VC Reporter highlights Ventura City’s big bronze win!
That streak of green Ventura residents are seeing along Seaward Avenue is nothing to be envious about, but rather proud, as the city has implemented the first in a series of safety lanes for cyclists. On Sunday, June 4, BikeVentura celebrated the lanes with an inaugural ride while also observing the city’s recognition by the League of American Bicyclists.
The city began installing the green bike lanes in April, beginning with Main Street and Mills Road, and have recently completed addition of the lanes to Seaward Avenue and Sanjon Road. In an April release, the city cited the National Association of City Transportation Officials’ Design Guide, which states that “colored pavement within a bicycle lane increases the visibility of the facility, identifies potential areas of conflict, and reinforces priority to bicyclists in conflict areas.”
In addition to the lane, so-called “bike boxes” have also been implemented. Bike boxes are designated areas at signals where cyclists can safely gather before proceeding and to safely make left turns.
Meanwhile, the League of American Bicyclists awarded the city a bronze award for safety, offering tips on how to improve to a silver award, such as adopting a “complete streets policy,” which would direct transportation planners and engineers to design with bicycle safety in mind and a suggestion to create a bicycle advisory committee. To read the full report, visit www.bikeleague.org.
For more information on BikeVentura, visit www.bikeventura.org.
