City Bikeways Officially Opened to Bikes and Trikkes

Although unofficially open for weeks, the much-debated, separated bikeways of downtown Long Beach, CA, were given an official grand opening on Saturday, April 23, 2011, marking what many hope is a new era in urban transportation.

"This is a historic day for the city and really for the country," said Councilman Robert Garcia, speaking to an audience of over one hundred cycling enthusiasts, many of them on bikes, one of them on a Trikke Tribred Pon-e. "It's exciting, not only for the biking community, but for everyone who believes in shared streets."

The bikeways, a first in Southern California, span 1.2 miles one-way along both Broadway and 3rd Streets and have their own stoplights to better facilitate left turns by cars sharing the divided roadway. Unlike traditional stoplights, the bike signals display a bicycle that alternates red, yellow and green.

"We're putting it out there for people to test it," said Charlie Gandy, Long Beach Mobility Coordinator. "While we still have things to fine-tune, I think we're generally moving in the right direction."

Gandy also noted that the lanes have been used informally for two months with no crashes to report. "These are people that don't see a place on the street for themselves, but they do see a place in the separated bikeway."

Also in attendance were Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal,, Sumi Gant, transportation programs officer, and other key members of Bike Long Beach, the city's "bike think tank," as well as the oldest male and female cyclists in Long Beach.

"I love beautiful women," said 103-year-old Octavio Orduño, offering up a lone comment when introduced, getting in return a big laugh and round of applause.

Before the ribbon cutting ceremony, several speakers acknowledged the recent loss of Mark Bixby, whose advocacy played a major part in Long Beach becoming one of the most bike-friendly cities in America (with the goal of eventually becoming the undisputed champ).

"His chest would be swelling," said Gandy when asked how Bixby might have reacted to the days' events. "He would see the sort of community spirit (that he'd been working for) coming to fruition. I'm so happy that there are so many friends of Mark here today that are fully committed to following through on his vision, and who see this as merely the first step in a bike beautiful Long Beach."

For the new downtown bikeways on Broadway and 3rd Streets, the next step is surviving a one-year road test. Already the subject of hot debate in local media, the downtown bikeways are a temporary experiment, one that Councilman Garcia believes will succeed.

"I'm beyond hopeful. We'll fix any bugs we have and make them permanent," said Garcia. "They're safe, easy to get around and a great way to be healthy, too."

After biking through (instead of cutting) a ceremonial ribbon, city officials led the throng of cyclists on a tour of the new lanes.

However long the downtown separated bikeways last, today was a bike beautiful day in Long Beach.

And since the Trikke Tribred Pon-e was there, it was also a beautiful Trikke day in Long Beach, and a beautiful day for the new Long Beach Trikkeways.