Mark Bixby in fall of 2009 helping to install Patrick Vogel's Penny Farthling sculpture

On Monday December 19th, 2011 the Long Beach Harbor Commission approved a revised Environmental Impact Report that gave final authorization to proceed with the replacement for the Gerald Desmond bridge…including a separated bike path.

But this would not have happened without the voice of one person…Mark Bixby.

“It took one person with a legion of many behind him.” (Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal)

The story

Less than two years ago the City of Long Beach approved an EIR for the replacement of the Gerald Desmond Bridge that did not include a separated bike facility.  Mark Bixby looked at this and asked….”How can Long Beach hope to be The most bike friendly city in the nation if we don’t include facilities for bicyclists on this new world class bridge, which will be a vital part of Long Beach’s infrastructure and a showcase for the world.”

Mark took his message to everyone he knew.  He reached out to the politicians, he reached out to port commissioners, he reached out to advocates and he reached out to the regulators.  As a result of his work the bike path went from something that was a best a remote possibility to something that today is an approved part of one of the largest government funded bridge projects in the US.

What did Mark do?

Mark started by asking…what is the right thing to do?  He didn’t ask…is this likely?  What will it cost?  He asked…is it the right thing to do?

He then started enlisting support and gathering facts.

He went to a number of very knowledgeable advocates and asked…are there any laws that say “you have to include a bike path on this type of federally funded facility.”  It turns out that the advocates came back and said…yes…there are laws that mandate a bike path be included.

He went to the coastal commission…and asked…can the port sever an existing bike facility (there was a bike and ped facility on the existing bridge…all be it not a great one)..and got the answer…”we don’t think that would be appropriate.  The port needs to include a separated bike facility on the new bridge.”

He went to the local and regional politicians and asked….do you support access for everyone to the facility…including bicyclists?  And he got a resounding yes.

He went to the Sierra Club and asked…do you support access — and if access is denied…will you support filing a law suite and or protest with Coastal Commission?  And the answer was yes.

Mark and colleagues then took this to the Long Beach Harbor Commissioners one at a time. It is the Harbor Commissioners who ultimately made the decision on whether or not to include the bike facility.  At this point Mark could say….it is both the right thing to do…and oh…by the way… legally you have to do it.  And..not to threaten…but someone will appeal this to the Coastal Commission if you don’t do it…and the Coastal Commission is quite likely to deny the permit if it isn’t included. And baring that…someone will file a law suite.

The result

As a consequence of Mark’s efforts the Long Beach Harbor Commission voted to include the bike facility in the RFP and has now unanimously approved the revised EIR, which includes the facility.

Equally importantly Mark established a good working relationship with people in the port.  This allowed him and his colleagues to continue to have influence on effective ways of designing and implementing the bike facility as well as continuing to work with them on future projects that will benefit the port as well as the bicycling community.

What Can We Learn from Mark

AS Long Beach’s Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal said in her remarks to the Harbor Commission ”It took one person with a legion of many behind him.”

Mark was that one person.  But what what we learned from Mark was the value of enlisting the legion.

Share your vision: Mark took his vision and shared it with others.  In doing so…he made it not just his vision…but a shared vision.  He gave others the ability to see what possible..and then help to make it  possible.  Mark was never hesitant to pick up the phone and call people who could help shape the future.

Reach out to the advocates with knowledge: He reached out to those who knew the facts.  He enlisted advocates who knew the law and who could articulate it.

Enlist regional and national advocacy organizations: He enlisted organizations such as the Sierra Club that had clout and standing in the community.

Enlist the local and regional political leaders:  Mark reached out to the mayor, to the council members and to our state and local legislators.  He got letters of support and a commitment to champion the project.

Enlist the regulatory agencies: Mark reached out to agencies who’s approval was needed for the project.  Most importantly he reached out to the coastal commission. As you can see from the video below this was extremely effective with the Coastal Commissioners in effect saying to the port…”we strongly advise you to include the bike facility in order to ensure that the bridge permit is not challenged and potentially rejected.”

Enlist the decision makers: Finally Mark and his colleagues reached out to each and everyone of the Port Commissioners, who were the ultimate decision makers in whether or not to include the facility in the RFP and ultimately the bridge.  Again..the message Mark and his colleagues presented was…this is the right thing to do…and it is the legally mandated thing to do.

