It was the second city Glendale officials have looked to for inspiration as they attempt to catch up to neighboring cities with more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure improvements.
Earlier this year, officials twice visited Long Beach, which last year publicly proclaimed a mission to become the most bicycle-friendly town in America.
“The most striking thing about both cities is their commitment to bicycles as a viable alternative source of transportation and their recognition that the more they can make it safe and easy for people to use bikes to get around town, the more people will use them,” Friedman said.
Glendale bike advocates have said the relative lack of bicycle amenities and safety concerns are likely keeping potential cyclists from hitting the streets.
In Berkeley, Friedman said, the bicycle improvements have helped treat traffic safety and congestion problems similar to those that plague Glendale.
“They are really managing to deal with their traffic congestion all around the city by trying to get people off the roads . . . and onto public transportation, foot and bike,” she said. “And it’s working so well that their bike stations are so jammed that they are opening new bike stations.”
A plethora of bike racks and other bike storage options is one of the improvements that Bogart said city officials noted on the recent trips. Others included miles of marked bike routes and way-finding signs and maps to help cyclists with their routes.
City officials were especially struck by Berkeley’s bike boulevards, where diversions — such as forced right turns — that were initially installed as traffic-calming measures have been used to shield cyclists from vehicles, Bogart said.
While Glendale is far from the sophistication of Berkeley’s bike network, strides are being made, Bogart said.
Public works officials have added bike racks downtown and begun to incorporate bike improvements — such as the addition of “sharrows,” which designate shared vehicle-bicycle lanes — into regular street maintenance projects.
Friedman said the biggest challenge will be changing public perception about the roads, which are dominated by cars.
“You can’t have both the safe streets and the complete freedoms of the cars as well,” she said. “That’s going to take a real understanding and a buy-in from the people of Glendale.”
