Some readers may be interested in getting bike lanes in Eagle Rock, this page is to help residents learn about what the LA Department of Transportation has planned for Eagle Rock and how residents can help make bike lanes a reality.
Los Angeles’ Bike Plan has ambitious ideas for Eagle Rock (which I have written about in detail here) but residents need to speak up in favor of, and say what they want. If it is seen there is community enthusiasm for bold ideas the city is more likely to deliver such. One can communicate desire to bicycle infrastructure or bike lanes in a few ways:
1) Write a letter to Councilmember Josè Huizar’s office: Josè Huizar represents the City Council District 14, which Eagle Rock is part of. Oftentimes all it takes is a question, a request, to let local authority know of your interests and needs.
2) Join the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition’s Neighborhood Ambassador Program: Click here for more information.
3) Attend quarterly hosted Bike Plan Implementation Team meetings when discussion items consist of infrastructure in Eagle Rock:Here is some more information about the BPIT (From LADOT Bike Blog)
What is the BPIT?
BPIT stands for “Bike Plan Implementation Team”. The BPIT was created as a program within the draft LA Bike Plan (Program 3.2.2A) to help bike lanes, bike paths, and bicycle friendly streets get built. The main goals for the BPIT are threefold:
- Provide a consensus approach to implementation of the bike plan
- Serve as a trouble-shooting body for issues getting in the way of specific projects.
- Improve interdepartmental communication and public participation in implementing the bike plan.
Adding focus, accountability, oversight, and public input to the priority list in the bike plan is a key step towards better, open government.
When/Where does the BPIT meet?
The Bike Plan Implementation Team will now meet on a quarterly basis. New meeting times will be announced in the near future. BPIT meetings are held in Caltrans District 7 Headquarters, California Bear Credit Union Community Room (first floor adjacent to Broad Plaza). These meetings are 100% open to the public.
Who is the BPIT?
The BPIT is meant to function more as an open meeting than an appointed board. The Department of City Planning is the lead agency for the BPIT with cooperation from LADOT, but the rest of the BPIT will be entirely determined by who shows up. If you choose to go, expect to see bicycle advocates, members of the Bicycle Advisory Committee, a few council office representatives, and maybe a representative from the Mayor’s office. Representatives from Metro, the County, or other agencies may be invited when issues that involve them are on the meeting’s agenda.
How does the BPIT work?
During meetings, issues will be identified, solutions will be created through a collaborative process, and various roles and goals will be assigned to City staff and members of the public according to their abilities. BPIT meetings will serve as a “testing ground” for projects in their early planning stages and help nudge them along the path to completion. The input of the public will be essential to which projects move forward first. BPIT meetings are planned to last about 180 minutes, and the agenda for the next meeting will be determined at the end of each BPIT meeting.
The BPIT isn’t meant, however, to simply oversee the construction of infrastructure. All the policies and programs contained in the bike plan are fair game for the BPIT’s attention, including focus on outreach, education, encouragement, and evaluation. Those members of the public who show up to the BPIT will be able to make sure the policies and programs most dear to them are the first to move forward.
Attendance at BPIT meetings is not mandatory to have your opinion heard on a particular item though physical presence is powerful. LADOT Bike Blog accepts comments regarding BPIT meeting items and approaching projects in the days prior to the meetings. I will notify when opportunities arise for community input to ensure that residents are heard. Feel free to further discuss thoughts about bicycling in Eagle Rock or what you want to see come in the comments section.
*Not included in the bike plan were the bike lanes on Fair Park Ave which occurred as part of a repaving project.