What is next?

As many readers of this blog know Mark was tragically killed in a plane accident in March of 2011.  He would have been very proud of what has been accomplished to date.  But..if he were here he would say..” He would have thanked the port and the commissioners. And he would have said

“This is great…BUT…what about that bike friendly port policy?  And what about the connection into downtown Long Beach?  And…Port of LA…it’s time for you to step up and help figure out how bicyclists are going to get across the Vincent Thomas Bridge to complete the connection between the Palos Verde Peninsula and Long Beach.”

As advocates…we need to carry out with what Mark started.  And as he would have admonished:

Go Big…or Go Home

The Port of Long Beach looks set to approve the EIR with Bike and Ped Path for Gerald Desmond Bridge

Another major milestone along the path to build a separated bicycle and pedestrian facility on the replacement for the Gerald Desmond Bridge will occur on December 19 when the Long Beach harbor commission meets to review and  approve the Final Environmental Impact Report for the bridge.

The revised EIR includes two elements, the bike and ped path and noise control requirements associated with pile-driving and drilling activities

The city of Long Beach bicycle staff meet with port planners and a representative of the California Coastal Commission to get a preview of what will be presented to the harbor commissioners as well as to talk about next steps in building the path as well as connecting it into downtown Long Beach.

Below is the wording that is contained in the revised EIR.  As far as we are aware this includes everything that the bicycling and pedestrian communities asked to be included.

PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF CONSTRUCTION, the permittee (Port of Long Beach) shall submit to the Executive Director of the California Coastal Commission for review and approval, one (1) full size set of final project plans approved by the Port of Long Beach, which shall clearly depict the inclusion of a Class I bikeway as described in Section 20 (Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities) of the Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Design-Build Request for Proposals dated September 2, 2011.  The plans shall specifically include the following:

A single, continuous, non-motorized Class I bikeway (bike path) connecting SR 47 to Pico Avenue.  The Class I bikeway shall be a minimum of 12 feet wide, and signed and striped for two-way movement.  The Class I bikeway shall be located along the south side of the main span and approach bridges, and shall be essentially the same elevation as the bridge deck.  Protective railings shall be of an open design that provides and protects public views from the bridge.  The approximate western termination point for the Class I bikeway shall be at grade in the northeast quadrant of the SR 47 / Ocean Boulevard intersection.  The approximate eastern termination point for the Class I bikeway shall be at grade on the west side of Pico Avenue, at a location across from the intersection of Pico Avenue and the off-ramp from westbound Ocean Boulevard.

We are assuming that this will be approved by the Harbor Commissioners.

But having said that it would be good to have some supporters/advocates in the room to show strong support for this amendment and the inclusion of the bike and ped facilities in the final construction. We know that Mark would have been there to ensure the commissioners got the message…and to celebrate yet another milestone along the way.

A brief update on the time frame for the bridge

The RFP was sent out to four pre qualified bidders earlier this fall. The bids are expected to be returned to the Port by February with final contractor selection in March. Design will take 12 to 18 months. Opening of the bridge is scheduled for March 2016.

As of right now it is our full expectation that the bridge, when completed will include a class one bike and ped path that fully meets all of our expectations.

Connection to the LA River trail

One of the things that is not included in the plan is a connection to the LA River trail. The path as currently design ends at Pico Avenue, just west of the LA river. The purpose of the meeting meeting earlier this week with the Port Planners was to talk about the configuration of that landing and how it can be connected to the LA River trail and into downtown LA. The next steps will be to meet the Tidelands staff, who may have funding to create this connection, and then to conduct a workshop with the port on possible configurations for the connection as well as the wide variety of bike related projects that are planned for the 710/Ocean Ave Corridor area.

Please let us know if you have any questions. And we  look forward to seeing some of you at the Harbor Commission meeting on the 19th. The meeting will be held on the 6th floor of the Port headquarters at 5:00. The building is located just south of the Queen’s Way bridge at 925 Harbor Plaza, Long Beach.

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.

At a meeting held at the port on Thursday March 31, Dr Bob Kanter, Director of Environmental Planning for the port of Long Beach, shared the wording that will be used in the bridge RFP (request for proposal).

