Bicycle program update

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For those interested, here’s a pretty good summary of what’s going on with Metro’s bicycle program.

The report was prepared by Metro staff for the Metro Board of Directors. It’s basically an update that staff writes up periodically.

So what is going on? As the report details, there are efforts underway to create more bike parking at transit stations and also create better bike linkages with major transit stops. Better signage should be coming soon, too.

Give the report a read and please feel free to leave your thoughts on our comments page. As many of you know, the city of Los Angeles — among other cites in Los Angeles County — is also working on a major update of its bike plan. The next few years have the potential to be a fruitful time for cycling in the region — emphasis on the word ‘potential.’

Categories: Bicycle

7 replies ›

  1. Hi Steve,

    Thanks for your efforts. Metro and all public agencies should be publishing all documents and reports not as sloppily scanned image PDFs but as digital documents that can be easily viewed, shared, searched and modified by and for the public on any basic internet capable device.

    As for this particular report:

    1. I can’t help but laugh at the recommendation to receive and file the report. How about taking action?! I know this is Metro procedural protocol but it’s funny nonetheless.

    2. The Call for Projects sounds great. But I hope Metro staff can make use of the money spent by agencies throughout the nation and the world that have demonstrated successful implementation of bicycle/transit integration programs. Why spend money reinventing the wheel? (Pun intended)

    3. Bike Surveys are a great source of data, but how will that data be used? It’s my opinion that the survey will reveal how many cyclists make use of a segmented, incomplete and haphazard network of bike infrastructure coupled with the less than bike-friendly Metro facilities that currently exist. I hope Metro doesn’t use the numbers to justify inaction.

    4. Where can I find more information on the Folding Bike Implementation Plan? What is being implemented? Is that a fancy way of saying you can bring your folding bike on the train and bus?

    • Hey Alex:

      I’ll try to do so in the future — and good idea. I do sometimes have trouble converting the pdf reports to text that will work on the blog — sometimes requires taking a long time to re-format.

      Cheers,

      Steve Hymon
      Editor, The Source

  4. Kudos to Metro for the progress you have made so far with the caveat that there is still a long way to go.

    There are a lot of good concepts in the “themes” section. One that deserves special call out is the idea to keep the cost of bicycle parking at or below the cost of auto parking. While secure bike parking does require more equipment than a paved lot, the far larger amount of space required for a car means that overall costs of providing car parking is far higher. This should be reflected in parking pricing.

    General accessibility for cyclists AND pedestrians is still very poor at most rail stops (with the understanding that it will take time to improve this.) Step 1 is too emphasize accessibility in all new construction at least. I think you’re going to be building a lot of new stations in the next 30/10 years.

    Improved hand holds and straps for bicycle areas on trains would be a real improvement and would encourage cyclists to stay in those areas and out of the normal seating areas. Flip up seats also work very well to make open space on trains & buses more flexible.

    A suggestion if it is possible to mark train platforms or add signage that would help indicate where the bike approved cars will stop. This would reduce people having to cross paths as they board trains.

    A question of why Metro did not (or at least not publicly) do more to have the upcoming bike plan integrate better with Metro’s service areas. Better integration of the bicycle network and Metro will make investments in both pay off much better.

    Finally, a general complaint about the design of most street level stations. Does Metro have some dogmatic antagonism to shade? Nearly every station I’ve been at has crowds huddled in the limited shaded areas with large empty expanses of platform with full sun. Let the design serve the function, not the other way around.