Reyes torches last bike marker on downtown L.A.'s first bikeway

(Photo credit: Office of Councilmember Ed P. Reyes)

(Photo credit: Joe Linton)

(Photo credit: Los Angeles Department of Transportation)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Monica Valencia
September 8, 2011 (213) 473 7001
Monica.Valencia@lacity.org

Councilmember Ed P. Reyes today torched the last bicycle marker on the 7th Street bike lanes, the first commuter bikeway in downtown L. A. The 2.2-mile bikeway is striped from Catalina Avenue to Figueroa Street through Downtown, Koreatown and Westlake—three of the most densely-populated neighborhoods.

Reyes was joined at MacArthur Park by about 100 bicycle enthusiasts, including bicyclists, day laborers, City and community leaders at the corner of 7th and Alvarado streets, across the street from the Metro Red Line station. They included the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC), Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), the City’s Department of Recreation and Parks, Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), Council for Watershed Health, Central City Neighborhood Partners and the MacArthur Park Neighborhood Council.

“We are removing a car lane, in favor of a bike lane. By doing so, we, as a city, are changing the way we see bicycles, as not only a recreational vehicle, but as a legitimate form of public transportation,” said Reyes, who spearheaded the Bicycle Master Plan. "In addition to all who joined me today, I'd like to also thank Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for his enthusiasm and leadership to help create a more bike-friendly L.A." The next phase involves extending the 7th Street bike lanes an additional 2.9 miles through Downtown to Soto Street in Boyle Heights.

“We are so proud to see through the implementation of our two year long campaign to get a bicycle lane on 7th Street,” said Jennifer Klausner, LACBC’s Executive Director. “This marks a sea change in the City improving the safety and quality of life for cyclists in one of the most transit dependent, working class neighborhoods in LA.”

Jaime de la Vega, LADOT’s General Manager, said: “It’s a great day for all Angelenos who live, work and play in the Westlake/MacArthur Park. For cyclists, drivers and pedestrians alike, these new bike lanes will also help to increase public safety.”

The Bicycle Master Plan, approved by the City in March 2011, lays out 1,680 miles of interconnected bikeways and calls for more than 200 miles of new bicycle routes every five years Citywide, including along the Los Angeles River. The Plan will be implemented in part using funds from Measure R, a half-cent sales tax increase approved by voters in 2008 to fund transportation projects.

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Reyes Rows With L.A. River Boating Program

Bringing people closer to the Los Angeles River has been one of my top goals as we renew the River with major parks, bike and pedestrian trails, and natural habitat preservation. With this in mind, I am happy to report another major step toward this goal.

I recently introduced a motion that would allow non-motorized boating in the L.A. River for the first time. This motion is about creating opportunities for you to experience the L.A. River--a living, breathing ecosystem of water, plant and animals--through kayaking and other non-motorized boating activities. It further brings communities together and creates access to the River for locals, especially those who travel long distances just to recreate in water.

The motion follows the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recent ruling on July 7, 2010 that the Los Angeles River is navigable, and thus entitled to Clean Water Act protections. The following day, I had the honor and pleasure of welcoming the President’s top environmental advisers to my district. They toured the L.A. River as part of President Obama’s Great Outdoors Initiative.

In 2007, the City Council adopted the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan that calls for creating public access to the River through recreation such as water contact activities, as well as parks, pedestrian and bike trails. I encourage you to visit www.lariver.org for more information about our exciting River revitalization.