A Failed Bike Path-Lincoln Boulevard in Westchester

The renovation of Lincoln Boulevard in Westchester between Ballona Creek to the north and La Tijera Boulevard on the south is completed. Lincoln was widened to accommodate increasing traffic on the route, and to satisfy traffic mitigation for Playa Vista. Lincoln is at the development’s Western Boundary.

One Sunday I decided to try the newly paved boulevard, and from an eastern route on Jefferson Boulevard, I turned right, south, on Lincoln, and climbed the hill. This was my second assault on the hill. The first time I rode on the sidewalk on the westside of the the boulevard, and then turned on LMU Drive into the university. It is a steep climb up Lincoln and through LMU.

For the second assault, I decided to climb the hill to the top and then turn east on 83rd Street. This time I took the lane marked for a bike path. Just north of LMU Drive Lincoln has a right hand curve. At the center of this turn the bike path suddenly ends. It narrows down to a triangle and then disappears, and the bike rider is then thrust directly into the vehicle lane just as vehicles would make the turn. Their momentum would carry them to the right, towards the curb, and towards any bicycle rider who had the misfortune to be riding on Lincoln.

The sidewalk also ends where the bike path ends.

This is an extremely dangerous situation. They are climbing the hill and their lane suddenly ends at the apex of the curve. A bicycle rider would be vulnerable since they would be struggling to climb the hill, and in such situations, their balance is compromised. Since their lane ends, without any warning, they would, just by continuing the only direction they can - straight, they would find themselves in the vehicle lane. Any vehicle also climbing the hill would have to move to the right to negotiate the curve, and to stay within their lane.

The bicycle rider would be winded, fighting the hill and trying to maintain balance, and then have to negotiate a vehicle which is suddenly in their lane. This is a very dangerous situation for the bicycle rider, and it is gross negligence on the traffic planners to create this situation, and just idiotic.

It would be no better if I just rode my bicycle directly into traffic in the lane next to me. And to do that is to guarantee disaster. Luckily I was riding on a Sunday afternoon in the daylight, and when drivers are in a better mood. If it was during the madness of the morning or evening commute with compromised light, I would fear for my safety more than I did on that afternoon.

Lincoln Boulevard is under state, Caltrans, jurisdiction, but Playa Vista is within the boundaries of the City of Los Angeles. Who is responsible for such poor planning and in creating a very dangerous situation for bicycles riders, LADOT or Caltrans?

Either one has completely failed in protecting bicycle riders.

Matthew Hetz