bike-friendly the area is. It's actually faster to get lots of places on a bike than in the car, which I think is partially due to friendly bike layouts, but also to poorly timed lights. Compared to my previous area, when I'm driving I find myself marooned at bewilderingly long red lights more often. I imagine that's a bigger cause of congestion.
I've also found the Metrolink and the new 757 express bus to make it pleasant and manageable to go lots of places without a car, options that really weren't reasonable at my old place. Takes a bit longer, maybe, but I like anything that keeps me out of the driver's seat.
Think I'll cruise up to Decoro in a couple hours, get a look at this rush hour debacle, and see if it can even come close to the jams I'd see on the byciclist-hostile Irvine-Santa Ana border around 5pm (15 minutes at one light, anyone?), or if someone just needs to call a waaaaahmbulance to take our minivan-driving friend to Henry Mayo.
Thankfully this is a progressively thinking area where the people are smart enough to add more bike lanes... of course there are dopes complaining that they can't drive their Hummers.... but that's the point. Get them to realize that biking around is faster... :)
Went for a ride to Decoro today at 6:30. Granted, I didn't go the entire length of the road, but it was NOT congested. Maybe a line of 10 cars at a light, and they all got to go through when it turned green.
I will concede to a comment on one of the other blogs that it isn't the most bike-friendly hill... kinda steep, not the most fun thing to go up. Navigating past the right turn cuts is also a bit harrowing, as it puts you really close to the non-turning traffic.
Still, if that's people's idea of congestion, and if congestion is one of the biggest problems in this area, I'd say all the local residents should count their lucky stars.
Or perhaps it's worse closer to 5, or when school lets out?
Having lived in the area in the past I kind of understand the attitudes even though I don't disagree with them. I've actually heard some Santa Claritans say two wheeled vehicles should be outlawed or (worse) they don't have the same rights as cars.
Funny huh? Guess they didn't read that DMV driver's handbook.
Still, hopefully the "Debbie Downers" will grow the hell up and get with the times...I'm not holding my breath though.
Er...don't agree with them. Sheeze!!!
Hopefully as more and more bike lanes are established, people will eventually see how it makes more sense to put more in.