thumbs_up THE ROAD TO BIKE-FRIENDLINESS IS A FRUSTRATING CONSTRUCTION ZONE [ By Jeanine Birong ]

If bike lanes along Broadway and 3rd are such a great idea, why was no environmental study completed? Where is the traffic study that shows the impact of going from three east/west lanes to two? What about the traffic that is now pushed to Ocean or 4th Street? Were the impacts on our neighborhoods considered? How many on-street parking spaces have been lost to the bike lanes? It’s time for full disclosure. / LB RESIDENT1

Where are the bike stop signs on First and Second Street through Alamitos Beach? According to this article, that MIGHT lead to a bicyclist actually STOPPING at an intersection rather than blowing right through, because let’s face it—rules of the road don’t actually apply to anyone on a bike. Additionally, since one can’t immediately ascertain the income level of a bike operator,will the LBPD ticket a bike rider caught blowing through an intersection on red light camera with equal zeal as those operating motor vehicles? I am also eagerly awaiting the first of potentially thousands of government claims filed against the city by bike riders hit by motorists turning left from Broadway or 3rd Street. As the writer said, “Bring it.” / AVID DRIVER

 People are generally afraid of change and this is no different. What we are talking about is making changes to alter the auto-dominance of our public realm for the past half-century. Some changes will be for bikes, other for walking or transit or just living (yes, the sidewalk is one of the most social realms in the city). While I agree that the cycle-tracks on Broadway and 3rd are a little confusing I think things will be different a year from now. People will start getting used to it and the city will make engineering changes for the final installation (this is just a trial) that should fix issues that arise now. I personally don’t like the crossover left turn lanes and would like to try to consolidate a couple driveways. The cycle-tracks need a little more consistency. Beyond bike infrastructure these improvements on Vista, Broadway and Third are traffic calming measures. People live on these streets and any changes that reduce the freeway on and off ramp design of the one-way streets through downtown are welcome changes. Give it time. / BRIAN U

WARREN FURUTANI LAYS DOWN THE LAW-MAKING FOR LAKEWOOD STUDENTS [ By Dave Wielenga ]

Thanks for highlighting this. Not only am I happy to see this issue taken on, I am cheered that these kids are learning the system and seeing that it can work. Good for Furutani, whatever his motives. / JV

STAR PARKER’S COMMENTS ON FOX REMIND US WHY WE DIDN’T ELECT HER

Walking out to eliminate the possibility of a quorum is just as fine a tactic as filibustering. It would seem to give some power to the minority when they are being bullied. I applaud it. / LB CITY GIRL

NEW COURT COMPUTERS: $1.9 BILLION AND 26 STEPS TO OPEN A JUDGE’S CALENDAR [ By Katy Grimes ]

For the cost of this system one could hire 1,000 assistants for 25 years at a cost of $75,000 each, give them a desk, pencil, phone and appointment calendar. This does not consider the $79 M per year maintenance expense

WHAT’S TO BECOME OF THE MOST-FAMOUS HOME IN DOWNEY? [ By Christian Brown ]

I’ve always been a fan of homes built in this time period. I would love to see the inside of it. I would agree that this home should be a museum chronicaling the history and early artifacts of Downey. / DON NESBITT

IF INCUMBENTS WIN, BELLFLOWER COUNCIL STAYS WHITE, MALE, OVER 50 [ From the Herald American ]

As a white male under 50 (just barely) I must say that I don’t care what ethnicity my government representatives are. It has been my experience that the color of one’s skin does  not indicate how capable one is at their job. If the incumbent’s job performance is in question then this should have been pointed out, rather than simply playing the all-too-familiar race card. I wonder if the situation were reversed (non-white leaders of a predominantly white community) would this article ever have been written? / MIKEINLONGBEACH 

ALAN LOWENTHAL REVEALS SUPPORT FOR GOVERNOR’S PHASEOUT OF RDA’S [ From LBReport.com ]

Good for Alan!! Redevelopment is a treasure trove for local politicians (read campaign contributions from developers) but not for the taxpayers. Much money is spent on business development that merely aids cities in fighting with each other for that business, thus a zero-sum game where lots of money is spent and no one comes out ahead. / JIM MCCABE

Absolutely agree. Long Beach has nothing worthy to show for the money spent by the RDA. Just bad art, a vacant Pine Ave., and empty lots. / ANDY

BIXBY PARK: THOSE WERE—AND THESE ARE—THE GOOD OLD DAYS [ By Rachel Powers ]

I’ve been fortunate enough to have witnessed Claudia Schou’s amazing passion, hard work and pure LOVE of Bixby Park and her neighborhood. Man, if we could only clone her!! Thanks, from all of us, for all that you do, girl! / KINGSTON’S MOM

Bixby Park is a great potential resource for the city. To my eyes, the one glaring problem is that three major streets run through it, in essence creating four mini-parks which are definitely less than the sum of their parts. Is there any movement afoot to get rid of the streets going through the park (at least 1st and 2nd) and maybe turning them into bike paths and greenery? / DAVE IN ALAMITOS BEACH

This is a good piece, Rachel. There’s a “there there”—solid, broad and real. Thanks. / PANGLONYMOUS