The majority faction on West Hollywood City Council bucked the passionate pleas of residents Monday night asking them to put the brakes on a plan to build protected bike lanes on Fountain Avenue, instead voting 3-2 to accept a multi-million dollar grant that will fund the project.
Vice Mayor Chelsea Lee Byers led Mayor John M. Erickson and Councilmember Sepi Shyne in siding with the bicyclist organizations who lobbied hard for the Fountain Avenue streetscape project, which will hand them lucrative contracts for outreach and marketing.
Erickson, weary of the public pushback, vigorously defended the plans.
“I cannot tell you how many times I have had great cups of coffee with my neighbors over watching someone who’s mangled get dragged out of a car, seeing a biker who’s been hit by a car, seeing a woman with her child have to walk on the road because the sidewalk is not wide enough,” Erickson recalled.
During discussion, the mayor addressed concerns about the project timeline and the engagement with emergency services, clarifying that while plans were still in development, the Fire Department would be consulted once the project had more concrete details. The mayor challenged the notion that the project was a “done deal,” explaining that the plans were still in the early stages and that community feedback would continue to shape the outcome.
City planners provided additional context, explaining that the Fountain Avenue project was still in the initial phase of planning and that more community outreach would be conducted before final decisions were made. They acknowledged the complexity of communicating effectively with the public about long-term projects and emphasized the importance of continued engagement with residents.
“Truth is important,” Erickson said. “What I heard being said by staff is that the project is not even anywhere near done yet. There’s still community outreach. The problem that’s happening is there is a lot of misinformation out there, and that’s unfortunate. People are being misinformed for whatever reason that serves their best interests. That’s okay. We’re all trying to live our lives and take in information where it is. For individuals that just found out about this yesterday — that’s unfortunate because we want to make sure everyone has all the facts because facts still matter in 2024.”
But Councilmembers Lauren Meister and John Heilman shared the reservations about he project held by many residents.
Meister raised questions about the composition of the steering committee responsible for the project, asking why the focus had shifted to sidewalks rather than the overall plan. The planners confirmed that the steering committee included a mix of professionals and residents, but there was some concern about whether all members truly represented West Hollywood, as one member resided in Los Angeles.
Meister questioned why additional members were being added after the initial phase, suggesting the original committee may have been biased toward pro-bicycle lane individuals. The conversation touched on the process for selecting members, whether public notice was given, and whether the city had followed the proper procedures outlined in their directions from previous meetings.
There was also concern about the involvement of the WeHo Bicycle Coalition in outreach efforts, particularly regarding its neutrality. The grant application indicated that Bike LA (BLA) would handle outreach, which raised questions, as the council had previously requested a neutral party be responsible for engaging the public. Additionally, the application mentioned that the identified population for outreach included seniors and disabled people. Meister asked how bike lanes would address the needs of these groups, particularly in light of the loss of 200 parking spaces.
City staff explained that outreach had been conducted in line with council direction and that the committee’s makeup included individuals with relevant skill sets, such as environmental consultants and sustainable planners. However, Meister argued that the process did not follow through on the promise to ensure a streetscape project was developed with input from all stakeholders, including those affected by parking loss.
The conversation also highlighted issues with transparency and communication, as Meister mentioned that longtime residents and homeowners were not included in the steering committee or notified about significant changes. Staff clarified that the city’s approach was based on earlier Council directions, and they had followed through with the plan as instructed.
Councilmember John Heilman summed up his opposition to the proposal thusly:
“I don’t want to say no to money from the state, but I don’t want to accept money with a commitment to implement bike lanes that I don’t support — and a lot of people in the community don’t support,” Heilman said. “There’s not resolution, and I don’t think in fairness we should go forward with that aspect of the grant money until we actually have a consensus within the community. This is a major, major change on Fountain. … I think telling people ‘you should just be unified and get on board’ doesn’t make sense and doesn’t take into account their legitimate concerns about this bike lane project.”
