Culver City residents split over controversial proposal to install protected new bike lanes
CULVER CITY, Calif. (KABC) -- A proposal to add protected bike lanes along a major street in Culver City has sparked sharp debate among residents, business owners, cyclists and seniors, with many arguing the plan would either improve safety or create new hardships.
The city's "Better Overland Project" would install concrete barrier bike lanes along more than two and a half miles of Overland Avenue, stretching from Venice Boulevard toward the Fox Hills neighborhood.
City officials say the redesign is intended to make the street safer for cyclists and pedestrians while improving overall connectivity. Some residents, however, say the project would eliminate too much parking and worsen traffic.
"We need all the parking," said Culver City resident Monica Richardson. She questioned the necessity of the redesign, adding, "So they did a study, and it's like 55 bikes for 15,000 cars per day. So it's not necessary for here, but they just want to push it through anyway."
Others worry the changes could affect seniors and people with disabilities who rely on caregivers and service providers who need nearby parking.
"We have our own people here that live here, they're mostly disabled, definitely 65 and up, firetrucks come often, and they have to be able to get through," said resident Melinda Calderon. "We have people to come in here and have to work with them in in-home service. They all need parking... we cannot afford to lose all this parking because our access people that come are going to end up in the neighborhood."
During a recent meeting at Rotary Plaza senior housing, Mayor Freddy Puza told residents the project aims to make cycling safer for more people. "The people who ride their bikes now are usually 18 to 35 white males, able-bodied males. Why don't other people ride? Because they don't feel safe," he said, as some attendees shouted in frustration.
The city later issued a written statement saying it has "received meaningful feedback that has helped the project team address concerns and make adjustments where possible, while continuing to advance the City's goal of providing safer, more accessible active transportation options."
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Business owners along Overland Avenue also voiced concerns about losing parking.
"If people can't park here, what would happen? It makes the business bad because the customer cannot come in. So we make no money, we cannot survive," said Cam Vong, owner of Artistic Nail Salon. She added that the city should instead "put the money in the sidewalks."
Some residents, including Ed Conway, are now calling for the project to be put before voters.
"My pitch to the city council is to put this on a city-wide ballot and let the voters of Culver City decide whether this is a valid project or not. It's all I want," Conway said.
Construction on the first phase of the Better Overland Project is expected to begin later this year.
