Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In
bike lanes

Planned Fountain Avenue Bike Lanes Spark Division in West Hollywood Politics

Dueling rallies last week saw bike advocates face off against anti-bike-lane advocates

Pro- and anti- bike lane folks at West Hollywood City Hall last Friday. Photos by Joe Linton/Streetsblog

Last Friday afternoon saw dueling rallies over the city of West Hollywood's planned Fountain Avenue safety improvements. The city's ambitious Fountain Avenue Streetscape Project plans to add protected bike lanes, widen sidewalks, and reduce car capacity - including removing many on-street parking spaces. Bike lanes have become a political flash point in this year's city council elections.

West Hollywood Fountain Avenue cross-section - via WeHo City project page

After WeHo for the People (a non-profit group supporting "the sacred freedoms and protections that residents and job creators have long enjoyed in the City") announced its "Stop the Fountain-Jam" rally, the West Hollywood Bicycle Coalition announced a counter protest.

Dueling bike lane rallies on Fountain Avenue at Crescent Heights

On Friday afternoon, on the northwest corner of Fountain Avenue and Crescent Heights Boulevard, bike advocates chanted "What do we want? Safe Streets! When do we want them? Now." Pro-bike attendees numbered about thirty.

Pro-bike-lane contingent preparing to rally

On the south corners, Fountain-Jam rally participants shouted "no more bike lanes!," "Save our parking spaces on Fountain!," and "No more gridlock!" The anti-bike contingent numbered roughly seventy. For the better part of an hour, the bike-lane opposition distributed fliers to drivers, held up signs, and chanted.

"Stop Fountain Jam" flier front
Fountain-Jam flier back
Fountain-Jam rally participants

Four city council candidates were among the anti-bike voices: Larry Block, Jordan Cockeram, George Nickle, and Zekiah Wright.

Two council candidates joined the pro-bike contingent: John Erickson (incumbent and current Mayor) and Danny Hang (an Erickson ally who serves on the city's Business License Commission).

First the pro-bike contingent, then later the anti-bike one, marched a half-dozen blocks down Fountain's narrow sidewalks, then along Sweetzer Avenue to West Hollywood City Hall.

Anti-bike-lane marchers on their way to West Hollywood City Hall
Anti-bike-lane contingent arriving at city hall

Like too many Southern California street safety projects, the fate of the Fountain Avenue Streetscape hangs on the results of city council elections. The current city council has approved moving forward with funding and design stages of the project. A new less bike-friendly council could undo those approvals.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

Eyes on the Street: 57/60 Freeway Confluence Construction in Progress

New off-ramps have begun to sprout out of the dirt, and widening surface streets are going through the growing pains of construction closures

November 6, 2024

Eyes on the Street: Culver City’s Farragut Walkway Revamp

The ~200 foot long walkway - also used by cyclists - connects two residential streets about a half-mile south of downtown Culver City

November 4, 2024
See all posts