Full Statement of Councilmember Curren Price on Proposed Central Avenue Bike Lane, 2/10/16

Delivered via email to Sahra Sulaiman: It would be difficult to add bike lanes on Central Avenue for a variety of reasons, but in the end, it boils down to one thing: safety. Central Avenue does not meet the criteria to be included in the Mobility Plan's Bicycle Enhanced Network. The street is too narrow, has significant cut-through traffic all day, and has no pocket lane for left-hand turns. As a grandfather of small children, I would feel uneasy riding our bikes along this busy thoroughfare knowing the dangerous implications. Designated bike lanes on Central would not be considered 8-80, meaning that people as young as 8 or as old as 80 would not feel comfortable riding on the street because there would be no buffer between the traffic and parked vehicles. Members of TRUST L.A. have the constitutional right to protest and speak their minds. Still, as the representative for the area it is my responsibility to make the best and most informed decision on behalf of the entire community. That is why I have asked that we look into alternatives for a protected bike lane such Avalon Avenue for the following reasons: Avalon is a wider street with less traffic, which would allow for us to implement a better protected bike lane; there's already an existing bike lane along San Pedro, which connects to Avalon; and there are three parks and a middle school along the Avalon corridor. Before this plan was introduced, our office was part of a series of community meetings where we invited stakeholders to join the conversation. I wholeheartedly feel removing Central Avenue from the Mobility Plan's Bicycle Enhanced Network is the safe and right thing to do.