Active Transportation for an Active City

Southern California is renowned for its urban sprawl and car-centric development. In the bustling city of Los Angeles, residents and commuters from surrounding areas endure prolonged traffic congestion on freeways during peak hours. This leads to extended commute times and high greenhouse gas emissions that impact air quality across the region.

According to data from the American Community Survey (ACS), the average commute time in Los Angeles stands at 31.3 minutes. This figure exceeds both the state and national averages, which are recorded at 29.2 minutes and 26.7 minutes respectively. The majority of commuters make up 63.1 percent and are solo drivers. This emphasizes a heavy reliance on private vehicles. Notably, carpoolers account for 8.8 percent of commuters, suggesting a collaborative effort to alleviate traffic congestion and a desire to get to work quicker by utilizing carpool lanes on freeways. Workers who used public transportation (excluding taxicabs) make up 7.2 percent of commuters. Furthermore, a mere 2.7 percent of workers used other means to commute, i.e. bicycling. These landslide figures tell us that Los Angeles commuters are reluctant to use public transportation to get to work.

The map above illustrates that the major freeways in Los Angeles carry the highest traffic volume within the city, highlighting a strong inclination among commuters to rely on private vehicles for transportation. This significant traffic volume leads to increased greenhouse gas emissions and adversely affects adjacent neighborhoods. Notably, with the exception of Bel Air, the majority of Los Angeles neighborhoods with the highest CalEnviroScreen scores are located in close proximity to major freeways.

The lack of Transit Priority Areas (TPAs) identified by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) indicates a decline in transit ridership numbers and a rise in private vehicle use. Furthermore, SCAG's Plan Year 2045 for the city of Los Angeles indicates that only a few TPAs will be identified in the near future.

A familiar dilemma then arises. It becomes the matter of the age-old question of the chicken or the egg: which came first? Is the absence of public transportation and safe bikeways due to a low number of people utilizing them? Or conversely, is there a low uptake of public transportation and cycling because of the inadequate infrastructure? This intricate interplay underscores the complexity of transportation systems, where infrastructure development and user behavior continuously influence each other.

Transit-oriented development (TOD) is a modern and innovative approach to urban planning, seamlessly integrating transportation infrastructure with residential, commercial, and recreational areas. In essence, TODs aim to create vibrant and pedestrian-friendly communities centered around major transit hubs. By strategically locating high-density, mixed-use developments near public transportation centers, TODs promote the use of efficient public transportation. This reduces dependency on private vehicles and fosters a more sustainable urban lifestyle. These developments prioritize walkability, offer a range of housing options, and advocate for environmental sustainability. This enriches the overall well-being of residents while tackling the complexities of urbanization and transportation. TODs incorporate a progressive model for fostering interconnected, accessible, and environmentally conscious urban spaces.

Livable Corridors are a transportation strategy that aims to improve the connection between transit and land use. This strategy is made up of three key components. The first component is to increase the frequency of high-quality bus service, making it easier and more convenient for people to use public transportation. The second component is to create protected bikeways and walkways, encouraging more people to bike or walk instead of using cars, thereby promoting active transportation. Lastly, the strategy involves increasing the density of residential and employment areas around key intersections, making it easier for people to access the services they need without having to travel long distances. This approach can help reduce congestion on roads, decrease air pollution, and make cities more livable and sustainable in the long run.

Active transportation, such as bicycling, provides an alternative way of traveling for residents. Bicycling not only promotes personal health and well-being but also supports environmental sustainability and financial prudence. Bicycling also serves as a convenient "last mile" solution for commuters. This allows them to reach their workplace efficiently without the need to look for parking upon arrival. Additionally, bicyclists benefit from avoiding traffic congestion by riding on bike lanes, further enhancing their commuting experience.

To facilitate and encourage bicycling, the development of bike infrastructure is essential, and one key aspect of this is the construction of bikeways. In California, bikeways are categorized into four classes: Class I, Class II, Class III, and Class IV, each serving different purposes and levels of separation from vehicular traffic. The city of Los Angeles has a combination of predominantly Class II and Class III Bikeways.

