Silver Lake's Rowena Avenue Deemed Obese, Recommended for 'Road Diet'

Screenshot/Google Maps

The Silver Lake Neighborhood Council wants to put the busy and apparently hefty Rowena Avenue in Silver Lake on a so-called "road diet." The diet would require the avenue to shed down to one lane in each direction along the stretch between Glendale Boulevard and Hyperion Avenue.

Road diet proponents say the reduction would "reduce speeding traffic and create a safer and more attractive environment for pedestrians and cyclists," reports The Eastsider LA. A central safety lane, separate bike lanes and added room for metered parking are also part of the diet plan. Portions of Glendale Boulevard would be forced to slim down in the future as part of the program.

Commuters, however, may want Rowena to maintain her full figure. Mike Groszkruger, who has spearheaded the lane reduction, said that "people in Eagle Rock or Glendale might be upset about their commute route being slowed down" during a meeting of the neighborhood council's Urban Design & Preservation Committee last year.

The road diet is slated for discussion on Wednesday at 7pm at the Silver Lake Community Church.

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By Lauren Lloyd in News on December 13, 2011 5:30 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

Rowenagirl

The road diet is a great idea. It won't actually change the speed on Rowena, just the number of cars (yay!). Just like when you widen a freeway, it is only a better for a short while before congestion catches up. If we shrink Rowena people will stop using it for a cut through and our whole neighborhood will be better off! Plus with protected turn lanes, it will be a bit more efficient, especially when it comes to the Ivanhoe drop off. It will also mean a much more pedestrian and business friendly neighborhood - more walkable and more parking. Double yay!. I'm for it. There are so many examples of working well for communities around the country and helping (not hurting) traffic.

Anthony Crump

Seriously people? Get educated on the subject before you mouth off against road diets. Here's a couple of good sources:
http://ladotbikeblog.wordpress...

http://www.seattle.gov/transpo...

The second one is is Seattle, not a rural hick town.

Caliking01

WOW. Dumbest idea EVER.

John

Cutting down from 2 lanes to one is absurd. If anything it will just create a long caravan of traffic, even during off-peak hours. Just drive Franklin to compare.

LulamaeBroadway

Why would you EVER take away lanes??? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard - knowing it opens up is the only thing that makes the traffic on Hyperion near TJ's at rush hour bearable.

Do not do this!