LA City Council Adopts Bike Friendly 'Mobility Plan' Over Next 20 Years

(FOX 11 / CNS) The Los Angeles City Council approved a sweeping, 20-year mobility plan today that encourages a move away from car-centric infrastructure and streets toward more bicycle, public transit and pedestrian-friendly transportation options in the city.

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The council voted 12-2 to approve a plan -- dubbed Mobility Plan 2035 -- that has among its objectives, the goals of adding 300 miles of protected
bike lanes and increasing other non-car transportation options.

The plan was adopted over complaints from some residents that it could worsen traffic congestion and hinder emergency response times due to some
streets potentially losing car lanes to accommodate bicycles or other types of transportation.

In addition to calling for more bike lanes, the plan identifies ideal streets for improving or increasing public transit options and points to 800
miles of roads where traffic could be reduced or slowed down.

The plan also sets overall goals for eliminating traffic-related fatalities, making streets safer for young people and women, improving the
reliability and frequency of buses, putting more non-car options near more residents and upgrading rail stations.

Councilman Mike Bonin, who championed the plan, called it a "groundbreaking" document that updates the city's planning guidelines from a
"1950s mentality" to a more modern approach to transportation that includes more options for bicyclists, public transportation and pedestrians.

Councilman Jose Huizar, another proponent, said the plan will "acknowledge those number of people who walk, those number of people who take
bikes and other forms of transportation and say you too, we shall build an infrastructure for you as well," as well as the growing number of people who
are looking for other forms of transportation."

Councilman Joe Buscaino, citing his own two-hour public transit commute from San Pedro to City Hall downtown, said "we need a plan moving forward."

Councilman Felipe Fuentes said the mobility plan needs to be in place so that the city can take advantage of public dollars that the state and federal government are expected to begin offering soon.

Councilman Bob Blumenfield said: "This is progress. It may not be perfect ... but it's moving us in a direction that we need to move as a city.
Collectively it changes the process."

Praise was not unanimous, however. Some council members, including Gil Cedillo, expressed concern that not enough public input was gathered before the plan was presented to the City Council.

Cedillo and several other council members proposed amending the plan to eliminate some streets that were earmarked for bicycle enhancements, but those changes were not considered today and were instead assigned to committee for future discussion.

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