Byers sought to refocus the discussion as a positive development.
“I think in looking at it through the lens of streetscape redesign, of taking seriously the longstanding complaints we heard about Fountain, the dangers it holds, and this opportunity we’ve long sought to build this east-west route, Fountain becomes a perfect marriage of opportunity,” Byers said. “When you look around communities across the United States, around the world, that have made this transition, the increase in ridership is tremendous. … But getting on a bike to go all the way east feels like a challenge most days. I think when those of us who see and have that bike lane, we start to choose it.”
PUBLIC COMMENT
Genevieve Morrill, representing the Chamber of Commerce, expressed opposition to the proposed grant for the bike lanes on Fountain Avenue, citing the lack of outreach, data, and consideration of potential negative impacts on parking and businesses. Morrill stated that while they had initially supported the grant for multimodal transportation development, the absence of comprehensive data has left their position unchanged, as the presentation to their Government Affairs Committee lacked critical information. She reiterated that the Chamber cannot support the project without further clarity and data.
Tod Hallman, a former East Side Neighborhood Watch captain, explained that he had been asked by staff to write a letter of support for the project, believing it was merely for potential approval of a grant. Hallman claimed that he never endorsed the initiative and complained that his involvement has since caused him unnecessary political attention.
Kevin Burton, a representative of the West Hollywood Bicycle Coalition, commended staff for securing the competitive grant and emphasized its importance in funding a variety of projects like Vision Zero and bicycle lanes. Burton highlighted the city’s lag in implementing its 2017 Bicycle-Pedestrian Mobility Plan, mentioning that despite the plan’s approval, only minimal progress has been made. He stressed that this grant would help resolve funding challenges and create a more connected network of bike lanes, which would encourage more residents to bike around the city.
Laura Batti, a resident living near Fountain Avenue, opposed the bike lanes and offered a different perspective. Batti noted that West Hollywood is not like bike-friendly cities such as Amsterdam or Copenhagen. She shared her concerns about the lack of demand for bike lanes and the potential traffic disruption caused by their installation. Batti humorously commented on those who believe the bike lanes would lead to reduced car usage, suggesting that they may be overly optimistic. She also warned of potential increases in traffic on surrounding streets and the danger posed to pedestrians and cyclists due to displaced drivers seeking alternative routes.
David Eyer, another Fountain Avenue resident, also opposed the grant, expressing confusion about the specifics of the city’s agreement regarding the project’s requirements. Eyer emphasized the importance of transparency and noted that some letters supporting the grant had been proven invalid. He questioned the lack of community involvement in the early stages of the project, particularly the exclusion of Fountain Avenue residents. Eyer also critiqued the logic behind reducing lanes to lower emissions, suggesting that increased congestion would have the opposite effect.
Kimberly, a resident living just south of Fountain, raised concerns about the impact of the project on parking, particularly for residents of Hayworth House, a senior housing building with limited parking spaces. She pointed out the challenges caregivers and residents face in finding parking and emphasized that removing parking on Fountain would exacerbate the situation. Kimberly also highlighted the increased danger on side streets due to frustrated drivers speeding through residential areas and urged the Council to consider safety measures like traffic-calming solutions.
Stephanie Harker echoed the opposition, pointing out that while many residents support wider sidewalks and electric vehicles, there was no community support for bike lanes, particularly on Fountain Avenue. Harker noted that the $8.2 million grant application misleadingly claimed that the community backed the bike lanes. She emphasized that the project would remove 56% of street parking on certain stretches of Fountain Avenue, which was not disclosed to residents. Harker criticized the exclusion of residents from the steering committee and urged the Council to reconsider the grant application.
George Nickle raised concerns about the lack of consultation with emergency services regarding the project. Nickel shared that the assistant chief of L.A. County had not been briefed on the bike lanes and referenced the dangers reduced response times could pose in emergencies. He cited the tragic example of Paradise, California, where bike lanes impeded evacuation during wildfires. Nickel urged the Council to engage with first responders and reconsider the project’s potential impact on public safety.
