February 2012 Bike Lane Update

The Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council heard from the Department of Transportation at the February 7 meeting regarding the proposed bike lane for Porter Ranch Drive between Corbin and Rinaldi, near Toys R Us. The lane would be only four tenths of a mile, but it would go through one of the heavier traffic areas of Porter Ranch. The proposal calls for keeping existing traffic lanes in place.

The PRNC continued to hear comments for and against the proposal. One attendee noted that it was inconsequential whether an official lane was painted in or not, because bicyclists could ride there regardless. A frustrated stakeholder voiced concerns that the Council seemed to be against bike lanes and exercise. Another stakeholder noted that the proposal was in conflict with the Porter Ranch Specific Plan, which includes bike lanes in much of Porter Ranch, but not in that segment of the community. The PRNC is expecting to hear from the Porter Ranch Development Company with their thoughts on the proposal at the March 6 meeting, 6pm at Shepherd of the Hills Church.

January 2012 Bike Lane Discussion

Members of the Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council expected to approve a proposed bike lane on a short stretch of Porter Ranch Drive to “close a gap” in the bike lane network in Porter Ranch during the January meeting, but the project began to be questioned, invoking the recent Wilbur debacle.

Glenn Bailey, Vice-Chair of the Bicycle Advisory Committee of the City of Los Angeles presented the proposal to add a bike lane to Porter Ranch Drive north of Rinaldi to Corbin; this is the street between Toys R Us and the vacant lot planned for a shopping center. The lane would be four tenths of a mile on both sides of the street. There is currently no parking there now and there are two lanes of traffic in each direction. That would not change. The bike lane would be designated for the five feet adjacent to the sidewalk. There would also be a four foot buffer space identified between the bike lane and the car lanes, adding an element of safety for bicyclists. This would be the first buffered bike lane in the San Fernando Valley.

Stakeholder Dave Hasson raised concerns about the safety of having a bike lane in that location considering the volume of traffic entering the shopping center next to Toys R Us. He noted that bicyclists can travel up and down the hill using Corbin to Porter Ranch Drive or Mason and don’t need to use this short, but high trafficked stretch of Porter Ranch Drive. Another stakeholder commented that she regularly walks that stretch of road and has concerns about her safety from drivers not paying attention. Board member Sue Hammarlund suggested that the developer incorporate bike lanes into the new shopping center.

Board Member Becky Leveque was quick to state that she is not against bike lanes, but wanted to know whether the City had taken into consideration Porter Ranch’s Specific Plan and the development of the shopping center in the vacant lot when proposing this bike lane. Attendees started to raise concerns that even though there is a planned stop light for the entrance next to Toys R Us, future shopping center traffic could be so significant that more than two lanes of traffic in each direction might be required in the future. Stakeholder Irv Cohen admonished the PRNC to think ahead 15 years from now to consider what the traffic needs would be. One attendee asserted that once a bike lane is put in, it is impossible to remove! Board member Bright Aregs wanted to know if there was a legal requirement that the bike lane be implemented.

Several bicycle advocates were on hand to support the project, saying that people are going to bicycle there regardless of the bike lane and that bike lanes promote activity and are part of Porter Ranch’s image as the Crown Jewel of the Valley.

Board member Pat Pope divulged that he had expected to support the project at the beginning of the meeting but was now concerned about its viability. Ultimately President Mel Mitchell noted that the PRNC did not have the opinion of its largest stakeholder, Porter Ranch Development Company and would like to have more input from them and the Department of Transportation’s consideration of the new shopping center in the Porter Ranch Specific Plan before voting on the proposal. The board voted to gather that information and resume consideration during the February meeting. There are two other bike lane projects slated for Porter Ranch and the PRNC would like to consider those projects as well as push back it has received from the Department of Transportation about allowing street parking at Holleigh Bernson Park.

Please join us and weigh in on the traffic volume vs. bicycle safety issue on Porter Ranch Drive at our February meeting, February 7, 6pm, Shepherd of the Hills Church.