Summer keeps on rolling by, but even as the hot days continue, Long Beach has plenty of cool projects in the works. We’ve introduced new separated bike lanes on South Street. We’re preparing new speed limit reductions citywide. And we have new “20 Is Plenty” yard signs to celebrate.
These projects serve an important role in helping the City of Long Beach move toward its Vision Zero goal, outlined in the Safe Streets Long Beach Action Plan. This month, we released the first Progress Report evaluating plan implementation. Read more about the Progress Report below and access a copy of it here.
Also in this newsletter: find out more about the City’s new Bike Share for All program, share your thoughts on micromobility in Long Beach, learn how to request a bike rack in front of your favorite business, and explore the City’s new micro-transit shuttle program. Plus, we look back at May’s successful Bike Month and Beach Streets events. With sunny skies in the forecast, it’s a great time to get out and Go Active!
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We Need Your Input on Micromobility! |
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Do you use Long Beach Bike Share or e-scooters? Are you interested in Long Beach Bike Share or e-scooters but have a reason for not riding?
If you have thoughts about micromobility (bike share and scooter share), we’re looking for your feedback! The City of Long Beach is evaluating its shared mobility programs to better understand how customers are using bike share and scooter share in Long Beach. As a part of the evaluation, the City invites you to complete a short 5-10 minute online survey. Your feedback will help shape the City’s approach to shared mobility.
The survey is open now until August 28th.
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Bike Share For All: Long Beach Bike Share is $5/Year for
Low-Income Residents
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This spring, the City of Long Beach launched its new low-income bike share program, Bike Share For All (BSFA), which provides Long Beach Bike Share memberships to eligible applicants for an affordable $5 annual fee.
The BSFA program is open to individuals 18 years and older who submit proof of enrollment in a public assistance program.
BSFA members enjoy all the benefits of Long Beach Bike Share, with access to more than 800 bikes at more than 100 bike share hubs.
The application is available here. Applicants can upload paperwork showing enrollment in a qualifying program such as Long Beach Utility Assistance, Medi-Cal/Medicaid, SNAP/EBT/CalFresh, or other public assistance programs. Users without a bank account can pay in person at the GoActive Hub at 223 E. 1st Street, while users without smartphones can request a tap card to activate bikes.
A full list of eligible program documentation and frequently asked questions can be found on the GoActive website.
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Vision Zero Progress Report |
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In July 2020, the City of Long Beach adopted the Safe Streets Long Beach Action Plan, which outlines a set of strategies for helping the City reach a goal of zero traffic deaths by 2026. The 2023 Progress Report assesses the plan’s implementation so far, highlighting new infrastructure improvements and grant awards while also pointing to the need for additional action.
Despite the guidance outlined in the plan, traffic fatalities in Long Beach have increased since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, outnumbering homicides, and important goals remain unmet. Learn more about the ways Long Beach is implementing the Vision Zero action plan and the work that remains to be done by reading the report here.
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20 is Plenty Signs Available |
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In anticipation of updated speed limit reductions citywide, we added a new option to our popular yard sign program: “20 Is Plenty/20 Es Suficiente.” It’s free to request a yard sign and have it delivered to your home. Register for a “20 Is Plenty” or classic “Safer Is Slower” yard sign (in English or Spanish) by taking the Safe Streets pledge and filling out the online form here.
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Roadway Improvements on South Street |
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We recently completed construction on a new traffic calming and bikeway project on South Street. The new infrastructure extends from Dairy Avenue to Atlantic Avenue and includes parking-protected bike lanes, curb extensions, and upgraded high-visibility crosswalks. Funded through a grant from the Southern California Association of Governments, the project aims to demonstrate complete street design, reduce vehicle speeds, improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety, and create connections between Long Beach's Daisy-Myrtle Bike Boulevard project to the Los Angeles River path. |
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Have you ridden your bike somewhere in Long Beach only to have trouble finding a place to park it? Do you run a business and wish it were easier for your customers to visit by bike? The City of Long Beach installs complimentary sidewalk bike racks on the public right-of-way to help promote biking to and from local destinations. Residents and business owners can request a bike rack using an online form. City staff completes bike rack site visits on an ongoing, quarterly basis and will attempt to contact the requestor to verify the location is acceptable. The City has installed 78 bike racks this year alone. Let us know where you would like to see more!
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In November, Long Beach launched its free micro-transit shuttle program in two neighborhoods, Belmont Shore and Downtown-Alamitos Beach. Riders can summon the shuttles on demand using the mobile app or even flag down an available shuttle if they see one. As a 100% electric transportation option, the shuttles make it easier to travel sustainably, allowing visitors to park once and ride around the neighborhood rather than circling busy thoroughfares looking for parking. Some of the popular destinations served by the shuttles include Retro Row, the Pike and Convention Center area, the East Village, 2nd Street in Belmont Shore, and Naples Island. Riders should note, however, that there is no connection between the two service areas.
Each shuttle seats five passengers, and ADA-accessible shuttles are available on request through the mobile app. The program is funded by the Long Beach Recovery Act and operated through a partnership with Circuit. Service runs Thursdays through Sundays. The full hours of operation are:
Thursday 4:00 PM-10:00 PM
Friday 4:00 PM-10:00 PM
Saturday 12:00 PM-10:00 PM
Sunday 12:00 PM-6:00 PM
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Looking Back on a Successful Bike Month |
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Each May, the City of Long Beach celebrates National Bike Month with events and programs dedicated to getting more people out riding bikes.
This year’s Bike Month included:
- A successful Recycle Your Bicycle event, where Public Works collected 371 bikes to be refurbished and donated to local non-profits or recycled,
- A community meeting with more than 50 attendees who showed up to discuss the City’s bike plans and share ideas for improving biking in Long Beach,
- A social media Bike Month challenge that encouraged people to share accomplishments like riding to see a friend or trying an e-bike,
- The return of GoActive’s popular Tour of Long Beach 30-mile bike ride, with more than double last year’s turnout,
- Beach Streets Downtown, which closed Downtown streets to cars to allow an estimated 40,000 attendees (!) space to walk, bike, and roll,
- And lots and lots of bike riding!
Thank you to everyone who participated by rolling on two wheels in the month of May. We encourage you to keep the momentum going and make every month
Bike Month in Long Beach!
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Save the Dates! Bicycle and Pedestrian Counts October 19, 2023 and October 21, 2023 |
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Our annual bike and pedestrian count returns this fall during the third week of October. Keep an eye out in the coming weeks for more information about volunteering to help, and save the dates. Counts will occur in the morning (7-9 a.m.) and afternoon (4-6 p.m.) on Thursday, October 19, and at midday (12-2 p.m.) on Saturday, October 21. Plan now to join us and be a part of one of the country’s longest-running bike and pedestrian counts!
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Long Beach Department of Public Works
411 W. Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802
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Connect with us on social media! |
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