City Officials Push for More Bicycle Friendly Streets

The City has received $1.2 million in funding for its complete streets projects, intended to make Baldwin Park streets and neighborhoods more pedestrian and bicycle friendly.

A community meeting on Thursday at gave residents the opportunity to hear how the city is implementing its new transportation goals and street improvements.

There was also discussion of the proposed improvements for the northern Maine Avenue corridor. This corridor runs this Avenue from Arrow Highway to Los Angeles Street.

 “Tonight was an important evening, to be able to view and to hear about the various funding,” said Mayor Manuel Lozano, “I think that is a great opportunity for us.”

Residents had the opportunity to hear about a new policy implemented to direct the city’s transportation planners and engineers to design with all users in mind including drivers, public transportation riders, pedestrian and bicyclists, as well as older folk and people with physical disabilities.

City officials cited economic vitality, improved safety, reduced vehicular congestion, healthier children and residents, and cost-effective sustainability by intergrating bike lanes, and safe crossings into designs and street projects as benefits of the new policy.

Salvador López, Assistant Planner for the city is the initiative coordinator.

López conducted an overview presentation in which he shared the updates on the complete streets update and its implementation, and the results of partnerships with agencies like the California Center for Public Health Advocacy.

City officials said the Pedestrian and bicycle transportation program is ranked No.1 in the country, and this ranking allowed them to receive new grants, such as the Renew Los Angeles County Grant, which they combined with 2010 funds allocated for street improvements. The city plans to begin designing within six months due to a very aggressive timeline laid out by the grants.

Norma Olmos, a resident of 16 years and member of the city’s Resident Advisory Council, said there were safety and concerns amidst residents who felt it was time to take back the streets from an overabundance of cars.

 “I’m happy because of the various grants available which make it possible to make major improvements in the area,” Lozano told the assembled group of community leaders and residents, “I’m really happy because it’s been an opportunity to meet with all of you.”

 “I think this is a great way to kick off the new year, because you’ve all been key contributors to this program. Our entire community will be impacted by this,” said Mayor Pro Tem Susan Rubio.

During the meeting, youths shared their findings of the bike audit they performed as a result of their involvement in the Baldwin Park Cycler Leadership Program, which examined signage, road conditions and other traffic challenges.

Twelve-year-old Brian Corrales, a student at said he found cars come to close to bikers on Olive and Maine Street and asked city officials to do something about the situation.

Corrales asked city officials to continue working on street improvements to make the city streets more accessible by bikers.  “I want Baldwin Park to have a bicycle friendly district like Long Beach,” adding bicycle zones and signs throughout the city are blocked by trees and bushes.

 “Overall I’m excited,” said Lozano, “It’s an opportunity for us to see street improvements, in Baldwin park we have a lot of families that are walking out there, daytime, and then in the evening.”

 “These particular types of medians can slow down the traffic, can provide more bike lanes, and we’re going to have a lot more people on the bike lanes so we’re looking forward to it, and we’re excited, and obviously we’re going to be an example for other cities so that we may work together.”