The West Hollywood Bicycle Task Force has been created in order to further the City’s efforts to reduce vehicle traffic and congestion, and to provide opportunities to safely bicycle in and through the City of West Hollywood and in the surrounding region.

While several cyclists do ride throughout West Hollywood both for transit and recreational use, bike lanes are extremely limited, bike sharing lanes are not identified and too few opportunities exist to bicycle safely within the City.

The West Hollywood Bicycle Task Force shall be charged with preparing a range of recommendations, both short- and long-term, for the City Council to improve bicycle transit opportunities in the City. The Task Force will also develop recommendations for community education regarding bicycle safety, further enhancing the efforts of the City’s Public Safety Commission and Division.

The task force will be no more than 15 members and be comprised of residents, business owners, bicycling and transit experts and City Hall staff. The task force may also include representatives from Westside COG region (Los Angeles County, City of Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Culver City) who are also interested in developing regional bicycle transit solutions and programs. The term of service shall be one year.

Some of the goals of the West Hollywood Bicycle Task Force are as follows:

• Research and recommend best practices and models from other cities who have implemented effective bicycle programs, including, but not limited to designated bicycle lanes/streets, bike sharing programs, etc.

• Identify roads/routes that could be made bicycle friendly with modifications

• Explore and make recommendations for the expansion or modification of activities and programs that are currently in place (for example, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Bicycle Education and Registration [BEAR] program)

• Explore and assess the effectiveness of bicycle sharing programs

• Research bicycle parking options and other support facilities (additional storage, showers, etc.)

• Propose a citizen education program that focuses on street and sidewalk safety, particularly sharing the roads and sidewalks among drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians and engages bicyclists and potential bicyclists in cycling safety and rules of the road for cyclists

• Identify incentive programs that exist for employers/employees who bicycle to work; make recommendations for additional and/or more effective incentive programs

• Provide feedback on how to best include bicycle transit and safety as part of the traffic mitigation discussion/solutions for new developments.

• Provide feedback and direction on the City’s existing Bicycle and Pedestrian Mobility Plan

• Research and identify regional approaches and opportunities to create enhanced connectivity and collaboration throughout the region, utilizing the resources and expertise available through the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) and the Westside Cities Council of Governments (COG).

UPDATE: The Bicycle Task Force Report and recommendations were unanimously approved by the City Council on December 5, 2011.

• Bicycle Task Force Report