Charles Gandy and Andy Clarke. All Photos: Drew Reed/ LA Loyalist
The League of American Bicyclists is something of an oddity in Washington DC. While most other organizations advocate for strip mining, carcinogens, and other unpleasantries, the LAB argues for something which will actually improve people's lives. And while they have sadly spent most of their 130 year history in the shadow of auto, highway, and petroleum lobbies, they seem to be making something of a comeback lately, winning allies in congress as well as the support of Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood.
So it's no surprise that when the league's president Andy Clarke decided to pay a visit to Long Beach, he was given a grand tour by the city's mobility coordinator and bike guru Charlie Gandy. The tour covered some of Long Beach's more prominent bicycle improvements, such as the sharrows, widened sidewalks on first street, and bike boxes by the marina. Gandy also seized the opportunity to unveil new developments in the Bike Long Beach plan: wider sidewalks (and possibly sharrows) on 4th St. between Cherry and Junipero, bike lanes on Junipero between Ocean and 7th, a second bike blvd. on 6th to CSULB, and a connector on 3rd from Alamitos to Vista. Lastly, he has a status report for the long-awaited projects on Vista and Broadway/3rd: the city would accept offers from contractors next week and begin construction shortly afterward.
Needless to say, Clarke was sufficiently impressed, as were the other people along for the ride: various members of Long Beach Cyclists and prominent bicycle author Jeff Mapes, who happened to be visiting from Portland. Along the way, Clarke weighed in with comments about the potential of cycling to improve the livability of communities, as it has in Europe. Also, he took the opportunity at Long Beach's recently opened Hub bike kitchen to remind people of the importance of community involvement in improving bicycling within a city.
From a practical standpoint, it's difficult to tell what the outcome of this visit will be. As Clarke reminded riders, the primary role of the LAB is not to work with local governments but to advocate at the federal level for improved bicycle policy. But being able to point to local examples of well executed bicycle planning, he explained, is a highly effective tool for shaping opinions of higher-ups in DC. He expressed fondness for the design elements Downtown and on Second St, but he felt the most innovative aspect of the Bike Long Beach program was the political dexterity of its creation and continued rapid development within the city.
Though Bike Long Beach may not see any immediate benefit from this meeting, it was clearly a step forward. If a good relationship with the LAB materializes into favorable federal policy, the city (and perhaps the entire region) will be closer to its bike friendly aspirations.
Metro and Caltrans eastbound 91 Freeway widening is especially alarming as it will increase tailpipe pollution in an already diesel-pollution-burdened community that is 69 percent Latino, and 28 percent Black
StreetsLA is building a new 60-foot-diameter traffic circle at the intersection of Parthenia Place and Columbus Avenue in the central San Fernando Valley community of North Hills. The project includes a short bikeway.