LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The number of walkers and bikers in areas with safety improvements has increased according to results released this week of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation's first study on the amount of cyclists and walkers in the city.
“What gets measured matters,'' said LADOT General Manager Seleta Reynolds. “Thanks to this report, LADOT gained valuable insights into how people move through Los Angeles neighborhoods so that our investments can deliver the most effective improvements for people walking and biking.''
The study found that women make up only 16% of bikers in Los Angeles, but there is a 120% increase in women riders on streets with bicycle paths. Women also account for less walkers, with 40% of walkers being women and 60% being men.
The top walking location in the city is Figueroa Street, between Seventh and Eighth streets. Figueroa in downtown Los Angeles also had a 73% increase in bicycle ridership since the city installed the MyFigueroa streetscape project, according to the study.
The top biking location for the city is the Ballona Creek Bike Path.
The study also found that biking has increased 22% in the city since 2017, while walking has decreased 6%.
The study was conducted by LADOT staff, contractors and volunteers who counted the number of people walking and biking on Los Angeles streets at 63 locations in 2019.
The group was scheduled to count people at an additional 40 locations in 2020, but that count was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
LADOT said it will use the study to help guide its decisions on how transportation funding will be allocated and how to make streets feel safe and comfortable for everyone. The study will be conducted every other fall, with the next one scheduled for fall 2021.
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