Join the West Hollywood Bicycle Coalition on Sunday, June 2nd, at 10:00 a.m. for a family-friendly ride from the Hollywood/Highland Metro station to the heart of the WeHo Pride Street Fair and Parade (3.7 miles).
All participants will need to sign a ride waiver before the ride. Invite friends!
When: Sunday, June 2, 2024; assemble at 10:00 a.m., ride departs at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Hollywood & Highland, in front of the Metro rail station.
Length: 3.7 miles, one way
Willoughby, Vista/Gardner, and Kings Street Plan Open House
On Tuesday, May 21st, West Hollywood will host an Open House to inform the community about upcoming improvements to Willoughby Avenue, Vista/Gardner Streets, and Kings Street. The purpose of this in-person event is to provide detailed information regarding the plan and next steps moving forward.
This is also an opportunity for provide direct feedback to West Hollywood officials, including support for the planned improvements to improve safety by calming traffic on the entire route and installing protected bicycle lanes on Vista and Gardner Streets between Willoughby and Fountain Avenues. For more information on the Plan, and to follow this project as it progresses, visit our project webpage here.
When: Tuesday, May 21, 2024
Where: Plummer Park Community Center, Rms. 1 & 2, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd.
The City Council will be voting this Monday on March 18, 2024 on a Concept Plan to improve Willoughby Avenue. Click here to find out how you can help!
What’s there now:
Willoughby is a narrow residential street with significant cut-through traffic from nearby Santa Monica Boulevard and Melrose Avenue. Because of this, there’s twice as much traffic on Willoughby as there is on the nearest blocks – Romaine and Waring. This traffic can be especially dangerous given the parks, schools, and homes on Willoughby.
What’s proposed:
The city is recommending that several steps be taken to slow down and discourage cut-through traffic on Willoughby between Kings Road and Vista/Gardner Street. Some notable recommendations:
There are also recommendations for Vista/Gardner Streets and Kings Road:
At Kings Road – Creating a widened sidewalk (bulb out) at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard, and bike crossing push buttons and in-ground bike detectors on both streets where they intersect Santa Monica Boulevard.
At Vista/Gardner Streets – In addition to signage and some streetscape improvements, there are two options for bike lanes that city staff have proposed:
(Note: This is a partial list of the proposals. For the full concept plan, click here.)
In addition to the staff recommendations, we have some additional recommendations of our own we’d like the city to implement to really make the street safe for all users…
What’s next?
Stay in the loop about bike projects, resources and events coming up in WeHo. Sign up for our email list.
When:
Monday, March 18, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
Where:
WeHo Council Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard
Join the West Hollywood Bicycle Coalition on Sunday, June 4th, at 10:00 a.m. for a family-friendly ride from the Hollywood/Highland Metro station to the heart of the WeHo Pride Street Fair and parade route (~4 miles).
All participants will need to sign a ride waiver before the ride. For those who want to return with a group, we will choose a return time after the ride.
More details about the ride and a registration link are provided here. Invite friends!
When: Sunday, June 4, 2023; assemble at 10:00 a.m., ride departs at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Hollywood Blvd., in front of the Metro rail station.
Length: ~4 miles, one way
I leave my bike out overnight
come back to its mangled frame
not locked up.
Even the lock is jammed.
I stand in silence for a moment,
remember K-town streets at mid-day,
the bridge over the LA river,
flowing down Santa Monica
with headphones in,
headed to the library,
wind in my hair,
every childhood beach ride
& my dad coming home
& hanging up his helmet.
Sure, traffic is terrifying.
I shout to make sure cars know I’m there.
But this is how I know I’m there.
by the wind in my face,
the ache in my calves.
My body, saying:
I’m alive. I’m alive. I’m alive.
Brian Sonia-Wallace
West Hollywood Poet Laureate (2020-2023)
The West Hollywood Bicycle Coalition (WeHoBYCO) held a bicycle safety event on the evening of Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023 at the intersection of Santa Monica and San Vicente Boulevards. Bicyclists were provided with free bike lights, courtesy of Bike LA, and other swag along with information for riding safely at night.
In addition, information was provided about West Hollywood’s Vision Zero project and bikeway projects to improve road safety for bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists, including bicycle lanes on Fountain Ave. and Santa Monica Blvd., and a Neighborhood Greenway along Willoughby Avenue and Vista-Gardner Streets.
Mark your calendars: LA Bike Fest!
Join LACBC’s first-ever LA Bike Fest next Saturday, November 5, 2022. Their signature fundraising event celebrates the community on bikes with rides and a party at Bike Shed Moto Co. They will also be honoring leaders from the bicycle-riding community with Spoke Awards! The honorees are passionate, dedicated, and collaborative in their efforts to make Los Angeles a more bikeable region for everyone.
