LOS ANGELES (CNS) — In conjunction with Bike Week, an annual effort to encourage two-wheel commuting and bicycle safety, Metro officials have announced a variety of plans that include new bicycle parking lots.
Metro wants to create more room for riders to store their bicycles by setting up more secure parking lots, or “bike hubs.” The first hub — with 56 spaces — will be built at the El Monte Station. More hubs are being planned for the Hollywood/Vine Red Line Station, the Culver City Expo Line Station, the North Hollywood Red/Orange Line Station and Union Station.
The agency also plans to to increase bike-safety classes, implement a bike-sharing pilot program next spring and install more bike racks on buses.
In addition, Metro officials announced that $2 million will be made available each year to hold “open streets” festivals — inspired by CicLAvia — during which streets are shut down to motor vehicles to allow use only by pedestrians, bicyclists and other non-motorized modes of transportation.
“With bicycling growing in popularity in L.A. County, Metro is making the right moves to support increased bicycle usage on our streets and on our transit system,” Metro board member Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker said. “Every person who chooses to ride a bicycle instead of driving makes a conscious choice to help our entire region better meet its mobility and sustainability goals.”
The entire Bike Week schedule can be found at http://www.metro.net/bikeweek.