La Verne Bicycle Coaliltion

On Dec 6, 2021, the La Verne City Council approved La Verne’s first Active Transportation Plan.  On Feb 8, 2022, the Active Transportation Committee approved formally designated a sub-set of specific routes from the plan as Class III Bicycle Routes.  The approved set of routes use existing low-stress streets to create connections throughout the city.  Many of these routes are commonly used by bicyclists today, and this action formally recognizes these routes and encourages their future use and growth.  

While this first step increases awareness, it doesn’t create immediate physical change.  Each of these routes will be looked at again for further improvements as the streets come up for scheduled maintenance, or additional funding becomes available.  Additionally, many other routes and improvements are proposed across the city within the plan, further building out the network.  However, the balance of these recommendations will require physical changes (such as bike lanes) before they will be formally designated as bike routes.

A copy of the full Active Transportation Plan can be found here:  La Verne Active Transportation Plan

• 

• 

La Verne will soon have its’ first Active Transportation Plan.

La Verne participated in the First Mile / Last Mile (FM/LM) plan which was developed by Metro for walking & biking improvements around the new “L” stations in La Verne, and North Pomona. However, this plan focused only on the areas surrounding the future stations and did not provide a plan for the city as a whole.

The city has now developed its’ own Active Transportation Plan. The plan builds on the work of the First Mile / Last Mile and provides a city-wide plan. While not every proposed improvement will become reality, the plan does provide a guiding document for future decisions making. The plan also improves La Verne’s ability to seek funding and grants to encourage Active Transportation.

The plan will next go to the Planning Commission (Date TBD) for approval, and then to the City Council for final approval. At each step, there will be the opportunity for public comment and input.

A copy of the full plan can be found here: La Verne Active Transportation Plan

The plan was developed with the participation of Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, Pomona and Claremont. It outlines 3 primary options to develop comfortable / low stress routes for East / West travel across the region.

While one of the options is to create significant improvements on Arrow Highway itself, it also focuses on using Bonita as a “main street” route, and provides some additional complimentary neighborhood routes. The plan roughly parallels the extension of the Gold Line, and as a result, supports connectivity to the stations. It also builds incorporates and builds upon the First Mile / Last Mile plan approved by Metro in 2020 for improving pedestrian and bicycle access to the stations.

It now falls on each of the cities to implement these changes where possible. La Verne is in the process of approving its own Active Transportation Plan, which also incorporated all the components of the First Mile / Last Mile Plan, and will soon be developing strategies for adoption. Additionally, it is hoped the cities will continue to work together to see grants where available to create the corridor.

https://eastsgvconnect.com/#documents-section

A good article about a new eBike retailer in the area supporting the ebike growth.

Riding to New Heights: How E Bike Cyclery Thrived During COVID-19

• 

La Verne has done a great job of adding bicycling infrastructure across the city. Recently, it just installed several new “bike boxes” giving cyclists a more clear / safer position at some of the more challenging intersections, providing more clarity to both bicycle and vehicle users. With the number of casual riders growing, bike share planned in the near future, and Gold Line coming these are the small details that make a big difference.

An opening has become available on La Verne’s Active Transportation Committee.

The mission of the committee is:
Increase safe, attractive, comfortable, and independent access and travel for the La Verne community, utilizing best management principles and practices associated with mobility, complete streets and applicable State and Federal Traffic Safety Guidelines.

The committee is comprised of residents, elected officials, and city staff. Big changes are coming to to La Verne, including the adoption of a new General Plan(with new mobility elements), adoption of the first Active Transportation Plan, and construction of the Gold Line. If you are a resident of La Verne and would like to play a role in helping La Verne make this transition, you are strongly encouraged to apply.

Candidate Survey Question #8

Bicycle Friendly Community:  The American League of Cyclists evaluates and recognizes Bike Friendly Businesses, Universities, and Communities.  The program does not cost. The University of La Verne has been recognized as a “Silver” level award winner, the City of  La Verne has not submitted an application. In an environment where the university is intermingled with the community, it is difficult for the University to reach its potential without a partnership with the community that surrounds it.   
Would you be willing to advocate and support La Verne applying to become a Bike Friendly Community?