Specifically the proposal will say:

The Project’s scope of Work includes the design and construction…of a cable-stayed bridge, the bridge’s associated approach and ramp network, and a Class 1 bikeway and pedestrian facility.  The Class 1 bikeway and pedestrian facility shall be a non-motorized facility constructed as an integral component of the cable-stayed bridge.

Bicycle and pedestrian facilities shall be consistent with regional bicycle and pedestrian plans, comply with environmental approvals, and accommodate existing bicycle and pedestrian paths and crossings and on-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

The design-builder shall provide a continuous non-motorized Class 1 bikeway (bikepath) and pedestrian facility connecting SR 47 to Pico Avenue.  The western termination point shall be at..SR 77 and Ocean Boulevard.  The eastern termination point shall be at the intersection of Pico Avenue and Ocean Boulevard.

A link to the full document is included at the bottom of this post.

We would like to thank the Port, Dr.  Bob Kanter and his staff, the Port Commissioners, in particular Commissioner Mario Cordero, Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal and members of the Coastal Commission for the leadership and cooperation they have shown in making this happen.  Six short months ago the idea of having a bike and pedestrian path on the new bridge was at best a dream.  But through the leadership of Mark Bixby and the cooperative efforts of the port, our political leaders, the Coastal Commission and organizations such as the Sierra Club, the local cycling organizations and the community…we will have a bike and pedestrian path on, as Commissioner Cordero says, “the bridge to everywhere…that is a bridge for everyone.”

The RFP is scheduled to be issued later this spring with final bids received in late 2011.  It is anticipated that the bridge, complete with the separated bike and pedestrian facility, will be open by mid 2017.

Under  Commissioner Cordero’s leadership the port has also been asked to look at implementing a bike-friendly port policy that would be intended to make it safe for people, such as port workers,  to ride into the port.   Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal, whose district encompasses the port, has suggested that this be included in the Long Beach Bike Master Plan, which is currently being update. Bikeable Communities will continue to work with the port and the city to help make this happen.

We are also looking to work with the Port of LA, the Los Angeles County Bike Coalition (LACBC) and the City of LA to explore options for creating a bike and pedestrian facility on the Vincent Thomas Bridge, which will allow riders to go along the coast from Palos Verdes and San Pedro to Long Beach and beyond.

Once again…thanks to everyone for their great effort to bring the dream of a bike and pedestrian path on the new Port of Long Beach bridge a step closer to reality.

The Bikeable Communities Team

Managing Director GDB Replacement and Bid Docs Regarding Bike Path Info Only (2)

View the presentation by BIKEable Communities:

http://prezi.com/guv5bnbbsge5/got-bridge/

Note: This post was published here, posthumously, for Mark Bixby. It originally appeared on http://asthewheelturns.wordpress.com/

Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal wrote to POLB Executive Director Richard Steinke emphasizing the importance of building a bridge for all users. And creating a public space with the public dollars that are being invested in the project. She called on the Commissioners and staff to consider the inclusion of observation areas from which tourists, visitors and commuters could step off the bike and ped paths to view the spectacular coastline and workings of the Port.

See the full letter here:

Letter from Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal to Richard Steinke

Note: This post was published here, posthumously, for Mark Bixby. It originally appeared on http://asthewheelturns.wordpress.com/

The March 14, 2011 letter from Coastal Commission Deputy Director John Ainsworth to Nick Sramek and Richard Steinke states in conclusion: “We request that the Port of Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners take whatever action is necessary to make the Gerald Desmond Bridge accessible to cyclists and pedestrians by requiring that separated lanes be a mandatory component of bridge construction.”

