In December, Metro postponed its call for volunteers to do an
official bike study on the Valley’s Orange Line – the only bus rapid
transit line in the county with its own dedicated bike path. Well,
spring has arrived, and this study is now scheduled for the end of
March.

The agency is asking for volunteers to help conduct surveys and bike
counts for a study it’s calling groundbreaking because, according to
the study’s web site,
“Until now the role that bicycle facilities or bicycle riders have in
improving regional sustainability has not been studied extensively.
This study will change that.”

The goal of the study remains essentially the same as originally
conceived late last year.  The agency’s Planning and Sustainability
departments are trying to determine how, or if, the Orange Line bikeway
and bike parking facilities have encouraged alternative travel modes,
reduced car usage and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Volunteers will survey bike riders, walkers and car drivers who utilize Orange Line park-and-ride lots.

The survey will be conducted on two dates:

Wednesday, March 24

• 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the North Hollywood and Van Nuys stations
• 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. (peak
  periods) at the Valley College, Sepulveda, Balboa, Reseda, Pierce
  College, and Canoga stations

Saturday, March 27

• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the North Hollywood and Van Nuys stations

Two to three volunteers are needed per station.

No Experience Necessary
Don’t worry if you don’t know how to survey or do bike counts.
Metro will be providing in–person training and orientation for all
volunteers. The agency, in fact, is hosting a training session at
Pitfire Pizza in North Hollywood Monday, March 22 at 7 p.m. for all pre-registered volunteers. Online training on the web site is also available.

Volunteers who sign up on the web site can pick their own station and time.  Slots could fill up fast, so signing up early is recommended.