OPNC Provides Input to Pico Bike Lanes

At our August 4, 2025 meeting, we heard a presentation on the proposed changes to Pico Blvd by Severin Martinez and Eleanor Hunts of Vision Zero. The goal of Vision Zero is to eliminate traffic deaths, which are suffered predominately by pedestrians and bicyclists, by redesigning streets for greater safety.

The project is funded by the voter passed Measure HLA and is planned for implementation in 2026.

Proposed Choices

Option 1 has parking on one side of the street, and protected bike lanes on each side.
Option 2 has parking on both sides of the street, unprotected bike lane on each side.
Both options have 1 lane of traffic each way, center turn lane and no peak traffic options.

Choosing Option 1 or 2?

It seems that in spite of significant concern about the project, at this point what the public can affect is the choice of Option 1 or 2.

There is not currently data on the increased safety provided by the protected bike lane in option 1. So the choice comes down to the perceived safety of the protected bike lane vs. the need for more parking. What’s your pleasure?

Submit Your Public Comment

Now it’s your turn! Take the survey and share your public comment:

Take the Pico Project Survey here: https://ladot.lacity.gov/pico

Get more information and share public comment here: https://ladotlivablestreets.org/projects/pico

Presentation Deck Shared at our meeting: LADOT-VisionZero-PicoBl-Presentation

More information about the issues and discussion below.

Project Scope

LADOT is installing safety improvements on 3.5 miles of Pico Boulevard, between Crenshaw Boulevard and Figueroa Street. The Pico Boulevard Safety and Mobility Plan Project includes a lane reconfiguration that reduces the number of through travel lanes to add a new bicycle facility, new bicycle and pedestrian signal crossings, and other mobility safety features.

Reason for the Project

Between 2014 and 2023 there were 75 serious traffic collisions that resulted in severe injury or death on this portion of Pico Boulevard. Approximately 73% of these serious collisions involved people walking or riding a bike and all 11 people killed were pedestrians. Traffic deaths are preventable. We are redesigning our streets to prioritize human life.

Current Configuration

The current street configuration includes 2 lanes of traffic and parking in each direction with periodic left turn lanes, reducing parking at intersections or left turn lane from the left lane of traffic, stopping traffic flow. In peak hours, parking lanes are used for driving. Bikes and scooters choose between riding on the street in traffic or sidewalk. Google image of Pico and Arlington.

Board Member and Public Comments

The Q & A period was lengthy and included the following:

• The presentation said that the traffic study estimates that the increase in travel time during peak hours would be only 1-2 minutes longer per mile traveled, even though lanes are reduced by 50%. There were questions about the recency of the traffic study (2019) and the change in driving habits since the pandemic, as well as the validity of the estimates. Another traffic study is in the works.
• There were suggestions for switchable lanes to increase traffic flow in one direction during peak hours. This is currently only being used in LA at part of 4th street in Boyle Heights.
• Suggested to put all bike lanes on one side. This would not save space, as there are regulations about required widths of lanes and it would necessitate changing signals to prevent drivers from turning across flowing bike lanes and to line up with new lane configuration.
• Significant concern that there are not many bicyclists currently and that people did not know what they were voting for with measure HLA.
• Agreement that it would be great to safely bike to work, and yet that is not feasible when transporting sports equipment, groceries, children, older parents.
• Noting that bike lanes and road diets on nearby streets have created more congestion, and that this project would likely send drivers to Olympic, which is already at capacity. Drivers would attempt to use residential streets, which then reduces safety and increases noise and air pollution in neighborhoods. Scepticism that the environmental impact studies actually considered this outcome.
• Question about would there be bike parking, and note that there is a form to request bike parking infrastructure.
• Difficulty in seeing around parked cars when turning onto the street.
• Concern about stepping out of parked car into bike lane to reach sidewalk,
• Concern for reducing parking negatively impacting businesses.