Community Corner

Bicycle, Vitality City Plans Introduced

Communities weigh in as the South Bay Bicycle Coalition and Vitality City introduce their bicycle and livability plans, respectively.

In a joint forum of about 200 people Monday night at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, the South Bay Bicycle Coalition and Vitality City introduced their plans to make Hermosa Beach and the rest of the South Bay more bicycle-friendly and walkable, respectively.

The bicycle coalition's proposed  aims to improve regional connectivity, encourage new cyclists, support active transportation and improve road safety for everyone, including drivers, according to project manager Sam Corbett from Alta.

Road safety is the No. 1 concern, Corbett said, adding, "We are not just trying to enhance and improve facilities for existing riders."

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Corbett called the multijurisdictional plan the "first of its kind."

"The South Bay Bicycle Coalition had the vision to apply for grant funding to do this project," he said.

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The 20-year plan covers seven South Bay cities, including the three Beach Cities—Redondo, Manhattan, and Hermosa Beach.

The Beach Cities now have 14.1, 3.2 and 5.1 miles of existing bikeways, respectively.

The plan calls for a total of 8.3 miles of bikeways in Hermosa Beach at a cost of $256,850; 36.7 miles in Redondo Beach for $1,881,250; and 27.4 miles in Manhattan Beach for $1,089,350.

The public comment period for the South Bay Bicycle Coalition's new Master Bicycle Plan ends Wednesday. The next step calls for the coalition's member City Councils to adopt the plans, Corbett said.

Improving bikeways throughout the Beach Cities would also improve the area's walkability, said expert Dan Burden, who walked, biked and drove through the three cities to develop the proposed Vitality City livability plan.

"It's always been easier to build for the car than for people," he said during his presentation, later adding that his team would "be taking a serious look at each intersection" in the city.

The goal is to make walking natural as a mode of transportation, Burden told Patch before the event Monday.

Simple changes include more clearly marking crosswalks, giving pedestrians more time to cross the street and changing the signals to automatically read "walk" when it's safe—no button-pushing required, he said.

Designated bike lanes can also make the roads safer for motorists and pedestrians, Burden said. They create a buffer between car traffic and the sidewalks.

One project for the southern border of Hermosa Beach would be to "complete the gap … where The Strand ends," he said, by running a dedicated, two-lane bike path along Harbor Drive next to the marinas to connect Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach.

He also recommended installing mini traffic circles on Redondo Beach's Prospect Avenue in place of several four-way stops. The traffic circles would allow bicyclists and cars to continue moving at a steady pace down the street.

Additionally, the traffic circles could provide a place for people to congregate in the future, Burden said. He also noted that neighborhood planning tends to increase property values.

Public comment for the livability plan ends July 22.

Several people who attended the meeting said they were impressed with the two plans presented.

"I think they have an even-handed approach that probably everybody can live with," said Redondo Beach resident Steve Collins.

Manhattan Beach resident Carolyn Miller said the two plans and her organization, Transition South Bay L.A., had similar goals.

Transition South Bay promotes sustainable living practices, many of which—including walking and biking—Vitality City encourages.

South Bay Master Bike Plan Director Marissa Christiansen called the turnout the biggest ever for a master bike plan presentation. "I think [the reaction has] been really positive," she said.


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