Bike riders plant trees

SOUTH GLENDALE — As part of an uphill dash to keep pace with a growing number of bicycle-friendly communities across the Southland, avid cyclists and pedestrians Saturday took to the street to improve a key cross-town corridor.

About 25 volunteers dedicated their morning to planting 16 trees around Maple Park in Glendale in an effort to transform the Riverdale-Maple corridor into a better, greener pedestrian and bicycle route. About 100 new trees will be planted along Maple Street, Riverdale Drive, Rock Glen and Lincoln Avenue, officials said.

“It’s a lot of trees, and it should make for a really nice walking and cycling environment,” said Councilwoman Laura Friedman, who has promoted expanding the mode of transportation since taking office.

The push is part of a larger plan in which officials hope to overcome the city’s image as a commuter town, softening the barriers between urban and residential areas.

Too few bicycle racks and dedicated lanes on busy streets for years have dissuaded cyclists from commuting to work, school and shops, cyclists said. Some pointed to tri-city neighbors Pasadena and Burbank as outpacing Glendale. Pasadena announced an updated bicycle master plan that includes about 20 additional miles to a network that covers more than 50 miles.

And 14 projects planned for Burbank include a 15.7-mile citywide boulevard network and a San Fernando Path that picks up in Los Angeles and leads to the Downtown Burbank Metrolink Station. The plan would accommodate roughly 12,000 cyclists who work in the city but cannot traverse certain areas because paths end abruptly.

Glendale in the last year has added bike routes, censors and bike parking to street maintenance projects, said Colin Bogart, a liaison with the nonprofit Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, who is working with city officials to create a safe and healthy streets plan.

The city recently joined Pasadena, Hermosa Beach and Long Beach by painting stretches of sharrows — markings that indicate shared right-of-ways for vehicles and bicyclists — on its streets. Improving crosswalks and adding curb extensions are next on the list, he said.

Gene Gleeson, who regularly cycles to work, summed up the sentiment of several two-wheel enthusiasts: “’Bout time.”