See the full letter here:

CACoastalCommGerald Desmond Bridge Ltr 3-14-11

Note: This post was published here, posthumously, for Mark Bixby. It originally appeared on http://asthewheelturns.wordpress.com/

Video footage and editing by Allan Crawford

Note: This post was published here, posthumously, for Mark Bixby. It originally appeared on http://asthewheelturns.wordpress.com/

California Coastal Commission, January 14, 2011, 9:25 am – 9:35 am, Long Beach, CA; Excerpts from Commissioner responses to public comment:

“In response to the substantial public comment regarding bicycle and pedestrian access, I think they are absolutely spot-on. In tagging along with the comments from Director Peter Douglas… in signaling to Long Beach and the Port about the Desmond Bridge, that even though that [Bridge] project is not yet before us, I think it is a healthy reminder that this is a standard that I think this body [Coastal Commission] looks forward to seeing that the City lives up to. And I think the that the trend across California, and as rightly pointed out, in the Northwest of the United States, we are becoming, in this nation, finally, very focused in looking at a Complete Streets model. And the Complete Streets model is delineated by the idea that when there is any substantial restoration of our streets, that part of that restoration include, not as an afterthought, but as a primary vision, that those streets are not necessarily restored, rehabbed or rebuilt simply just for the private automobile… or even just for transit itself, but for bicyclists and pedestrians. I think that the testimony today is consistent with my observations of my last few days of being here in Long Beach… So I hope that the comments here today are well heard by the Port, by the City of Long Beach so that when it [bridge permit] comes before us, it is not just considered a footnote of how important the installation of bike and pedestrian access is into the larger schematic that will come soon.”   - Commissioner Ross Mirkarimi

“I congratulate the residents of Long Beach for having the goal of making Long Beach the most bicycle friendly city in the United States… our own City of Oceanside is also striving for that goal, so we’ll see who gets there first. I have had the opportunity to attend the International National Livable Cities Conference in Portland, who also claims to be the most bicycle friendly city, and bicycle friendly cities – including separated bike paths – is one of the goals of the organization. Certainly public access and views are important issues for the Coastal Act. As Commissioner Mirkarimi pointed out, our Executive Director did address the need for pedestrian and bicycle elements for the Gerald Desmond Bridge and I thank you for your comments.”  - Commissioner Esther Sanchez

“I’d like to join my colleagues in underscoring the importance of this issue, and as the mayor of another city contending for the most bicycle-friendly city, I’d just like to say I really appreciate that our neighbors down the coast are enthusiastically approaching this issue. And I certainly agree, the issue of connectivity and access is critical to successive bike and pedestrian programs and I look forward to seeing this issue come back with the goal of enhancing both of those.” - Commissioner Richard Bloom

“I think you might be getting a sense from the commissioners here that this is an issue that when we do see [it], it might have been a bit easier if staff had taken a position to the responsible authority… the Port, that this is not an option. Can you inform us of the position of the Port;… it is certainly within the staff’s authority to propose to the commissioners, when we see it in the staff report, to make it a condition, correct?  - Commissioner Steve Blank

“Yes, I would imagine that that is going to be on the table.”  - Charles Lester, Deputy Director, CA Coastal Commission

“I just want to make sure; I think you have a sense of the commission? Is that correct?”  - Commissioner Steve Blank

“I do, yes.”  - Charles Lester, Deputy Director, CA Coastal Commission

“It is certainly appropriate for commissioners to express their support for the concept of bicycle friendly and pedestrian friendly means of travel and the importance of that for public access… but clearly, we are here to support and uphold the Coastal Act, which does require public access.”  - Commission Chair Sara J. Wan

Note: This post was published here, posthumously, for Mark Bixby. It originally appeared on http://asthewheelturns.wordpress.com/

California Coastal Commission, January 14, 2011, 9:00 am – 9:35 am, Long Beach, CA, Excerpted from remarks made during public comment period:

“As a small business representative in Long Beach, we support equal access to transportation facilities for pedestrians and cyclists on the Gerald Desmond Bridge. As an individual state and federal tax payer , I respectfully expect equal access to transportation facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. Please do not treat us as second citizens by denying us access to facilities we pay for.  I respectfully request that the Board require the Gerald Desmond Bridge to be built with cycling and pedestrian facilities.”   - Brian Cox, Jax Bicycle Center