David Lewis expressed confusion about the city’s parking policies. He recounted how, years earlier, the city proposed removing a park for parking, a suggestion he and his neighbors opposed. Now, the city seems to want to reduce parking by 60%. He voiced concerns about the project’s impact on local businesses, response times for emergency services, and the proposed bike lane on Garden Street, which he noted is a crucial route for emergency vehicles. He questioned the city’s lack of community consultation and the potential dangers the plan poses to public safety.
Brand Coffman took a different stance, emphasizing the need for change, even if it’s challenging. She pointed out that resistance to new transportation measures is nothing new, citing historical opposition to carpooling in Los Angeles. Coffman argued that the proposed changes, including bike lanes, would make streets safer and encourage alternative transit options, ultimately reducing greenhouse gas emissions. She criticized the focus on parking and traffic concerns, urging the city to prioritize safety and sustainability.
Sun Su, a nurse and longtime bicycle commuter, urged the council to support the project, emphasizing the importance of safety and mobility for cyclists and pedestrians. Su noted that public space should be used for public benefit, not to store private vehicles. She called for prioritizing transit, walking, and biking over single-occupancy car use.
Zekiah Wright expressed frustration over what they perceived as the predetermined outcome of the vote. Wright criticized the lack of community involvement in the planning process and pointed out that many of his neighbors were unaware of the project. While supportive of bike lanes in general, they argued that the current proposal is flawed. Wright, a candidate in the City Council race, ended by encouraging voters to elect new councilmembers who would listen to the community.
Mimi H., a Los Angeles resident, shared her positive experiences of biking in the city, despite the challenges. She supported the bike lanes on Fountain Avenue and other streets, describing them as a way to make West Hollywood more accessible and enjoyable. Mimi highlighted the potential of the new bike lanes to improve safety and promote healthier, more environmentally friendly transportation options.
Helen Kreer, a West Hollywood resident, shared her experiences living near Fountain Avenue. She described the dangers posed by speeding drivers and road rage incidents, even recounting a fatal altercation she witnessed. Kreer emphasized the need to redesign the street to make it safer for all users, including drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. She urged the council to approve the project and reduce preventable deaths on the street.
Jordan Beard, another resident, echoed Kreer’s sentiments, emphasizing the need for safer streets in West Hollywood. Beard noted that the city’s current road design prioritizes cars at the expense of cyclists, pedestrians, and disabled individuals. They argued that the solution to traffic problems is not to add lanes but to encourage alternative transportation options. Beard supported the project, urging the council to reclaim the streets for the benefit of all residents, not just drivers.
Summer, a resident near Gardner Street, also supported the project. She shared their difficulties with biking on Fountain Avenue due to aggressive drivers and unsafe road conditions. Summer emphasized that the current design of Fountain Avenue treats it like a major street rather than the residential road it is. They expressed hope that the new project would make the street safer for both cyclists and pedestrians.
Claire Schmid, a long-time West Hollywood resident, spoke about the unsafe conditions on Fountain Avenue, including narrow sidewalks and speeding cars. She shared her desire to bike but expressed discomfort due to the lack of bike lanes. Schmid argued that protected bike lanes would not only reduce fatalities but also promote mental and physical health. She urged the council to accept the $8.2 million in state funding for the project, believing that West Hollywood has the potential to be more than just a city dominated by cars.
David Sarisan, a Fountain Avenue resident, voiced concerns about the lack of communication with the community regarding the project. He questioned the practicality of installing bike lanes on a street that sees 32,000 cars daily and highlighted the impact on traffic flow and surrounding streets like Sunset and Santa Monica Boulevards. While Sarisan supported the broader goals of the project, he felt disappointed by the lack of adequate consultation and communication with residents.