Want to bicycle to the party? Then join our feeder ride from West Hollywood! Departs at 10:30 a.m. from Poinsettia Park at 7341 Willoughby Ave.
Can’t join the party? Then help the West Hollywood Bicycle Coalition raise funds for LA Bike Fest by contributing to our fundraising page!
When: Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, 12–4 p.m.
Where: The Bike Shed Moto Co., 1580 Industrial St., Los Angeles
Enjoy:
Live music 🎸
Amazing food & drinks 🍻
Meet LACBC Local Chapters & other local organizations 🤝
Silent auction 📋
& more! Plus a HUGE announcement! 🤫
Visit labikefest.org to join LA Bike Fest Saturday, November 5, 2022.
West Hollywood Bicycle Coalition Candidate Questionnaire
West Hollywood City Council Election — Tuesday, November 8, 2022
On Tuesday, November 8, West Hollywood voters will head to the polls to decide three of the City Council’s five seats. The seats are at-large, meaning each council member represents the entire city.
The West Hollywood Bicycle Coalition crafted a nine-question questionnaire and sent it to all twelve candidates. Their completed questionnaires are linked to below, in alphabetical order.
As a chapter of a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, we cannot endorse candidates, but we hope you find this information helpful as you educate yourselves about candidates.
For a sample ballot & precinct map, please visit the City’s Election Information Web page.
Completed questionnaires:
We have not yet received responses from the following candidates:
Adam Darvish Responses
1. What mode(s) of transportation do you use, and why?
I walk and ride my bicycle since I decided to not own a car two years ago due to my commitment to slow down global warming and also stay healthy
2. Would (or do) you feel safe biking and/or using an e-scooter as a primary mode of transportation for short and medium-length trips? Why or why not?
I feel safe biking but I would rather see lanes for bicycles and e scooters on our residential streets. I have been advocating for adding bicycle lanes on our residential streets at City Council and Transportation Commission by making public comments. Bicycle lane on Santa Monica blvd needs to extend to the east side.
3. What do you think the city should do to improve safety and convenience of bicycling (and other micromobility) in West Hollywood? Is there anywhere you feel the city should add bike lanes, greenways (traffic diverters and other traffic calming features), and/or protections (physical separations from cars, such as concrete curbs) to existing or new bike lanes?
As a victim where an SUV at 100 mph on my residential street nearly ended my life after entering my property at 2 am, I have been very passionate and vocal at City Council by asking for addition of speed humps, flashing red lights at stop signs, lowering speed limits and actually posting speed limits on residential streets and limiting access to only allow residents to enter their streets after 9 or 10 pm. Residential streets are lacking appropriate crosswalks for older adults and residents with disability and pedestrians. The city has focused on minimum parking requirements and disturbing reckless drivers instead of focusing on pedestrians and residents and their safety and quality of life. Our focus needs to shift to green mobility and promoting cyclists and e-scooters as a greener alternative to cars. I have been able to accomplish some of the initiatives mentioned above on my residential street and neighboring streets after two years of weekly efforts.
4. What do you think the city should do to promote and/or incentivize alternatives to driving, such as bikes, scooters, and walking, in West Hollywood?
I mentioned some of the ideas under item number 3. I strongly believe that our streets need a new focus and facelift to promote residents to walk or use green mobility to reduce carbon footprint in our city and globally.
5. What do you think the city’s policy should be on shared scooters, bike-share, and other micromobility devices?
I will promote this idea and it is the way into the future to save our planet earth and also to reduce number of fatal accidents caused by cars.
6. What are your thoughts on bringing Metro Rail to West Hollywood, and for first-mile, last-mile access to and from a subway stop?
I believe this is a solid decision and it will allow better access to our city for visitors, workers, and residents, and at the same time it will reduce number of cars on our streets and boost our economy by allowing an alternative for people to access West Hollywood.
7. Should the city consider adding barriers to motor vehicle cut-through traffic on residential streets that are often used as thoroughfares (such as Willoughby Avenue)?
Absolutely and it should have been done already. As an advocate for safer streets in our city, I have noticed some streets are already set up with barriers to eliminate cut through traffic on residential streets but there is no consistent guideline or practice that the city is following. I have been very vocal about adding barriers on residential streets that are constantly used as a cit through and a race track for some drivers and streets with high rate of car accidents.
8. Bicycle theft is at an all-time high. What actions should the city take to address that?
We need cameras installed in key areas of the city with high crime rate including theft. Cameras help our police force to better identify criminals.
