ASF Presents Bike Trail Alternative

July 12, 2005 -- The Arroyo Seco Foundation presented an alternative plan to the proposed LA County in-stream bike path at a community meeting at the Los Angeles River Center last night

Arroyo Seco Bike Trail Project Manager Eric Batman of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works opened the meeting with a review of the County proposal and the timeline for its development.  He stated that the County was interested in responding to concerns that have been raised about the project in order to improve the bike trail.

Melanie Winters of The River Project then asked some penetrating questions about the level of collaboration in the planning of the project and why the proposed bike trail did not conform to the goals of the Arroyo Seco restoration program.

Tim Brick, managing director of the Arroyo Seco Foundation, presented an alternative that calls for placing the bike trail on the rim of the Arroyo rather than in the Arroyo Seco stream. The ASF proposal would proceed along permeable pavement along the Homer Street parkway and through Heritage Square and LA parks land down to Pasadena Avenue and on the rim of the Arroyo all the way to Avenue 19.

The ASF alternative also proposes reducing as far as possible the removal of native trees on the route by gently winding around trees as well as an extensive tree-planting program to mitigate for the loss of any trees in the area and to improve habitat values.

“This alternative can complete both phases of the project all the way to Avenue 19 in a timely and cost-effective approach,” Brick said.  “By reducing the safety hazards of the County proposal, the ASF alternative can make the bike trail more attractive to cyclists and more likely to attract regular commuters.”

Other participants in the meeting raised concerns about safety and aesthetic aspects of the County proposal.  Dennis Crowley, long-term advocate of an Arroyo Seco Cycleway, suggested that the Calpoly Arroyo Seco study provides an excellent basis for an effective bike trail.

County officials welcomed the comments and criticism from the public and promised to set up a task force to develop a better approach but cautioned that funding deadlines require that environmental documentation and right-of-ways must be in place by September.

For more information, please contact the Arroyo Seco Foundation at (323) 405-7326 or info@arroyoseco.org.

Critique of the County Proposal

The ASF Alternative

 Background

 

Arroyo Seco Foundation, PO Box 91622, Pasadena, CA 91109-1622 (323) 405-7326