---

Mayoral Candidates

Don Kendrick
Absolutely.  Quality of Life has long been the guiding light of La Verne.  This would increases the quality of life in La Verne in my opinion.

Tim Hepburn
Yes

Zach Gibson
I would love to see La Verne become a Bike Friendly Community. The city is a great place to spend outdoors. I would absolutely be willing to advocate for this application, and believe that it is our duty to support and encourage both physical activity and green transportation whenever possible.

---

City Council Candidates

Jeremy Milici
I’d be more than happy to help push the applying for Bike Friendly Community. I praise ULV for taking their steps to do so and would like to follow their efforts. This is indeed an environment where our university is tightly intermingled with our community and I really wish that ur city had taken more steps to improve this relationship early on. This relationship between City and University can offer a great deal of promise for our residents.

I will certainly push not only this initiative but far more cooperation and partnerships between our local government and ULV. It is important that we use our city’s relationships with various entities to the utmost extent, with Civil Service as our top priority.

Kenny Chang
Yes, partnership with our local community and university is crucial and I am willing to advocate and support.

Rich Gill
If elected I would ask why this application has not been submitted. Please note that if we do not get three incoming Council (1 Mayor and 2 Council Members) with the same ideas it will be difficult to make any changes.
I do agree that if it does not cost and it supports the College and the community it should be an asset to be added.

Rick Crosby
Especially when there is no cost involved, this program could highlight our great City of La Verne.

Wally Emory
If elected I will ask the city attorney  if that would be appropriate. 

Wendy Lau
Yes.

Candidate Survey Question #7

Safe Routes to School:  Forty years ago over 60% of school children in the United States walked or rode a bicycle to school. Today, that figure is less than 10%. This decline in bicycling and walking has been mirrored by dramatic increases in childhood obesity.  Studies have also shown that more active transportation results in higher scholastic performance.
What do you see as the primary barriers to walking and biking to schools in La Verne, and what can would you recommend to encourage more active options?

---

Mayoral Candidates

Don Kendrick
This is a very complicated question.  Starting in 2011, Over 100,000 State prisoners have been early-released or through Prop 47, many felony crimes have been reduced to misdemeanors.  No city in California is as safe as it used to be.  Safety is the highest priority in families in any community.  La Verne is one of the safest cities around, but parents are still very concerned for their safety.  This is being talked about in YFAC meetings, on how this can be accomplished.  YFAC is made up of representatives from La Verne Police, Bonita School board, school counselors, city staff and 2 city council members.  We are hoping to find a way. But it has to be safe, or parents will not allow their children to rides their bike to school

Tim Hepburn
I  think that the biggest issue is safety of the Children and the parents busy schedule. Engage law enforcement and community engagement to have the parents follow their children on bikes or walking if possible to school

Zach Gibson
I honestly believe this decline is reflective of our current society. However, not only does this trend have the potential to change, but is in process of a switch back as we move toward more sustainable lifestyles and practices. While more of our youth stay indoors rather than playing outside, developments of interactive gaming like PokemonGo that encourage walking and exploring show a lean for us to connect virtual play with exercise and engagement outside of the home. I would recommend providing up to date incentives through both school district resources, such as receiving PE credit for biking x distances, recording daily steps on personal devices, and also leaning in to skateboarding and other similar activities that youth choose over bikes when analyzing these statistics.

---

City Council Candidates

Jeremy Milici
It is quite sad to see such a decline in physical activity for our youth. I believe physical engagement to be one of the most crucial components of a child’s well being. There are various reasons for this decline in biking to school. Whether it be the abundance of vehicles, concerns for child safety or an overall reluctance to partake in physical activities, I believe there are simple yet effective initiatives which can be taken to improve this issue.

First of all, I believe a parent’s concerns over safety may be one of the greatest factors in this decline of biking. A great deal of local news stories pertaining to child abduction along with increases of pedestrian related traffic incidents here in La Verne shape the ways parents view their child’s safety. Additionally, many schools are near main streets. I was actually struck by a vehicle on my way to school while crossing Wheeler Ave. on my skateboard in 2015. So it is instances like these which shape our opinions and concerns.

