Politics & Government
LA Looks To Replace Flimsy Bike-Lane Bollards With Concrete Barriers
LA has more than 90 miles of protected bike lanes, most of them separated from traffic plastic bollards meant to be temporary.
LOS ANGELES, CA — A Los Angeles City Council committee advanced a motion Wednesday asking for a report on what resources it would take for the Department of Transportation to install new, durable bike lane barriers in- house.
In a unanimous vote, the Transportation Committee approved the motion introduced by Councilwoman Heather Hutt, chair of the committee. There was no discussion, and it now heads to the full council for consideration.
Los Angeles has 90.7 miles of protected bike lanes. However, the majority of these lanes are protected by plastic K71 bollards, which Hutt described as a "temporary treatment."
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"K71 bollards are designed to be a quick build and easily bend or crumble should a vehicle come into contact with them. They neither protect cyclists nor last long; the average K71 bollard has to be replaced every 7 months, wasting city resources and time," Hutt's motion reads.
LADOT has been experimenting with so-called Toronto-style barriers, a modular concrete barrier that is bolted to the ground.
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"This is a durable alternative to cast in place concrete curbing, suitable for use on busy streets that would ensure buffers between the bike lane and travel lane," the motion stated.
City officials conducted successful pilot programs with the Toronto- style barriers on Third Street in downtown and on Imperial Highway near Dockweiler Beach. Further installations are planned on Ohio Avenue, Chandler Boulevard and Spring Street/Alameda Street.
"LADOT is unable to install Toronto-style barriers themselves, and must rely on the Bureau of Street Services for the heavy equipment required to move and locate the barrier for installation," the motion added. "LADOT should be able to have this capacity in-house, without having to rely on resources from other departments."
In a similar vote, the Transportation Committee approved a motion for a separate report from LADOT on the cost to convert Class 4 bikeways from plastic bollard to concrete or other rigid delineators.
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