Make a New Kind of One-way Street

A proposal by Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky to turn Olympic and Pico boulevards into one-way streets from Downtown LA to Santa Monica as a means to alleviate congestion is a good idea.

As a Berkeley student studying public transportation and livability in LA, I support the one way street plan with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), but encourage and even demand that the city not stop there.

A nice bike lane should be installed on both boulevards, one that separates bikes from traffic. This would revolutionize the ability for bikers to traverse LA speedily and safely. Bike parking and traffic calming and beautification measures like trees and benches should be installed, and sidewalks should be widened and spruced up.

The cost of these additions would be considerably less if done in conjunction with the one way conversion, as the cost of shutting down the street, averting traffic, hiring crews, etc. would already be undertaken.

More so, the city would show its commitment to alternative transportation modes as viable attractive options for Los Angelenos who perhaps would choose to walk, bike, or ride the bus if it was faster, cleaner, safer and more attractive. LA’s sunny beautiful days and health-conscious culture promote active outdoor lifestyles. But our city planning does not.

By re-envisioning the boulevard as a place for people, not just cars, we could not only alleviate traffic congestion and pollution, but foster community, social interaction, and more personable streets.

I live between Pico and Olympic, by Overland Avenue. I would like nothing more than to be able to safely and pleasantly ride my bicycle to the beach, to the Westside Pavilion, Century City and beyond!

Alternatively, if there was a BRT line, free from car congestion, with BRT speedy
loading/unloading of passengers, real wait time displays and curbside loading features, I
would be happy to use it instead of sit in traffic in my car. Reducing car share mode by small amounts can speed up traffic flow significantly. So efficient BRT, bike and walking options, though they take up street space, can significantly improve car flow.

This plan would reduce CO2 and pollution emissions, especially if zero-emission buses are used. Less stop-and-go traffic reduces emissions, and we all know that biking and
walking are zero-emission transportation modes as well, except that they expend calories!

Additional foot and bike traffic from buses, bikes and nicer sidewalks would be good for local businesses and rejuvenate community life. Active streets are safer streets as well, with more eyes out, crime is harder to get away with. All in all, this plan could provide
a number of benefits to Los Angeles communities, reduced congestion being only one of them.

Daria Mazey
Los Angeles