PERSONAL INJURY LAW: New LA Bicycle Lane Unveiled in Koreatown

September 8, 2011

Los Angeles- City officials have unveiled a new 2.2-mile path stretching along 7th Street from Catalina Avenue in Koreatown to Figueroa Street downtown on Thursday, reports said.

Cycling advocates welcomed the news as the city said it will be slowly introducing more paths for cyclist. Officials estimate some 27,000 Angelenos ride a bicycle daily.

Statistics show that cyclists are not only middle-class white urbanites who can afford a car but choose to not always drive, but also transit-dependent residents who come from low-income minority communities such as Westlake.

Transportation officials said the state vehicle code makes it illegal for drivers to use lanes designated for cyclists.

Tim Fremaux, an official of the city's transportation department, said the new lane is part of the Bike Master Plan adopted this year. He said 7th Street was a prime site because it has relatively low traffic compared with neighboring thoroughfares such as Wilshire Boulevard. Bike lanes are relatively cheap compared with other transportation infrastructure, costing approximately $50,000 to $100,000 per mile, Fremaux said. The bike plan calls for more than 200 miles of new routes every five years, but some officials and cycling advocates said there was not enough funding to reach that goal.