Redondo Beach City Council, Staff, and Public Works Department 415 Diamond St
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Date: 11/4/2024
Subject: SBBC+ Comment on Bicycle Transportation Plan Implementation Phase 1 Dear Redondo Beach City Council, Staff, and Public Works Department, We are writing to ask the City to refrain from installing Class III (sharrow) markings along Prospect Avenue, Camino Real, and Palos Verdes Blvd because these streets with speed limits >30 mph are not suitable for sharrows. The original Bicycle Master Plan adopted by the City called for Class II bike lanes along Prospect and the segment of Camino Real east of Prospect.
Recently, we have published an update to encourage cities to adopt a higher standard of Class IV protected bike lanes in lieu of Class II.
The posted speed limit here is 35 mph and speeding is a frequent community concern along the wide streets. SB 1216 goes into effect in January and would prohibit painting sharrows on streets with speed limits over 30 mph. We believe sharrows can be suitable to provide wayfinding along slow residential streets, but painting them on high speed streets is a safety risk that only provides a false sense of security. Studies have also corroborated this, and this is what SB 1216 aims to deter. Incorporating protected bike lanes would provide a safe route for bikers and also function as a traffic calming measure by narrowing the road.
Prospect Ave could provide a crucial North/South connection across South Redondo as the Bicycle Master Plan envisions. This borders RUHS, Parras Middle School, Alta Vista Elementary, and Tulita Elementary School, which would play an integral role in building safe routes to school for children. In this region especially there is a heightened need for well-connected and convenient bike facilities that parents would be comfortable with their children using. With the growing popularity of bikes - especially e-bikes - this is an opportunity to prioritize safe and protected bike infrastructure to meet the demand.
Respectfully,
South Bay Bicycle Coalition Plus
[email protected]