Eyes on the Street: Parking Protected Bike Lanes on Variel

Recent road diet parking-protected bike lanes connect residential developments to the G Line bike/walk path

12:15 PM PST on January 8, 2024

Parking-protected bike lanes on Variel Avenue in Woodland Hills. Photos by Joe Linton

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Last year, the city of L.A. Transportation Department (LADOT) added parking-protected bike lanes on Variel Avenue in the southwest San Fernando Valley community of Woodland Hills, represented by City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield. The bikeway connects an emerging residential area to the existing G Line bike path.

LADOT announced the new lanes in an August 31 email blast. The lanes extend one long block, 0.4 mile, from Erwin Street to Victory Boulevard.

Bbike lanes on Variel in the southwest San Fernando Valley neighborhood of Woodland Hills. Base map via Google

That block of Variel is seeing a significant shift in uses. A little over a decade ago is was all single-story industrial, with a Home Depot. Now the southern half of the street is lined with residential (6-8 story apartments/condominiums) and several of the industrial buildings are boarded up. The Home Depot remains busy.

Tucked away on Variel between Victory and Erwin is 0.4 miles of new bike lane.

I was surprised to see this on my commute but disappointed that it did not continue to Califa.

I've biked on this street before. Much better now.@streetsforall @bikinginla @StreetsblogLA pic.twitter.com/LLqkAzfR9j
— ʎ u u ɐ p 🚲⚾️ (@gatodejazz) September 19, 2023

In keeping with the increasingly residential nature of the street, LADOT did a road diet, reducing four driving lanes to two. This freed space to add the protected bikeway.

In a tweet, LADOT Engineer Tim Fremaux noted that the city plans to extend the Variel facility further south when the street is resurfaced.

More pictures below.