9. Some of the city’s bicycle- and pedestrian-heavy corridors are unsafe for non-motorized travel (the Sunset Strip, Melrose Avenue, Santa Monica Blvd, Fountain Ave). What kinds of solutions would you propose to make them safer?
I will recommend addition of crosswalks with flashing lights, signs to inform drivers about pedestrian safety and also reduce speed limits for the mentioned streets.
Sarah Adolphson Responses
1. What mode(s) of transportation do you use, and why?
I walk whenever possible, otherwise I drive. I walk for exercise and convenience. If I drive in the city, it’s to stay safe at night, if I am short on time, or if I plan to carry home heavy groceries.
2. Would (or do) you feel safe biking and/or using an e-scooter as a primary mode of transportation for short and medium-length trips? Why or why not?
I would love to bike around the city, but am not an experienced cyclist and do not feel confident navigating busier thoroughfares like Santa Monica or Sunset Blvd. I would love to try an e-scooter but have terrible coordination!
3. What do you think the city should do to improve safety and convenience of bicycling (and other micromobility) in West Hollywood? Is there anywhere you feel the city should add bike lanes, greenways (traffic diverters and other traffic calming features), and/or protections (physical separations from cars, such as concrete curbs) to existing or new bike lanes?
I am a big fan of Complete Streets and know that the city is working to implement this concept throughout West Hollywood. I think we can expedite the process by establishing a citizen science project in which we encourage and incentivize residents to send information – such as pictures and cross streets – to the city where we need to improve sidewalks, widen or extend bike lanes, and improve mobility overall for our pedestrians and cyclists.
4. What do you think the city should do to promote and/or incentivize alternatives to driving, such as bikes, scooters, and walking, in West Hollywood?
As a walker, I speak from experience that this city must address the homelessness issue. There are too many homeless that are severely mentally ill and are a threat public safety.
For bikes and scooters, I think we need to widen and extend bike lanes so that people on bikes, scooters and skateboards do not have to use the sidewalks.
5. What do you think the city’s policy should be on shared scooters, bike-share, and other micromobility devices?
I think these are all great means of transportation; they are efficient, reduce traffic congestion and improve the environment. I do think we need a better system for the parking of scooters. They are often left in the middle of sidewalks and impede mobility for the elderly, families with strollers, and people in wheelchairs or with walkers. I like that this is now a task of Block-by-Block Ambassadors but would also like to explore an accountability system, such as ticketing or warnings for poorly parked scooters. Our city tickets cars that block access; we ticket real estate signs that block sidewalks; we should apply the same rules to scooters and bicycles.
6. What are your thoughts on bringing Metro Rail to West Hollywood, and for first-mile, last-mile access to and from a subway stop?
I like anything that helps the environment and improves transportation equity. I would just want to put measures in place to protect against crime, as people will more easily be able to enter and leave the city.
7. Should the city consider adding barriers to motor vehicle cut-through traffic on residential streets that are often used as thoroughfares (such as Willoughby Avenue)?
West Hollywood has one of the highest walkability scores of any neighborhood across the country. Barriers encourage walking and cycling and improve safety for non-motorized vehicles. That said, many of our residents work outside of the city and depend on their cars to get to and from work; we need to strike a balance that prioritizes the safety of our cyclists while still acknowledging the needs of commuters.
8. Bicycle theft is at an all-time high. What actions should the city take to address that?
The city could increase the number of bike racks, so that cyclists have a more secure location to which they can lock their bicycles. The city could also have a system of registration, making it harder for bikes to resold and less appealing for thieves.
9. Some of the city’s bicycle- and pedestrian-heavy corridors are unsafe for non-motorized travel (the Sunset Strip, Melrose Avenue, Santa Monica Blvd, Fountain Ave). What kinds of solutions would you propose to make them safer?
I would work with the cycling community to identify the areas of highest priority and collaborate to find solutions that work within the city budget and make progress toward a safer, more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly community.
Chelsea Byers Responses
1. What mode(s) of transportation do you use, and why?
I primarily walk, ride the bus, or rent a scooter. I do not own a personal vehicle and haven’t since 2018. When I began this transition, I was working a job downtown and found the bus to be a more ideal method for commuting because it allowed me to enjoy my commuting time with a book or getting work done on my laptop and it saved me a lot of money to ride the bus instead of maintain a personal vehicle. Now I work from home and walk to get my groceries or complete other errands. I currently do not own a bicycle because it was stolen (twice!). I am advocating to my apartment building for safe bike storage lockers – we are given two tandem parking spaces but no where safe to lock our bikes.
2. Would (or do) you feel safe biking and/or using an e-scooter as a primary mode of transportation for short and medium-length trips? Why or why not?
