What is the South Bay Bicycle Master Plan?
The South Bay Bicycle Master Plan is an initiative which will culminate in a document that will propose a series of interconnected bikeways, bike parking facilities and associated programs and policies throughout seven cities in the South Bay: El Segundo, Gardena, Hermosa Beach, Lawndale, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and Torrance. The master plan will make all seven participating cities eligible for additional bike infrastructure funding and will be focused upon interconnecting the seven cities.
This initiative is a result of an innovative partnership between Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC) and the South Bay Bicycle Coalition (SBBC) and supportive efforts from the seven participating cities. It is made possible by funding from the Department of Health and Human Services through the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
Benefits of a Bicycle Master Plan
Making our streets more bike-friendly benefits all users of the road. The statistics below are just a few examples of how we can all benefit from more a more bikeable community.
Economic
- Improvements to a biking trail in Florida resulted in a $13,000 increase property values for homes within a ½ mile radius of the trail (ActiveLivingResearch.org, May 2010).
- After increasing bikeability and walkability along Toronto’s Bloor Street, researchers found that bicyclists visited their local shops more often and spent more in a given months than did motorists (Clean Air Partnership, February 2009).
Safety
- Bike lanes reduce passing conflicts between cyclists and motorists (Preliminary Design Unit, Oregon Department of Transportation).
- Provide space for emergency vehicles to safely and conveniently pass traffic (ibid).
- Create a greater separation between road traffic and pedestrians (ibid).
- Shared lanes and bike lanes reduce the bicycle fatality rate as users of the road become used to being aware of each other (Pucher/Dijkstra, Rutgers University, February 2000).
Health
- Three hours of cycling per week can reduce your risk for heart disease by 50% (League of American Cyclists).
- Childhood obesity rates are as high as 25% in the South Bay (U.S. Census, 2008), obesity rates tripled as biking and walking to school dropped by 70% (Center for Disease Control and Prevention).
Master Plan by City
Manhattan Beach
Redondo Beach – South
Redondo Beach – North
Hermosa Beach
El Segundo
Torrance
Gardena
Funding made possible from the Department of Health and Human Service through the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.