New temporary protected bike lane on Washington Boulevard in Culver City. Photos by Joe Linton/Streetsblog L.A.
Earlier this summer, Streetsblog reported on Culver City responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by nimbly appropriating downtown street space to add outdoor dining, a shared bus/bike lane, and more space for distanced walking. Over the past month, Culver City has continued to repurpose additional space from cars to dining.
For about about a thousand feet of on Washington Boulevard in the Culver City Arts District - westbound between La Cienega Boulevard and La Cienega Avenue - the city removed one travel lane and one on-street parking lane and converted them to outdoor dining and a protected bike lane.
New temporary outdoor dining space and protected bike lane on Washington Boulevard in Culver CityNew temporary outdoor dining space and protected bike lane on Washington Boulevard in Culver City
On Washington Boulevard, Culver City repurposed a travel lane and on-street parking to provide space for dining and for bicyclingOn Washington Boulevard, Culver City repurposed a travel lane and on-street parking to provide space for dining and for bicycling
Starting at La Cienega Boulevard, the city has added "candlestick" posts to warn drivers of the upcoming merge. Yesterday, SBLA observed some fast moving drivers trying to merge at the last moment, causing other drivers to honk horns irately. Overall the new configuration seemed to be serving diners, cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers pretty well.
Drivers get notice of the narrowed lanes ahead starting just east of La Cienega BlvdDrivers get notice of the narrowed lanes ahead starting just east of La Cienega Blvd
Additional lane closed ahead signage on Washington Blvd near Ballona CreekMore lane closed ahead signage on Washington Blvd near Ballona Creek
Below are a couple more Culver City street repurposing projects SBLA spotted yesterday.
Expanded outdoor dining on Irving Place in downtown Culver CityExpanded outdoor dining on Irving Place in downtown Culver City
Temporary no left turn signage has been beefed up preventing drivers from turning into the bus/bike lane in downtown Culver City. Compare to earlier photo.Temporary no left turn signage has been beefed up preventing drivers from turning into the bus/bike lane in downtown Culver City. Compare to earlier photo.
Outdoor dining on Sepulveda Boulevard in Culver CityOutdoor dining on Sepulveda Boulevard in Culver City
Chief Scott and Metro leadership emphasized that keeping Metro transit safe would require a multi-faceted approach that included the deployment of officers as well as collaboration with the community, ambassadors, and service providers. "Sometimes enforcement is the answer," Scott said. "Sometimes it's not."