It tends to feel like I am taking my own life into my hands when I choose to scooter or e-bike through the City. Without a network of protected bike lanes and proper investment into our transit infrastructure, we do not incentivize individuals to not use their personal vehicles. 3. What do you think the city should do to improve safety and convenience of bicycling (and other micromobility) in West Hollywood? Is there anywhere you feel the city should add bike lanes, greenways (traffic diverters and other traffic calming features), and/or protections (physical separations from cars, such as concrete curbs) to existing or new bike lanes?
I believe we need to create physical protections for bike lanes to protect cyclists from cars like concrete curbs or bollards. A network of protected bike lanes should be built across the whole city with neighborhoods that suffer from a high incidence of bicycle injuries or fatalities being prioritized. Doing so will bring about new opportunities for greenspace, safety, artwork, community, business vitality, and connection.
3. What do you think the city should do to improve safety and convenience of bicycling (and other micromobility) in West Hollywood? Is there anywhere you feel the city should add bike lanes, greenways (traffic diverters and other traffic calming features), and/or protections (physical separations from cars, such as concrete curbs) to existing or new bike lanes?
I believe we need to create physical protections for bike lanes to protect cyclists from cars like concrete curbs or bollards. A network of protected bike lanes should be built across the whole city with neighborhoods that suffer from a high incidence of bicycle injuries or fatalities being prioritized. Doing so will bring about new opportunities for greenspace, safety, artwork, community, business vitality, and connection.
4. What do you think the city should do to promote and/or incentivize alternatives to driving, such as bikes, scooters, and walking, in West Hollywood?
First and foremost, West Hollywood should be building more housing along transit corridors. It will lower car trips and allow more people to walk, bike, or take transit to get where they need to go. Demonstrating our investment and focus on ensuring safety and efficiency is also an incentive. We must create charming, desirable, and safe places for this mobility to occur. We should also fund bike shares and bike cooperatives and fund extensive outreach to community members. Most people lose touch with the ease and joy of bike riding and events like CicLAvia create community-driven opportunities for people to reconnect with this experience. We also need to ensure apartments have safe storage for bicycles and not just parking spaces for vehicles otherwise people will not be motivated to acquire this mode of transportation for themselves.
5. What do you think the city’s policy should be on shared scooters, bike-share, and other micromobility devices?
Any alternative modes of transportation should be encouraged if we want to reduce traffic and the number of vehicles on the road. Right now, the City has a number of contracts with various scooter and ebike companies under pilot which should formalize into a long-term agreement that ensures we have enough mobility resources across the community for this program to be used effectively. Understandably, there is concern over the shared infrastucture of sidewalk space which scooter riders and bicyclists often feel a need to utilize for their own safety concerns when bike lanes are not available. Beyond ticketing riders which could decentivize this alternative transportation use altogether, we need to rapidly expand bike lanes and create greater mechanisms for safety among all alternative transportation modes. Longer term, we should be providing more funding to bike cooperatives and subsidize bike shares so that people have more options to move around the city. I also believe this will help address our first-mile/last-mile issue when it comes to gaps in our regional public transit infrastructure.
6. What are your thoughts on bringing Metro Rail to West Hollywood, and for first-mile, last-mile access to and from a subway stop?
I believe we should push for the Fairfax/San Vincente route. It is the only proposed route that serves top destinations in West Hollywood like Cedars-Sinai – one of the largest employers in LA County – and would serve more residents and job-holders than the La Brea route, as well as more cultural resources. I also believe we should be providing alternatives like bike shares and scooters at the Metro station as well as having services like LANow readily available to close that first and last-mile gap.
7. Should the city consider adding barriers to motor vehicle cut-through traffic on residential streets that are often used as thoroughfares (such as Willoughby Avenue)?
Yes and we should be lowering speed limits to protect the safety of pedestrians as well. This will reduce the noise from traffic, and create a greater feeling of safety and community in our neighborhoods. There are many locations throughout the City that are prime for this opportunity.
8. Bicycle theft is at an all-time high. What actions should the city take to address that?
Bike theft has impacted me personally and has challenged my ability to maintain my own personal bicycle. My apartment complex does not have safe storage or dedicated bicycle lockers and this is true for the majority of residents in West Hollywood. We need to ensure that new housing that is built comes with bike lockers or storage spaces to store bikes for tenants and we need to look into mechanisms to bring about safe storage for existing buildings. This also demonstrates the value in the City creating more opportunities for shared resources – like bike co-ops and rental mechanisms. People can have access to bikes and scooters as they desire without having to absorb the overhead and potential liability risks associated with personal property.
