Marissa Christiansen, South Bay Initiative Director for the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, talks about biking in the South Bay and their new Master Plan, from Streetsblog.org.
“Whether it’s a Saturday morning or a Thursday afternoon in any one of the South Bay’s picturesque beach towns, you will find the charming scenery complimented by a smattering of spandex-clad cycling enthusiasts or flip-flop donning beach cruisers. The enthusiast/recreational bike culture here is alive and well. The South Bay still has a long way to go to earn the “Bike Friendly” title though. Almost entirely devoted to the enthusiasts and casual cruisers, the South Bay’s bike culture lacks any prominent representation of bike commuters or those using their bikes for daily transportation needs.
After a recent survey, the South Bay Bicycle Coalition (SBBC) and bike planning consultants Alta Planning + Design determined that the lack of active transportation in the area is largely due to a fear of a street system that is almost entirely devoted to the car. Most of the South Bay’s streets are not only lacking any form of bike facility, but are used as high-volume, fast-moving thoroughfares by a vehicular population that is so far removed from any freeway that city streets become opportunities for high speeds and a “get me there now” mentality.” Read more at Streetsblog LA.
