See Who Voted For Obstructive Studebaker Rd. Bicycle Lane Bollards
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(Feb. 11, 2018, 6:15 p.m.) -- So...who voted to install obstructive green bicycle lane bollards along Studebaker Rd. between Spring St. and Wardlow Rd. LBREPORT.com opens our Amnesia File to provide details
By way of context, on Oct. 15, 2013 (when the 5th district was represented by Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske), the Council voted 8-0 (Suja Lowenthal absent) to update the General Plan's Transportation Element (renamed a "Mobility Element") with policies that facilitate increased use of bicycling "as a viable option for both work and non-work trips." The Council's Oct. 15, 2013 voted action doesn't mention bollards or bicycle lanes on Studebaker Rd. It stemmed from a staff recommendation to implement "multi-modal" and "complete streets" policies citywide.
On July 15, 2014, Councilwoman Mungo took office, along with four other new Councilmembers and Mayor Robert Garcia (advancing from the 1st dist. Council sear).
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Oct. 13, 2015: Councilwoman Mungo speaks in support of and makes a motion to approve plans and specifications for what city staff described as "improvements" of Studebaker Rd. between Spring St. and Wardlow Rd. and award a contract to a Santa Fe Springs firm in the amount of $1,245,065, with 15% contingency not to exceed $1,431,825 using a mixture of state and County taxpayer funds. The Council agenda item didn't mention or include bollards or bicycle lanes on Studebaker Rd. City staff described the Studebaker Rd. "improvements" as "The street infrastructure on Studebaker Road, between Spring Street and Wardlow Road, is in need of rehabilitation. The rehabilitation work consists of removal and replacement of damaged concrete curbs and gutters, driveway aprons, alley entrances and sidewalks; trimming and root shaving trees; reconstructing areas of deteriorated pavement; cold milling and resurfacing the existing asphalt concrete pavement using the environmentally friendly Cold-in-Place Recycling method; placement of Asphalt Rubber Hot Mix surface course; adjust utility covers and lids; and installing pavement markers, markings, traffic striping, signing and curb paint."
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April 2016: City staff begins updating City Hall's "Bicycle Master Plan" with various meetings, discussions and "public outreach" and city staff holds September 1, 2016 and November 17, 2016 non-voting Planning Commission "study sessions" on staff's proposed Bicycle Master Plan.
Jan. 5, 2017: LB's Planning Commission votes to recommend that the City Council adopt staff's recommended update to the Bicycle Master Plan as an appendix to the Mobility Element to the City's General Plan.
Jan. 30, 2017
: City staff initiates a change order (an action that doesn't require a Council vote) to the October 13, 2015 Council-approved contract to "provide all labor, materials, equipment, and incidentals necessary to install two hundred (200) K -71 green bollards (provided by the city) along the bike lane east and west side of Studebaker Road between Spring Street and Wardlow Road, as directed by the Project Engineer, for the lump sum cost of $20,268.98." LBREPORT.com is unaware of whether city staff informed Councilwoman Mungo's office of the content of the change order, the bollards or the bike lanes but the change order is consistent with the "Bicycle Master Plan" recommended by staff to the Planning Commission for City Council approval (details below) on Feb. 7, 2017.
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Feb. 7, 2017: The City Council -- with Councilwoman Mungo voting "yes" -- casts a fateful vote in approving an an update to City Hall's "Bicycle Master Plan" for inclusion as an appendix to the City's "Mobility Element" to the City's General Plan. The agenda item includes a detailed memo from then-Dir. of Development Services, Amy Bodek, that attached the draft updated Bicycle Master Plan with a Resolution establishing [agendizing memo text] "policies, programs, and design guidelines intended to make bicycling in Long Beach safe, comfortable, convenient, and enjoyable for all bicyclists." It called for "a comprehensive bicycle network of "8 to 80" bicycle facilities across the City, made up of a variety of bicycle boulevards and parking-protected bicycle lanes. The "8 to 80" network was designed to appeal to bicycle riders of different ages (i.e., 8 to 80 years) and abilities, with emphasis on providing protected, low-stress bicycle facilities for more inexperienced riders. The Draft Plan also includes bicycle strategies that identify implementation measures that the City should undertake to achieve its vision and goals." The Bicycle Master Plan states in pertinent part: "All of the following goals, strategies, and policies support the larger citywide directive to eliminate traffic-related fatalities by the year 2026 ("Vision Zero"). They are also in conformance with the City's 'Complete Streets' policy, which instructs staff to consider the needs of all modes of travel when developing any transportation facility." Source: Bicycle Master Plan, Ch. 5, p. 51. On a motion by Vice Mayor Richardson, seconded by Councilwoman Gonzalez, the Council votes to approve this 7-0 (Andrews and Uranga absent.)
The Bicycle Master Plan includes the map (below) showing the portion of Studebaker Rd. between Wardlow Rd and Spring St. designated as an "8 to 80" bikeway (for cyclists ages "8 to 80")
Image source: City of LB "Bicycle Master Plan" approved by Council Feb. 7, 2017, Chapter 6, p. 63
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May 5, 2017: Pursuant to the Jan. 30, 2017 city staff initiated change order, a city hired firm completes installing 200 K-71 green bollards (provided by the city) along the bike lane east and west side of Studebaker Road between Spring Street and Wardlow Road, as directed by the Project Engineer, for the lump sum cost of $20,268.98. The bollards swiftly become a neighborhood sore point. An online petition ultimately receives nearly a thousand signatures calling for removal of the bollards.
Dec. 20, 2017: In her emailed newsletter, Councilwoman Mungo states: "We did it! After much advocacy from a united Fifth District, we have convinced [City of LB] public works to remove 50 percent or every other unit of the Studebaker bike bollards." She added, "These green bollards are the beginning stages of the citywide bike infrastructure master plan and will be reutilized for other bike infrastructure safety measures throughout other parts of the city. We will continue to seek future initiatives to further reduce their visual impact, while maintaining the safety of cyclists and commuting school children."
