Eyes on the Bridge: What Glendale-Hyperion’s Missing Sidewalk Means

Above is a graphic created by Don Ward to show just how crappy the Bureau of Engineering's Glendale-Hyperion Bridge plan is. The unsafe design was recently approved by L.A.'s Board of Public Works, and will soon come before City Council. Streetsblog USA profiled the board's approval as a sign that Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti's commitment to great streets may be illusory.

According to Ward:

The key decision-maker at this point could be incoming Los Angeles City Councilmember David Ryu, who won yesterday's run-off election. Ryu will replace Tom LaBonge on the City Council.

LaBonge has been an outspoken advocate of "Option 1", the city's plan to have four traffic lanes, two small bike lanes and one sidewalk on the new bridge. However, Andrew Adams, Ryu's campaign manager, read a letter from Ryu at last week's Public Works hearing that the councilman-elect would prefer the more pedestrian friendly option 3.

"This option has wide community support and many dedicated community members have been working for over a year and a half on this issue," wrote Ryu. "From sidewalk access for students walking to school, to families seeking to travel by foot to local businesses, I believe "Option 3" is the best option to help meet the mobility needs of our community"