Cathy Blaivas, another speaker, focused on the integrity of the grant application, emphasizing that the community was repeatedly told there was no concrete plan. She pointed out that the grant application claimed there was community outreach and support, which she argued was misleading. Blaivas stressed the need for honest communication and outreach, especially concerning the potential loss of parking on Garden Street. She urged the council not to accept the grant under these conditions.
Henry Gilbert, an avid cyclist, supported the bike lanes, noting the dangerous conditions on Fountain Avenue due to speeding cars and inadequate bike infrastructure. He argued that the absence of cyclists on Fountain was due to safety concerns, not a lack of interest. Gilbert urged the council to prioritize people over parking and to accept the grant to improve safety for cyclists in the city.
Steve Breno and Steve Martin raised concerns about the consultation process and the potential loss of parking spaces. Martin, in particular, criticized the lack of involvement from Neighborhood Watch board members and the city’s reliance on “free money” from the grant. He argued that the project lacked proper studies and input from emergency services, and he predicted that residents would vote for new council members in November who would repeal the project. Martin also highlighted the significant loss of parking, which he believed would negatively impact residents.
Cynthia Blatt, a 32-year resident, criticized the grant application for internal contradictions and a lack of robust community outreach. She took issue with Mayor John M. Erickson’s comments about the grant being “free money” and expressed concern about the lack of detailed budgets, timelines, and data collection for the project. Blatt argued that the council’s responsibility was to serve the people who elected them, not to prioritize personal choices over community needs.
Rick Watts, another speaker, voiced opposition to the Fountain project, criticizing it for being driven by ideology rather than practicality. Watts questioned the lack of consultation with residents and raised concerns about the impact on parking and traffic, especially the possibility of diverting traffic from Fountain Avenue to already congested roads like Santa Monica Boulevard. He emphasized the need to consider the reality of a car-dependent culture, particularly for those unable to use bikes or scooters.
Yet another reason to vote John Erickson out of office on November 5th!
I want to commute on my electric pogo stick. Where’s my dedicated lane?
So many anti-bike people you’d think West Hollywood was in Texas!
Not anti-bike just anti-stupidity. You don’t create a situation where you lose parking, create congestion on the road that also hampers emergency vehicles all to accommodate some bike riders. You add bike lanes where it makes sense. On this Avenue it does not. To say that people are anti-bicycle because they’re against this idea is ludicrous.
It doesn’t “make sense” for Fountain to be used as an arterial road for speeding car drivers when its mostly residential. Fountain Ave needs to have wider sidewalks and bike lanes over the convenience of mostly single occupant car drivers. Bike lanes DO NOT hamper emergency vehicles, it’s car drivers that slow them down by not getting out of the way.
They have a litany of rehearsed lies and assumptions. When those don’t work they simply call us names.
JF1: you don’t get it re: car dependency and lack of safe & efficient proper alternatives. Not only are your points wrong (except the losing parking spots part) and/or unsubstantiated but you miss the bigger picture of induced demand, ie. decongestion. Its the ONLY long term way to decongest a city. The opposite of what you suggest. That’s before you get to the numerous other benefits!
You are not stuck in traffic. You are traffic.
It definitely seems odd given how “progressive” West Hollywood is, but I was pleasantly surprised how many people voiced their support at the meeting for safer streets and improved bike infrastructure in West Hollywood.
There have been at least three major events that could serve as a rallying cry: 1)The squatting situations that lead to fires on North Sierra Bonita and later on Fountain Avenue. 2)The deliberate delay by the City Council to submit a Housing Element Plan on time, which opened West Hollywood up to oversized, Builder’s Remedy developments. 3) The bike lanes on Fountain Avenue.
Neighbors in these areas of West Hollywood are angry and motivated. Voter turnout will be high this November. So educating people as to what has happened in the past year is crucial. Otherwise, name recognition will win.
