From a cycling perspective there were two significant events at yesterday’s Long Beach Harbor Commission Meeting:

1. The Mark Bixby Bike and Pedestrian Path: The commissioners unanimously recommended naming the bike and pedestrian path on the new bridge connecting downtown Long Beach with Terminal island “The Mark Bixby bike and pedestrian path.”  We would like to thank the Harbor Commissioners and in particular Commissioner Cordero, who proposed the motion, for their support of the facility as well as their overwhelming support for naming the facility for our friend and colleague, without who’s efforts this facility would not have been possible.
2. A bike friendly port policy: The commissioners unanimously approved a recommendation for staff to develop a bike friendly port policy and to return it to the commissioners within 30 days.

A bike friendly policy is a big step forward in the continued development of green port policies and initiatives by the port of Long Beach.  The idea behind the policy is to provide a framework for developing infrastructure and procedures that will provide safe routes for employees and others within the port.

Bikeable Communities has already heard from a number of workers in the port, ranging from port staff to Longshoreman to boat captains…saying…”if we have safe route…we will ride out bikes.”  Many of the port workers live in Long Beach and the adjacent communities….all within a few miles…making for an easy bike commute.

The challenge of course is making that commute safe.  With the addition of the separated bike and pedestrian path on the New Bridge part of the “safe route” will be completed.  But that still leaves getting into the port itself where cyclists will be competing with semi’s.  Something that few want to do.  However, according to people who have looked at the problem…it can be solved…and most likely solved for only modest dollars.  Other ports, such as those in NY and NJ have recently implemented a bike friendly policy.

What the NY & NJ policy does is to lay out the parameters and directives for developing bike friendly infrastructure.  Here is some of the wording from the port policy.

The Port Authority seeks to provide its customers, tenants, visitors and employees with safe and convenient bicycle access and secure bicycle parking at its facilities, wherever operationally and financially feasible.”

The Executive Director may, consistent with the policy, need to take the following steps to advance this policy:

• Integrating improved bicycle access, safe bicycle lanes, and secure bicycle parking and storage into existing Port Authority buildings, roadways and other facilities owned or operated by the Port Authority.
• Ensuring that design guidelines for new construction and major renovations include sufficient bicycle access, storage, and related amenities to meet emerging demand.
• Developing multi‐modal transit hubs that encourage biking and walking.
• Removing any unnecessary restrictions on bicycle access, and promoting the safe co‐existence of motor vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians at Port Authority facilities.
• Encouraging tenants to expand bicycle access and accommodation.
• Coordinating bicycle facility improvements and inter‐modal connections with regional planning organizations, other regional transportation providers, and local governments.

If you are interested in being involved in developing a bike friendly port policy…let us know.  If you work in the port let us know what would make you feel safe in riding your bike to work.  If you have other ideas with regard to the use of bikes in the port…let us know that as well.