Northeast L.A.’s Fletcher Drive recently received some handsome new road diet bike lanes. Unfortunately, they only extend as far south as (almost to) San Fernando Road.
Two days ago, LAPD reported a hit-and-run crash that seriously injured a 19-year-old pedestrian at Fletcher and La Clede Avenue – just two blocks south of the recent improvements. Given the crash, I penned this letter to L.A. City Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell, and I encourage other cyclists to contact O’Farrell to encourage him to make Fletcher Drive safer.
Honorable Councilmember O’Farrell –
Thank you for the new bike lanes on Fletcher Drive. Living in Koreatown, I use Fletcher often to get to Northeast L.A. Given the physical barriers of the river, railroad and 5 Freeway, Fletcher is one of very few options cyclists have in the area. The bike lanes are useful and make the street safer. Fletcher’s recent resurfacing is very welcome, too; the old surface had significant potholes that were bad for cycling.While I am grateful for the recent improvements to Fletcher, I would urge you to work with LADOT to extend the bike lanes further south.This stretch of Fletcher is on the Vision Zero High Injury Network. Just two days ago, a hit-and-run driver injured a pedestrian at Fletcher and Laclede. https://local.nixle.com/alert/5812201/?sub_id=2277917Extending the road diet, including adding bike lanes, would make Fletcher safer for everyone.Thank you for your attention to this important matter.Sincerely,Joe Linton[address]
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B.I.K.A.S. 
July 16th, 2017 → 10:06 pm
[…] when the LA Department of Transportation (LADOT) Vision Zero team presented two different proposals to address safety concerns on a 0.75-mile stretch of Fletcher Drive between San Fernando Road and 2 Freeway on-ramp in the Atwater neighborhood. After the meeting, we […]