Bicycles:Â Soon to be BANNED from Popular Downtown Areas?Â
Bad News: I just read the minutes from the most recent Downtown Long Beach Business Associates meeting and was saddened by what I saw. Bikes are soon to be banned from the Esplanade (the part of the Promenade in front of the Convention Center) and from the Boardwalk along Rainbow Harbor.
I can certainly understand WHY bicycles would be banned in these locations (pedestrian traffic is very high, lots of uneven pavement, curbs, planters… basically all the reasons you shouldn’t ride on a sidewalk anyway), but it is still a very nice place to ride sometimes.
They had better ban Segways as well!
Don’t let them ban bikes without getting something in return. Close down a car lane somewhere close by – lane diet, whatever.
This area provides a link between the beach path and LA River path. This should not be banned.
Comrade bikers, Don’t respect this lame ruling. Signal Hill illegally banned bikes from the Hill Street Grade but that didn’t stop the monthly leg burn fest. This route is an important part of the 61 rile bikepath loop in LA-how can we block this?
I just checked DLBA website and can’t seem to find the meeting minutes. Is there a way you can post the link to the meeting minutes. I ride my back to work and because I don’t feel comfortable riding on the streets, I use the boardwalk all the way to Esplanade to Golden Shore.
What can we do to stop this? I mean, they have this http://www.downtownlongbeach.org/lifestyle/newsletter/2008/May08/Pedicabs.htm so you figure they’d be ok with biking as an alternative.
When’s the next public hearing? I have to research this.
James,
No city has authority to ban bicycles from a public roadway. Bicycles can be banned from highways, tollroads, bridges, sidewalks and tunnels; but not a public roadway. The sign on Hill St. is actually an illegal sign.
And for those not comfortable riding in the street, I suggest you attend a Road 1 course with us!