This entire fiasco fits the ongoing divisiveness occasioned by the toxic ideological brain rot of minority thinkers who current hold a majority on council. There is zero creativity, rather there is ongoing us v. them that their small minds cannot reconcile. Simple solutions start with situational awareness of all users of public right-of-way, including drivers, bikers, pedestrians, scooter users, delivery people, and busses. Learn to live in harmony by learning personal responsibility. Also high on the simple solutions is the need to enforce traffic laws that are on the books! Lack of enforcement is a significant factor in the unsafe… Read more »
👏👏👏👏👏
So then why is LA hosting the Olympics if cities like West Hollywood would rather be like car-centric Houston than multi-modal Paris?
West Hollywood — tiny 1.9 square mile section of greater Los Angeles that his home to 36,000 people. West Hollywood is not an island. Los Angeles is hosting the Olympics, not West Hollywood. Apples to oranges comparison, JCB.
I recommend for those who want to make West Hollywood their own version of the worst kind of suburb where you have to drive everywhere no matter your age/ability, simply move to the worst suburb in the US so you can sit in car traffic w/every other single occupant car driver.
I suggest that the only people trying to make West Hollywood their own version of anything are the folks who are hostile to the reality of cars in the broader megalopolis in which West Hollywood is but a tiny speck of land that naive utopians want to wall in and create an island. West Hollywood was part of the reality of a megalopolis long before ideological brain rot infested its political narrative.
Can we go back to when Shyne, Byers, and Erickson were running for office and find out what they did to get elected? We must be on the look-out to make sure no one ever wins again by using their methodology, whatever it was. What made them so attractive that they actually won? As I am again in this cycle, I got phone calls from perfectly reasonable sounding men asking for my vote for Erickson, and it was just shortly before election day. And Byers ….. how in the world did she pull off a win? I think Sepi’s intersectional… Read more »
Yes. Interlopers highjacking the city. They have three puppets on council in the form of Erickson, Shyne and Byers; let’s not give them another.
Where was City Council candidate Danny Hang? To Streets For All Danny has been singing the praises for the Fountain Re-Design “Plan”, (which supposedly is not actually a “plan” but a very rough vision for a new Fountain). When Mayor Erickson says there is “no plan” is simply lying: the plan is to install protected bike lanes and reduce Fountain to one lane in each direction. Yes, not all the final details are worked out, but there was enough of a plan to apply for a grant. The fact that residents may lose 250 parking space or only 235 parking… Read more »
If accusing residents of lying wasn’t bad enough, interrupting a fellow council member’s legitimate questioning of staff was also out of line.
He’s gotta go!
EXACTLY!
Our mayor reduces Disagreement to NAME CALLING! It is so childish….oops, I guess that is name calling too, or is it?
Honestly, I am sick and tired of it and I won’t take it any more!
No resident is “losing” street parking b/c it was never theirs to “lose” Public space is for public use, not for storing private property.
The Fountain Re-design is giving back public space for public use- to walk, bike and safely drive over the current situation- a dangerous, polluting, loud unpleasant streetscape for the convenience of mostly single occupant car driver to drive thru the neighborhood instead of a street for the neighborhood.
“Erickson, weary of the public pushback, vigorously defended the plans.
“I cannot tell you how many times I have had great cups of coffee with my neighbors over watching someone who’s mangled get dragged out of a car, seeing a biker who’s been hit by a car, seeing a woman with her child have to walk on the road because the sidewalk is not wide enough,” Erickson recalled.”
I don’t believe a word of this! This is the king of lie politicians tell all the time. They make it up!
When Erickson starts his commentary with the his overused “I can’t tell you” preface, it usually means he really can’t tell because the anecdotes are in his head. How many times has he said I was almost this, or I was almost that.
He’s actually telling the truth here. Living on Fountain means seeing accident and accident, where cars flip over, hit walls, hit buildings. Just because the solution might be flawed doesn’t mean that there’s not a problem with safety. Let’s not criticize Mr. Erickson for being concerned about this, he should be.