According to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Class II Bikeways, also known as Bike Lanes, provide better safety for bicyclists in the city. They are on roadways and are separated from vehicular traffic using striped markings. Class III Bikeways, also known as Bike Routes, provide minimum safety for bicyclists in the city. They are on roadways but are not separated from vehicular traffic. Bike Routes often utilize shared lane markings or sharrows to indicate where cyclists should travel.

The 2020 Regional Bikeway Shapefile from the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) contains proposed and existing bikeways, defined by class, within the SCAG region. For this map, it has been filtered down to the city of Los Angeles region. It is important to identify which bikeways in Los Angeles are of a certain class, i.e. safe for bicyclists to use. The layer will also tell us whether or not job centers are serviced or connected by these safe bikeways.

Most collisions between cars and bicycles happen on roadways that have bike routes with shared lane markings or no markings at all, leading to injury or even death. The lack of physical separation between bicycles and motor vehicles increases the risk of accidents, as bicyclists find themselves in close proximity to fast-moving cars, while motorists may struggle to anticipate bicyclists' movements. This precarious situation fosters a sense of insecurity among cyclists and commuters alike, discouraging them from embracing cycling as a viable mode of transportation in urban settings.

Activists are actively advocating for improved bike infrastructure in Los Angeles, emphasizing the implementation of protected bike lanes as a crucial measure to enhance bicyclist safety and encourage greater uptake of bicycling. By allocating dedicated space for bicycles separate from vehicular traffic, protected bike lanes create a safer environment for bicyclists to navigate city streets, reducing the risk of collisions and accidents.

Class IV Bikeways, also known as Separated Bikeways, provide the most safety for bicyclists in the city. This protected bike lane exclusively designated for bicycles necessitates a clear separation from vehicular traffic. The separation may encompass various forms such as grade separation, flexible or inflexible posts, inflexible barriers, or even on-street parking, ensuring a distinct and safe pathway for bicyclists.

The installation of protected bike lanes serves to incentivize bicycling as a viable transportation option by providing bicyclists with a sense of security and confidence in their journeys. Protected bike lanes attract more people to bicycling by offering a safer and more appealing option for transportation. People who may have been hesitant to cycle in traffic are more likely to choose biking when they have access to protected lanes. Bicyclists feel more comfortable and confident riding in protected bike lanes compared to sharing the road with cars. This increased comfort level encourages people of all ages and abilities to bike, including children, seniors, and less experienced riders.

By providing a safe and convenient route for cyclists, protected bike lanes promote active and sustainable transportation and help reduce reliance on private cars. In Los Angeles, it is imperative for the city to prioritize the construction of more protected bike lanes while phasing out unsafe bike routes. This proactive approach not only fosters a culture of cycling but also contributes to reducing traffic congestion, improving air quality, and enhancing overall urban livability.

Southern California grapples with the consequences of its urban sprawl and heavy reliance on private vehicles for transportation, particularly evident in the traffic congestion plaguing the city of Los Angeles. This congestion not only leads to extended commute times and increased greenhouse gas emissions but also affects air quality and exacerbates environmental concerns across the region. The lack of Transit Priority Areas further compounds these challenges, raising questions about the intricate relationship between infrastructure development and user behavior in shaping transportation systems.

To address these issues, a shift towards transit-oriented development is imperative, with a focus on enhancing public transportation and promoting active transportation options such as cycling. Establishing Livable Corridors that integrate high-quality bus service, dedicated bikeways, and pedestrian-friendly walkways can help alleviate congestion, reduce pollution, and create more sustainable and livable cities. Moreover, prioritizing active transportation through the implementation of protected bike lanes underscores a commitment to cyclist safety and encourages greater adoption of cycling as a viable transportation mode, ultimately contributing to a more resilient and equitable urban environment for all stakeholders in Southern California's regional economy, transportation system, and housing supply.