This is why I believe La Verne’s Schools should have a monthly “Bike/Walk to School Day”. If endorsed by our schools, families can be notified about which days this program will take place. We could have larger turnouts of children and parents reading together to school which will create a more safe and inclusive environment. Along with this, we can notify LVPD to patrol areas closer to schools in order to ensure more safety and better police relations. Students can be congratulated by their teachers for taking part and maybe even further swayed to ride to schools more often.

I also believe local infrastructure projects which encourage more walkable and pedestrian friendly streets and sidewalks can also have a positive impact. In general, a broader support of biking for youth by both our local schools and local government can greatly improve the ways families view biking and walking. 

Kenny Chang
There are many reasons for the decline of children walking or biking to school. one of them is the issue with the distance and safety due to lack of sidewalk or bike lane on many areas of La Verne.

Rich Gill
I remember in the 70’s and 80’s we rode our bikes all over the town. Going to school, going to eat, and to meet friends in some cases I rode from LaVerne to Huntington Beach with a few friends just to see if we could. That was before the internet and gaming consoles became such a part of our current lives.

It would be great to create programs to bring families together and riding at the same time.  Maybe have an event once a month called “Friday night Ride” where we block off a section of “D” street to allow just riders and walkers to enjoy downtown. Another idea for Grades 6th through 12th  is to use riding/walking from home as an extra credit for P.E.

Rick Crosby
I have been a teacher, Assistant Principal, and Principal for the past 23 years at school sites and even in La Verne, the primary barrier are two income households, and fear of students safety.  Being in education I am aware of the correlation between active students and achievement. As a site Principal, along with my PTA, we encouraged certain days of the month with a walk/ride to school event.  We had parent volunteers on the routes to the school for extra safety and precautions. This encouraged students to come to school on other means of transportation and then grew the riding to school community.

Wally Emory
Kidnapping and parent anxiety  is a huge issue. Parents protect their children by driving them.

Wendy Lau
I would be interested in polling/surveying parents/caregivers of our school age children to determine the primary reasons for why their children do not walk or bike to school. As an involved godmother and aunt, I know that some concerns I hear from parents are overall safety (strangers/neighborhoods, length of route to/from school, etc.) or convenience. I’d like to know if the safety issues are related to the paths that the children would have to travel (lack of good lighting, poor signage, traffic, etc. - things that can be addressed in the Active Transportation Plan) or something else so that we can determine what the barriers actually are versus what we might think they are. If the primary barriers are related to poor routes that do not accommodate safe walking or cycling, then we should evaluate how we can correct that.

Candidate Survey Question #6

Active Transportation Plan:   Historically, La Verne was one of the few regional cities which did not have an Active Transportation Plan.  The city is now in the process of developing its first Active Transportation Plan, which will be included within the Mobility Section of the General Plan which is also being updated.  
Have you participated in any of the public workshops or input opportunities related to the Active Transportation Plan?  What are some priorities you would like to see addressed and included in the plan?

---

Mayoral Candidates

Don Kendrick
I was a member of the General Plan Advisory Committee, meeting approximately 15 times on all aspects of the update.

Tim Hepburn
I have been at some of the workshops and am currently on the Active Transportation commision. We must continue to have open discussion with all of our residents so as we move forward we try to be all inclusive with our decisions moving forward.

Zach Gibson
I have not participated in any public workshops or input opportunities related to the ATP. Safety and accessibility are two things that need to be addressed. I would also like to see the accessibility of communal bikes (Metro Bike Share, and the like) and additions of bike parking in public/community spaces as well as incentives for private spaces and businesses to support and promote green transportation.

---

City Council Candidates

Jeremy Milici
I have not had any personal input in any sort of public workshops relating to Active Transportation. Though as I stated before, I do have various priorities relating to these topics. Ensuring the safety of pedestrians is a must. Along with this, improving the quality of such active transportation is a critical component to our City’s success. A focus on La Verne’s Gold Line stop, improving conditions for students to bike to and from school (through the use of a once a month “bike to school day” as I stated earlier, pursuing the creation of an attractive local trail throughout the city which will connect nature to local infrastructure and an overall initiation of Bicycle Gap Closure Projects.