But he just happened to be sitting there having coffee with friends when there are these mangled bodies appearing and motorcyclists being hit!
He lives right on Fountain, so this is a likely scenario. Like everyone who lives on Fountain, you hear a crash and then go out to investigate and see if you can help. As mayor, he probably makes a cup of coffee since he knows he’s going to be out there for a while, and it’s usually 3:00 AM. I’m sure neighbors come out and ask when something is going to be done, it’s that bad.
Install speed bumps!
Problem solved!
Totally agree. So many posts on Nextdoor and elsewhere have near constant complaints about car crashes, speeding, destruction of public/private property, finding their car hit/run, lives lost/maimed/permanently disabled and yet when potential known solutions are brought up- modal filters, reducing travel lanes to make car drivers pay attention and slow down- the same people complain…
Glad my public comment on voting yes was recorded! Shame that all these pro-car people want to turn West Hollywood into Houston.
Get a referendum on the ballot.
Only way!
Measure HLA just passed in the City of LA with 60% of the vote. Let’s put it on the ballot indeed. People are sick and tired of car-centric infrastructure.
So are you all finally ready to dump these grifters, or do you all love the drama too much. Stop kvetching and start voting!
Trump voters hate ideas that get people out of their cars. You must be in fun company!
Perhaps not everyone who disagrees with the toxic ideological brain rot is a Trump voter. Perhaps that’s just part of the name-calling brigade that attempts to shut down diversity of thought on any issue by simply calling those who differ as MAGA, or right wing, or Trump voters. It’s kinda cute, but intellectually lazy.
It’s so tired to hear people say they must be Trump voters every time they don’t agree with some harebrained idea. If that’s your best counter argument you need to sit down and think some more.
That requires the ability to think critically.
I read the grant application thoroughly and their might not be a physical plan drawn up but the plan that West Hollywood promised for Fountain is for protected bike lanes/ no parking spaces on the northern side of the street/ 4 lanes reduced to 2/ ADA compliant sidewalks. That is what CARB was sold on. Certain council members still state there are no plans but by voting this through the grant now must have these requirements whatever is approved if the city wants the $8.2 million. What my takeaway after witnessing the vote is that it is important to vote/shift… Read more »
Kudos to Council members Lauren Meister and John Heilman who eloquently laid out all of the defects in logic of the staff report and the majority’s flawed thought process. We just need another logical person or two to join them in November to stop this insanity.
I concur
I don’t even think Susan Powter could stop this insanity!
YES! George Nickel and Larry Block for the win!
Is your solution to rip out all the bike lanes and sidewalks in West Hollywood and force all residents to drive everywhere?
None of this is an either/or situation. Good leadership would involve less division and more unity in creating conditions under which all users of public right-of-way exist in peaceful harmony through situational awareness of all that surrounds us. We could also enforce existing laws on all users of public right-of-way. Instead, the emphasis is on building walls and fences to appease the yellers and screamers who have been given a disproportionately large seat at the table by council majority. Sadly, the council majority engages in zero-sum politics, i.e., must take from one to give to another.
Ridiculous no one is suggesting that no one has said that. Come on already, give it a rest.
There is nothing stopping bicyclists from engaging in situational awareness and taking to every street in town. Not one single impediment. Drivers likewise need to be situationally aware. We can all live in one big kumbayah moment if we had leadership vision to get there, rather than engage in zero-sum divisive politics.
Actually no. I played a major role as Chair of the Santa Monica Boulevard Re-Design Committee that installed the first bike lanes in the City and substantially widened almost all of the sidewalks. But then again, we insisted on an open process with honest dialogue and real citizen participation. Nothing like the highly manipulated often secret process for the Fountain Re-Design.
The reality of history!!! Thank you, Steve, for that verifiable fact of history.