Ultimately, having more people who are enjoying our public spaces helps to foster public safety and reduces crime. I believe we need to provide funding and encourage street vendors,
programming like neighborhood block parties, working with small businesses for sidewalk art & street furniture, and make infrastructure changes to ensure safe access to play spaces.
9. Some of the city’s bicycle- and pedestrian-heavy corridors are unsafe for non-motorized travel (the Sunset Strip, Melrose Avenue, Santa Monica Blvd, Fountain Ave). What kinds of solutions would you propose to make them safer?
Despite West Hollywood’s reputation as a walkable city, we still have a large number of accidents that pose a threat to public health. We should synchronize stop lights and provide pedestrians with more time to cross intersections. In the middle of pedestrian heavy streets, we can build median strips and add flashing lights to signal when non-motorists are crossing the streets. I believe that these changes will be beneficial to older adults, people with disabilities and people walking their pets, in particular. The business community along the Sunset Strip in particular has been communicating their desire to see bike lanes established as it would increase the connectivity to street level businesses, which has significantly declined due to the pandemic and change in office culture. And Melrose in particular is poised for dramatic improvements that support the vibrant life, culture, and community that exists in that area. Slowing down traffic, creating safe bike lanes, and expanding sidewalk space will facilitate a greater experience to serve that corridor.
We should also work with small businesses to encourage street art. Cities like Pittsburgh did this with large intersections and saw traffic collisions fall as a result. I believe we can do the same
here in West Hollywood as part of a broader package of Vision Zero changes.
Jordan Cockeram Responses
1. What mode(s) of transportation do you use, and why?
I have a vehicle that I use for long distances or if I need to transport large/heavy items, and I have an electric scooter that I use for everything else.
2. Would (or do) you feel safe biking and/or using an e-scooter as a primary mode of transportation for short and medium-length trips? Why or why not?
Absolutely! I know the rules of the road for electric scooters, and following them is the best way to be and feel safe. I’ve seen people ride scooters on the sidewalks, presumably because they think it’s safer to be away from cars, but that’s not the case. I ride my scooter in the bike lane when bike lanes are available, otherwise I ride in the road. Being visible to other drivers/cyclists/scooter riders is the best way to make sure you are safe.
3. What do you think the city should do to improve safety and convenience of bicycling (and other micromobility) in West Hollywood? Is there anywhere you feel the city should add bike lanes, greenways (traffic diverters and other traffic calming features), and/or protections (physical separations from cars, such as concrete curbs) to existing or new bike lanes?
I think the city should put up physical separations around the bike lanes to keep cyclists and micro-mobility riders safe. I don’t think they need to be concrete barriers, but some sort of permanent “cone” or reflective marker. Because we don’t have the infrastructure quite yet to reduce the number of cars, I don’t think the city should remove any vehicle traffic lanes for bike lanes, but once the metro is finished, I think we should do a study to see what vehicle lanes, if any, could be changed into bike lanes or greenways.
4. What do you think the city should do to promote and/or incentivize alternatives to driving, such as bikes, scooters, and walking, in West Hollywood?
I think the city should offer incentives like free charging stations, tax breaks on purchases of bikes, scooters, etc, and if the budget allows it, subsidized purchases of micro-mobility transportation.
5. What do you think the city’s policy should be on shared scooters, bike-share, and other micromobility devices?
I am a huge supporter of shared micro-mobility devices. I’ve noticed in other cities (like San Francisco), scooters are required to be locked to something when the rider is finished. I think we should do that in West Hollywood to prevent scooters being strewn on the ground and in the way of sidewalks, driveways, and other pedestrian and vehicular pathways.
6. What are your thoughts on bringing Metro Rail to West Hollywood, and for first-mile, last mile access to and from a subway stop?
As with the shared micro-mobility devices, I am also a huge supporter of the Metro Rail, specifically the Fairfax-San Vicente Hybrid line. I think that, partnered with micromobility devices, will be incredibly beneficial to those who live, work, and play in the city, and will solve the first-mile/last-mile access issue.
7. Should the city consider adding barriers to motor vehicle cut-through traffic on residential streets that are often used as thoroughfares (such as Willoughby Avenue)?
I think each cut-through area has to be looked at individually, as there isn’t a “one size fits all” option that can be used. If there’s an intersection that is more dangerous than others where accidents are more frequent, then yes, absolutely.
8. Bicycle theft is at an all-time high. What actions should the city take to address that?
The city should educate people on not only the importance of locking up your bicycle, but HOW to properly lock up your bicycle, and what locks are the best. I think the city could also offer something like discounted or incentivized bike locks.
9. Some of the city’s bicycle- and pedestrian-heavy corridors are unsafe for non-motorized travel (the Sunset Strip, Melrose Avenue, Santa Monica Blvd, Fountain Ave). What kinds of solutions would you propose to make them safer?
