Bike Master Plan for Urban City by the Sea

Ten years ago, my hometown, Long Beach California created its first bike master plan.  Now it has not only implemented much of the plan but it is currently working on an update.  This city, with close to half a million people, has a goal of making Long Beach the most bike friendly city in the nation.  Mayor Bob Foster is leading the charge, someone who in this case “bikes the talk” as I see him riding down the street.  The city has long had its beach bike path and the paths up the two major rivers, now through the community dedicated bike lines have been joined by what are called “shared lanes.”  Bikes share a traffic lane with cars instead of riding off to the side creating not only a safer environment but encouraging ridership.  By the end of this year, the city will have more than 120 miles of bike paths and lanes. In addition, the proposal will include facilities such as shower/changing stations, bike share locations at schools, parks, transit stations and park & ride locations; and ideas for proposed signage and bike racks.  “The BMP serves as a planning document that is used to guide future improvements to the City of Long Beach bicycle network, so that Long Beach can become a model community for bicycling. Moreover, it creates the foundation for bicycle friendly roads and bikeways which will serve commuter and recreational riders. The overarching goal of the BMP is to increase bicycle use from 1% to 5% by the year 2020.”  Besides the obvious recreational aspects of the program, neighborhoods are being connected, healthy lifestyles encouraged and fuel is being conserved.  This plan is a result of forward thinking city staff and engaged members of a collaborating community.   How nice it is to be able to leave the car behind and peddle in a safe and fun environment. http://bikelongbeach.org