(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) – If there is one thing the residents of Simi Valley love, it’s bicycles. Unfortunately, over the years, the traditional routes for our city’s cyclists have become worn down and outdated. Thankfully, a new initiative by the city is set to bring significant upgrades to Simi Valley’s bike paths, ensuring safer and more enjoyable rides for everyone.
The streets of Simi Valley become saturated with cars twice every weekday, with thousands commuting their children to and from school. In the mornings, parents sit idling in traffic, waiting to drop off their kids. In the afternoons, it’s more of the same, only in reverse. This way of life, while generally accepted in Southern California, can and should be improved upon. A significant number of students live just a 10-20 minute bike ride away from school, yet continue to be shuttled around due to safety concerns and the current state of bike infrastructure.
Simi Valley’s bike lanes often place cyclists dangerously close to fast-moving traffic. Many bike lanes are simply painted gutters on the side of the road, making the experience stressful, especially for younger and less experienced riders. These lanes expose cyclists to the risk of being hit by car doors opening suddenly, commonly referred to as the “door zone.”
The upcoming refresh to the Simi Valley Bicycle Master Plan, which has not been updated since 2008, presents an ideal opportunity to address these issues. Proposed changes include:
- Buffered Bike Lanes: One of the key updates involves swapping the positions of parking spots and bike lanes. This change will place a buffer between cyclists and moving traffic, significantly improving safety and comfort. These modifications can be implemented during routine re-striping and made permanent with concrete or flex posts if popular.
- Enhanced Bike Paths and Entries: The Arroyo Simi Bike Path, a nearly eight-mile trail and part of the National Rails-to-Trails program, will see enhancements. These include the construction of new hiking and biking trails, installation of exhibit signs, and creation of sixteen new trail entries. These upgrades aim to provide a better experience for visitors and encourage more outdoor activity.
- Educational Programs: In coordination with local schools, the city plans to introduce biking programs to educate students about cycling safety and benefits. Similar initiatives in other cities, like Ventura’s partnership with BikeVentura, have proven successful in promoting biking among young people.
One proposed solution to improve biking safety involves isolating bicycle traffic from vehicular traffic by creating buffered bike lanes. Another solution aims to slow down vehicular traffic to make the pedestrian and cyclist experience more comfortable. This can be achieved by narrowing lanes, adding trees to planters on the side of the road, or adding a middle divider with plants. Additionally, the city could use “modal filters” to restrict through traffic on neighborhood streets, ensuring they are primarily used by residents.
These upgrades are not just about improving the biking experience but also about promoting a healthier lifestyle and reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Encouraging more residents to bike, especially students, can help reduce local pollution and foster a more active community. The new and improved bike lanes will enhance safety, making biking a more viable mode of transportation for daily commutes and recreational activities.
Simi Valley’s commitment to upgrading its bike lanes reflects the city’s dedication to providing safer, more efficient, and enjoyable routes for cyclists. As these improvements take shape, residents can look forward to a future where biking is a more integral part of the community’s daily life, promoting health, sustainability, and connectivity.
For more details on the bike path improvements and to stay updated on the progress, visit MoveVC and Visit Simi Valley.