I think this is an example where concrete barriers WOULD be beneficial and necessary. That way if there’s a distracted or inebriated driver who does veer into the pedestrian corridors, the pedestrians will be protected by the concrete barriers.
Robert Oliver Responses
1. What mode(s) of transportation do you use, and why?
My predominant form of transportation is a pair of Adidas walking shoes. I walk almost everywhere
because we are such a walkable community, and it’s so convenient. I also ride my bike as much as possible. It’s my beach cruiser from UCSB, where I learned to depend on my bike to get around, and it has a basket for groceries. When I do drive, I have an electric vehicle, but spends most of its time collecting dust. I charge my car every month or so.
2. Would (or do) you feel safe biking and/or using an e-scooter as a primary mode of transportation for short and medium-length trips? Why or why not?
Many times that I would otherwise take my bicycle, I choose to walk instead because I feel safer. If we had protected bike lanes, it would be more convenient to bicycle or take a scooter most times for medium-length trips around town.
3. What do you think the city should do to improve safety and convenience of bicycling (and other micromobility) in West Hollywood? Is there anywhere you feel the city should add bike lanes, greenways (traffic diverters and other traffic calming features), and/or protections (physical separations from cars, such as concrete curbs) to existing or new bike lanes?
As a staffer in Senator Feinstein’s West LA office, I biked the 10.6 miles round trip daily through three cities (West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Los Angeles), and I knew each block of the commute and its relative safety. There is no question that unprotected, and especially unmarked, bike lanes are not adequate forms of micro-mobility infrastructure. Simply painting a chevron and telling drivers to “share the lane” doesn’t cut it any longer. I have personally experienced what other cities around the nation and world have done to create a real and viable micro-mobility infrastructure. I have felt the transformative force that a genuine pedestrian zone or tree-lined, pedestrian lanes can make on quality of life. As a councilmember, it will be my priority to bring that vitality to West Hollywood.
4. What do you think the city should do to promote and/or incentivize alternatives to driving, such as bikes, scooters, and walking, in West Hollywood?
The city must prioritize making it safe and convenient to bike and scoot around town. That means micro-mobility lanes, as well as convenient bike racks and designated scooter parking areas. As we grow our built environment, it also means prioritizing mixed use and affordable housing units so more people can live, work, play, and run errands within walking or biking distance of their homes. We need to expedite the Crenshaw Line Extension and prioritize middle-class housing over luxury housing and parking spots.
It is time for 21st century infrastructure in West Hollywood and the region. Cars will continue to be perceived as the most convenient option for people until we bring parity in our infrastructure for different modes of transportation. Thanks to our density and mixed-use zoning, we are a city that is naturally suited for alternatives to the automobile–public transportation, micro-mobility, and walking. I want to create a network of protected bike/micro-mobility lanes and also improve pedestrian safety by widening sidewalks, adding traffic calming measures and design techniques that prioritize pedestrian safety. We need to engage the community on these priorities. I believe the majority of residents would support prioritizing people and livability over constant congestion, noise, and pollution.
5. What do you think the city’s policy should be on shared scooters, bike-share, and other micro mobility devices?
Our priority should be the successful integration of micro-mobility devices into the city by creating a viable micro-mobility infrastructure. Ultimately, that will be the key to keeping riders and pedestrians safe.
6. What are your thoughts on bringing Metro Rail to West Hollywood, and for first-mile, last-mile access to and from a subway stop?
I am so excited that this line is coming to West Hollywood. We are a city that is primed for the Metro. I have been advocating for the Hybrid Alignment since 2017. I think that alignment will serve the greatest number of individual riders, connecting Cedars, our entertainment venues, east and west West Hollywood, and Sunset with the rest of LA. This alignment would integrate public transit in more people’s lives.
We need to have a first/last mile in place, and I am open to dedicated bus lanes. I have supported previous proposals for dedicated bus lanes, namely on La Brea. Since buses constantly stop, it allows for smoother vehicle travel and can actually help ease congestion. We also need to expand service on our WeHo trolley service. The more dependable and frequent those run, the more people will come to rely on them to get around within the city.
7. Should the city consider adding barriers to motor vehicle cut-through traffic on residential streets that are often used as thoroughfares (such as Willoughby Avenue)?
Yes. Residential streets should be used for access to neighborhoods, not as cut-throughs for hurried drivers. Residential quality of life, and bicyclist and pedestrian safety are threatened by high volumes of speeding vehicular traffic on neighborhood streets. There are a number of traffic treatments that have already been used successfully to address this issue, and I would like to see them expanded.