Kenny Chang
I have not heard much about the public workshops in regards to the active transportation plan. as to priorities, there are many, but will need to see the current plan first to better determine properly categorize the priorities.

Rich Gill
Thank you for this question as well, I was not aware of the ATP until I pointed it out.  Now that I have looked at some web pages that had the information I can get a better understanding.  Traffic is our biggest problem people that are trying to head west on the 210 during peak hours have used our streets to reduce delays and increase the traffic along Foothill, Baseline, Bonita, and Arrow.  At this point, I do not see a simple solution. I would like to talk to the current committee to see what has transpired since their last meeting.

Rick Crosby
I have not currently participated in the public workshops but would like to see all the safety procedures which are included in the plan.

Wally Emory
Yes. I worked with a Pasadena bike committee on a path through Pasadena and South Pasadena down into the Arroyo and ending up in L. A.  The project failed. The neighbors would not sign off on the plans. 

Wendy Lau
I am aware of the development of the Active Transportation Plan as that was information shared at one of the Planning Commission meetings. I have also reviewed Kittelson’s Active Transportation Plan online map and like how the public is able to input their comments/concerns on the map. This is necessary feedback from actual users of the roadways and will be vital for evaluating and implementing improvements.

Based on the comments provided thus far, I think it would be prudent/beneficial to sort through them and identify the ones that directly relate to safety versus something like convenience or “nice to have.” I believe the highest area of priority should be toward ensuring that our roads are safe and accessible for all modes of travel and people.

Candidate Survey Question #5

Active Transportation Committee:  In 2019, La Verne created an Active Transportation Committee.   The committee is comprised of a mixture of Staff, Citizens and council members.  
Are you aware of the Mission and the Duties of the Active Transportation Committee and do you support them?   If the opportunities arose, would you be a good candidate to join the committee? If so, why?

---

Mayoral Candidates

Don Kendrick
I am very familiar with this committee, as I helped form it.  Muir Davis is the primary person and the best person to serve on this committee.  Another council member will join him. As Mayor and chair the Youth and Family Action Committee, as well as The Friends of the 4th of July, which takes up a lot of time, I would rather have a council member who has the ability to devote more time and energy, resulting in a better end product.

Tim Hepburn
Yes as I am on the committee.

Zach Gibson
I support the mission of the Active Transportation Committee. If the opportunity arose, I think i would be a good candidate to join the committee but If elected to office, I would want to attend meetings and support before joining committees overall, as to avoid recusal on measures and conflicts of interest, which in turn would be much more productive in passing legislation and policy that supports ATC.

---

City Council Candidates

Jeremy Milici
I am also aware of the Active Transportation Committee. I believe this to be a somewhat newly formed committee in response to the need to prioritize pedestrian transportation. Duties range from evaluating which sort of safety measures need to be taken to the evaluation of local policies relating to active transportation. I feel as though I would be a great candidate for this committee and would be more than happy to serve in order to improve the safety and availability of quality active transportation measures. 

Kenny Chang
I am aware of the committee and its mission, and I would be a good candidate to join because it not only requires planning, but also proper funding to improve or design an adequate transit plan for a historical city like La Verne.

Rich Gill
I was not aware of this committee until you posted this question.  I hope I can contact you to get a better understanding of this and the importance to the riders in your coalition.  I like to think that I am available to any who ask and if chosen to be on this committee I would ask those that ride to gain more ideas for a positive step forward.

Rick Crosby
I have read and aware of the mission and duties of the Active Transportation Committee and if the opportunity arose I would be willing to join the committee.  I feel I am a good candidate because I would bring awareness to the youth of La Verne and build a campaign on walking/riding to school. We need to get our younger residents to be more active. 

Wally Emory
Same answer as question 3.   (Complete Streets)

Wendy Lau
Yes, I am aware of the Mission and Duties of the Active Transportation Committee and I support them. I believe I would be a good candidate to join the committee as I am interested in ensuring that we have safe pathways for multiple modes of travel and all demographics. As someone who enjoys running, it matters to me that I (and others) have safe pathways to use. Additionally, as someone who also drives and uses public transportation for work, I think my input as a multiple modality user would be helpful.