“We are a leaseholder on Terminal Island, we have a new 15 year lease. We are building a multimillion dollar facility as we speak. Part of that facility we’re building includes showers, [and] lockers for our employees so they can use alternative means of transportation. All of that will kind of be for naught if we don’t have a bridge to give these employees the ability to walk, cycle or use some other means of transportation to get to work. Our company is an ISO 14001 [compliant]. Our owner, the President of our company, the health and wellness of our employees; it is very important. He is doing everything possible to reduce our carbon footprint. We have repowered all our tugboats beyond AQMD standards; we’re purchasing a fleet of hybrid cars for LA at this time… We have facilities up and down the west coast. Our headquarters is in Seattle; they’ve done a great job there of incorporating cycling and pedestrian access throughout the Port… it’s a lot colder, a lot darker up there, but they are using it [cycling] up there, it is a part of the culture. Same thing with Portland. We don’t have the bike access, the pedestrian access in the Port of LA [LB] at this time.”  - Doug Houghton, General Manager, Southern California, Harley Marine Services [100 terminal island employees]

“…There are 16,000 employees in the Port of Long Beach and Los Angeles combined; there are 6,000 on terminal island alone. There are 1,200 boat slips on [near] Terminal Island in the City of Wilmington. Without access across this bridge, there will not be bike and pedestrian access for these people… If you turn to page 10 of this document [executive summary of the case for bike/ped access], you’ll see that we’ve cited a number of authorities associated with the legal rationale behind putting in a bike and ped facility. There is DOT, there is California State, there is Federal Highway authority, and of course, there is the Coastal Commission Act, all of which specify in some cases be considered, and in other cases be mandated… If you look at page 11… I think this is the most salient of all the slide in this section. It is the California State [Highway] Code 888, and in this Code it says “The department shall not construct a state highway as a highway that will result in the severance or destruction of existing major routes for non-motorized transportation.” The key here is we’ve got a route here on the Gerald Desmond today. This law says, you’ve got one, you’ve got to maintain it.”  - Alan Crawford, Ph.D., Professor CSUN, Long Beach Cycling Advocate

“I have a letter of support here in favor of keeping the bike and pedestrian access… for the Sierra Club, from the Senior Director of the Sierra Club of the entire Nation… I just ask that you please mandate that our Port do this [include bike & ped] as they rebuild; they’re sending it out for bids right now, and if afterwards they sort of interject haphazardly some bike and pedestrian access, it is not going to be as good as if it really from the beginning of the design was there. And so far the Port has said they’ll really sincerely look into doing it and hope they might be able to… but that is no requirement… it is like me saying I think I might be able to make my mortgage payment on time, hopefully, maybe, I’ll see what I can do… we need this thing [bike/ped] to be really required, to be mandated, or, it may not happen… I need somebody to please be the authority to step in and mandate that we keep the pedestrian and bike access that is there now.”  - Gabrielle Weeks, Sierra Club

“I would like to comment on the need for a separated bike lane on the Gerald Desmond Bridge. LB Cyclists is a local bicycling advocacy, education and community organization with a 16-year history in this area. Many of our members are recreational cyclists like myself, but a significant number use cycling as their primary source of transportation, often by choice. We are disappointed that cyclist’s rights have been ignored, by not including a Class 1 separated bike lane in the plans for the Gerald Desmond Bridge. We firmly believe that this improvement, which is supported by law, should be part of the initial bridge plan and not be deferred for later consideration, which may never occur, and which would certainly be more costly. Cyclists in our community have the right to commute and recreate safely. Recent surveys show that many adults don’t ride a bike because of fear of motorists. A separated bike lane on this bridge would help allay these fears and encourage people to give cycling a chance and to live a more healthful lifestyle. Every time I drive over the bridge, I’m struck by the beauty of our coastline and the dynamic complexity of our Port. I believe that a separated bike lane will showcase these assets and provide safe passage for those who wish to pedal rather than pollute.”  - Tom Duvalle, Long Beach Cyclists

“I too bought a bicycle from JAX bicycles many years ago. I rode it here to this meeting.  When I was working, before I retired, I rode it almost every day to and from work. I am very much in favor of a class I separated bike lane on this bridge. I’ve ridden in this city for many years, and I don’t know if it is America’s most bicycle friendly city, but it is getting better. There are a great many health benefits of riding a bicycle. Bicycles also cut down on wear and tear on the infrastructure, they leave a lot more room on the highways for other vehicles, there’s less parking space needed, they cut down on the need for imported oil, they help clean up the atmosphere…”  - Donald Moore, Long Beach Cyclists

Note: This post was published here, posthumously, for Mark Bixby. It originally appeared on http://asthewheelturns.wordpress.com/