8. Bicycle theft is at an all-time high. What actions should the city take to address that?
We need to start with public education that includes not just best practices for securing a bike, but also the urgent need to register each bicycle. As anyone who has had a bicycle stolen will know, the authorities are limited if the bike’s serial number isn’t registered. I would also like to see additional decoy bikes used to catch repeat and organized offenders.
9. Some of the city’s bicycle- and pedestrian-heavy corridors are unsafe for non-motorized travel (the Sunset Strip, Melrose Avenue, Santa Monica Blvd, Fountain Ave). What kinds of solutions would you propose to make them safer?
I believe all of these different modes of transportation can fit into a larger network of planning for better and safer infrastructure. West Hollywood is playing its part but we also need the City of Los Angeles to do the same since we are surrounded by them on a majority of our borders. The Healthy Streets Initiative is the plan to ensure that when streets are updated in Los Angeles they also are updated to ensure that they are following the mobility plans that the council agreed to. I will be playing my part here in West Hollywood and advocating to ensure that the City of LA and Beverly Hills and other Westside Cities do the same.
I support Vision Zero, and I serve on the Vision Zero Task Force for the City of West Hollywood in my capacity as a Public Safety Commissioner. I am impressed by the progress the City of New York has made in protecting people, and we need to take measures ourselves toward the same goal. Vision Zero is data-driven and I look forward to working with traffic engineers and other staff to identify areas of need and possible treatments to address them. We have seen too many headlines of people being hit or killed by cars, as well as too many instances of vehicles getting in accidents, hitting buildings, or even flipping over.
Design matters. We cannot continue to allow neighborhood streets to be treated like freeways, and they will until they stop looking like freeways. I look forward to seeing recommendations from city traffic engineers on traffic calming measures to make West Hollywood safer.
Marquita Thomas Responses
1. What mode(s) of transportation do you use, and why?
I do not own a car so I mostly walk and for longer trips I either take transit or rideshare. I got rid of my car in 2018 because as a person who works from home in a City where everything is within a 30 minute walk, getting rid of my car helped me do my part to both decrease traffic and emissions.
2. Would (or do) you feel safe biking and/or using an e-scooter as a primary mode of transportation for short and medium-length trips? Why or why not?
I would not feel safe because the safety features needed to protect micromobility options are not sufficiently in place in the City of West Hollywood. Also, I do not know how to ride a scooter and have not seen enough classes that would teach me how to ride one, I believe the City should hold regular meeting to help riders who are green learn how to use the scooters safely and also encourage safety measures relative to sharing space with other commuters and I would like to see more education around wearing helmets.
3. What do you think the city should do to improve safety and convenience of bicycling (and other micromobility) in West Hollywood? Is there anywhere you feel the city should add bike lanes, greenways (traffic diverters and other traffic calming features), and/or protections (physical separations from cars, such as concrete curbs) to existing or new bike lanes?
Safety for bicycle and other micromobility options must be prioritized. I support protective bike lanes as well as traffic calming features and protections. I feel that these features should be put in place along Santa Monica Blvd, Fountain Blvd, Gardner and Melrose. Fountain Blvd more so than most other areas of the City has had far too many bike/car collisions. I have attended workshops the City has held on protective bike lanes and appreciate that they are seeking community support on the best options for protected lanes
4. What do you think the city should do to promote and/or incentivize alternatives to driving, such as bikes, scooters, and walking, in West Hollywood?
In my campaign for West Hollywood City Council, I have begun advocating “Metro Mondays” where I encourage West Hollywood residents to ditch their cars for a day each Monday to explore other options like the City line, Metro, scooters, bicycles, walking or jogging. I believe a City campaign encouraging a once a day car-free option gets the entire City engaged in exploring other options. Also, continuing City-wide events like Ciclavia helps residents envision a cars-free future. This type of messaging will be critical over the next several years as we continue to plan for the Metro. Reducing our residents’ reliance on cars is necessary now to ensure more residents ride the Metro when it finally arrives in the City. The City also needs a communication piece informing residents that a significant amount of traffic in the City is due to residents taking trips of less than two miles and choosing to not drive for trips of less than two miles and using micromobility or walking will have a significant impact on traffic. Who doesn’t want less traffic?
5. What do you think the city’s policy should be on shared scooters, bike-share, and other micromobility devices?
The City needs to support micromobility options but also needs to support driver education so that micromobility and drivers can coexist safely. I have seen far too many near misses that could have proven fatal. A necessary policy for micromobility needs to also include a significant number of drop off zones so that scooters are not impeding foot traffic, wheelchairs, strollers etc.
6. What are your thoughts on bringing Metro Rail to West Hollywood, and for first-mile, last-mile access to and from a subway stop?
