Bike lanes were again the topic at the March 12, 2013 meeting. Steve Gaur, from the Department of Transportation, Bikeways Section was on hand with a map to identify proposed bike lanes to help complete the bike network. Lanes are proposed on Wilbur from Rinaldi to Chatsworth, on Corbin from Rinaldi to Lassen and on Mason from Devonshire south.

Stakeholders were skeptical about the need for bike lanes, ever since a road diet was imposed on the community with the removal of traffic lanes on Wilbur south of Chatsworth. One attendee suggested that we hold off on the bike lanes until we get a new mayor, who might not have the same priorities.

It was explained that bike lanes were being built as a part of the 2010 Bike Plan intended to increase ridership. PRNC Board member Sean O'Rourke located online research showing that bike lanes increase ridership on a street by 100%, “Lack of infrastructure is the biggest barrier to more people choosing to ride. When the City installs bike lanes, ridership goes up 100 to 200 percent within the next year,” said Jen Klausner, Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition according to the LA.Streetsblog.

Gaur carefully noted that these proposed bike lanes would not remove any lanes of traffic. They are identified for areas where houses are not facing the street and thereby parking is not needed. The proposed lanes would be in place of currently available parking. The meeting then explored the need for parking along those thoroughfares. On street parking would be maintained on Wilbur at Rinaldi for the medical building and on Corbin at Chatsworth where houses faced the street.

As a result of the discussion parking will be maintained on the west side of Corbin between Rinaldi and the 118 since this space is regularly used for Shepherd of the Hills Church and community events. Still under investigation is whether once bike lanes are put in, if parking can be made available for events like the Fourth of July.