MTA RIDERS and COMMUTERS DESERVE A BICYCLE ALTERNATIVE

The traffic congestion, delays and inconvenience resulting from the MTA strike illustrate just how vulnerable L.A. County residents are to a transportation crisis, be it a transit strike or fuel price shocks. Once the strike ends, traffic problems will not disappear. Southern California needs more alternatives to the single-occupant automobile if we are to be able to get through events like the MTA strike, or something more sustained, like a full-blown energy crisis.

Bicycles are one of the healthiest, least polluting, and most cost-effective modes of transportation. Los Angeles County needs a viable network of bikable roads and cycleways so people will feel safe and comfortable using bicycles for transportation. More people bicycling in L.A. County means less congestion, better air quality, healthier people and more livable communities. Being able to bicycle safely in L.A. County could mean the difference between keeping or loosing your job this week.

The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition demands that the cities of Los Angeles County and the MTA make bicycles a transportation priority by:



The L.A. County Bicycle Coalition Action Agenda

for the MTA and SCAG (Southern California Association of Governments)

1. Accommodate bicycles on all roadway projects. For bicycles to be a viable mode of transportation, they must be able to ride safely on all roads and easily access the same destinations as automobiles. Desired features include bike lanes where possible or wide curb lanes, safe intersection designs and bike-sensitive signal detectors. These improvements can be implemented at low or zero cost if done during construction or maintenance.

2. Require the maximum integration of bicycles into all transit facilities, including strategies for encouraging multi-modal trips, such as secure parking for bikes, "end-of-trip" facilities at major destinations and bicycle access to transit vehicles.

3. Make bicycles a policy priority in the MTA Long Range Transportation Plan and the SCAG Regional Transportation Plan. The MTA and SCAG must include strong policy guidelines and budget levels supporting bicycles in their long range planning. We recommend specific targets for improving cycling’s transportation mode share from the current 1% to at least 5% by 2025.

4. Develop pervasive, well-promoted cycling skills training programs. Lack of traffic cycling skills and fear of roadways is a major barrier to increased ridership. Focus should be on middle schools and adults.

5. Develop strategies for promoting cycling as transportation, including items such as: an ongoing, pervasive PR campaign; high-visibility pavement markings; signage; specific, high-profile bike projects; priority bike parking areas at major destinations.

6. Include cycling transportation experts on all relevant MTA and SCAG committees and sub-committees.



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The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition is a membership-based non-profit organization working to improve the cycling environment in LA County. Individuals interested in helping with this work are encouraged to contact the group.