The Metro is going to be a powerful revenue generator for our city and for our businesses. and it is going to help get our residents as well as our visitors get to key destinations and Job Centers quickly and efficiently.
I am so glad to see the city settle on the San Vicente hybrid which will take a little longer to build and cost a little bit more but ultimately we’ll get more people to more destinations and the benefits far outweigh the cost. As for first-mile, last-mile access, I certainly support micomobility but also support transit-oriented housing near Metro lines. Dense, walkable, mixed-use development near transit attracts people and adds to vibrant, connected communities. In addition, due to its proximity to Metro, transit oriented housing will be more affordable since it will not have to adhere to parking minimums thereby bringing down the overall cost to the project and causing rents to be more affordable.
7. Should the city consider adding barriers to motor vehicle cut-through traffic on residential streets that are often used as thoroughfares (such as Willoughby Avenue)?
Absolutely and we should seek input from the community on whether realigned intersections and speed cushions would be beneficial as well. Several residents have complained about some of the new additions on Willoughby but many others understand the benefits and understand that a slight redirect is helpful to keep bicyclists safe and to mitigate the impact of cars taking the Willoughby Avenue thoroughfare.
8. Bicycle theft is at an all-time high. What actions should the city take to address that?
Block by Block ambassadors will soon begin residential foot patrols which should mitigate bike theft but bicyclists should be warned that bike theft is on the rise in the same way that the nightlife community posts warnings that cell phone theft is on the rise. In addition to warning residents, the City should encourage bicyclists to register their bikes, put GPS trackers and locks, especially alarm locks, on bikes and also provide workshops how to use them correctly, provide a hotline for bike theft, encourage bicyclists to write down the serial number of their bikes, discourage geo-tagging routes and encourage bicyclists to park bikes near security cameras
9. Some of the city’s bicycle- and pedestrian-heavy corridors are unsafe for non-motorized travel (the Sunset Strip, Melrose Avenue, Santa Monica Blvd, Fountain Ave). What kinds of solutions would you propose to make them safer?
I still believe protected bike lanes are the best solution. Either wide bike/micromobility lanes where cars can park and still provide space for bikes to ride or raised bike lanes to the right or left of parked cars. I support the right as I am very concerned about car doors opening and hitting riders but ultimately I would rely on the community to weigh in on the best option.
Show your support for slowing and reducing traffic on Willoughby Avenue!
In collaboration with the City of L.A., the City of West Hollywood has installed traffic-calming “temporary installations” through August, 2022 on Willoughby Ave. at Ogden Drive (diverter), Spaulding Ave. (curb extensions/”bulb-outs”) and Curson Avenue (traffic circle) to reduce and slow cut-through traffic on this residential street. West Hollywood has posted information and a video on their “Willoughby–Kings–Vista/Gardner Street Design Project” webpage.
West Hollywood will host two virtual workshops at the end of August to seek community input on the Project.
When:
Thursday, August 25, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, August 27, 2022 at 9:30 a.m.
Where:
Online — RSVP links for each meeting are posted at the project webpage
Feedback to West Hollywood staff can also be provided via the comment box on the project webpage, or to submit the following supportive statements, send the corresponding letters A, C, and E via text message to (844) 300-1624:
“I like the Diverter at Ogden/Willoughby” – Text “A”
“I like the Corner Curb Extensions at Spaulding/Willoughby” – Text “C”
“I like the Mini Roundabout at Curson/Willoughby” – Text “E”
West Hollywood’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Mobility Plan (2017) identified Willoughby Avenue, Kings Road and Vista-Gardner Streets as providing a missing link in the City’s existing bike network. The cities of West Hollywood and Los Angeles have proposed making these streets more comfortable and inviting for people of all ages and abilities who choose to walk and bike. See the City’s website for more information about the project.
Join the West Hollywood Bicycle Coalition on Wednesday, June 1st, at 5:30 p.m. for a family-friendly ride from Poinsettia Park to the southeast corner of San Vicente and Santa Monica Blvds. (grassy area outside the Sheriff’s Station across from West Hollywood Park) (2.4 miles).
Enjoy refreshments and giveaways (including helmets!) from ourselves, the L.A. County Bicycle Coalition, and the City of West Hollywood. Also get the latest updates on bicycle news in West Hollywood and beyond, including current pilot installations as part of the proposed Willoughby and Vista/Gardner Neighborhood Greenway.
All participants will need to sign a ride waiver before the ride. For those who want to return with a group, we will choose a return time at the event.
Meet-up location: Poinsettia Park (Willoughby and Fuller Avenues)
Meet Time: 5:30 p.m.
Ride leaves: 5:45 p.m.
Invite friends!
