Published Burbank Leader, Wednesday, December 24, 2008
MAIL BAG: Sharing bikeway shouldn’t be too hard

I’d like to reply to the letter from Jennifer Agapiou of Valencia complaining about bike riders on the Chandler Bikeway (“Bikeway not meant for stunts,” Community Commentary, Dec. 20).

First of all, the Chandler Bikeway is a thing of beauty, and is a great asset to Burbank.

We live a half-block away, and at any time or day of the week, you can see people riding their bikes to get somewhere in a hurry (it is a bikeway, after all), casual riders, exercisers, seniors and families with toddlers.

The factor that makes it possible for all of these groups to coexist peacefully (in theory) are signs and markings that designate areas for pedestrians and bike traffic. We’re casual riders and try to follow the same rules of the road that would apply for driving in traffic.

On any given weekend, you will encounter a family of four or five members with at least one stroller, scooter or tiny bike. They are spread out across the bike lanes, meandering casually along, seemingly oblivious to the other traffic present. This necessitates steering around them, sometimes onto the grass.

Maybe a small article in the Burbank Leader, and/or a pamphlet distributed in the surrounding neighborhoods, that presented a few simple rules of bikeway etiquette would help prevent hurt feelings or accidents.

At the top of the list: (1) Slow traffic keep to the right, (2) safety first, and (3) read the signs, people.

JENNIFER RABUCHIN, Burbank

Published Burbank Leader, Saturday, December 20, 2008
COMMUNITY COMMENTARY: Bikeway not meant for stunts

I actually wanted to write this for a while, but was worried that maybe it was just me.

I grew up in Burbank, right down the street from the keystone part of the Chandler Bikeway. I was so excited that it was being constructed and thought about how wonderful it would be to be able to exercise, ride our bikes as a family, roller-blade, push my jogging stroller and walk with friends while walking off baby weight.

At the beginning, I used it maybe four times. I didn’t like the speed of the bike riders, I didn’t like the lighting (a bit too dark for me to walk alone), I didn’t like the dog poop that I’d almost step in, and I didn’t like feeling like I was being rushed by someone behind me.

On one of my last nights walking on it, I was walking with a group of moms, and we all had strollers. We were two in front and two in back. An older couple started walking in front of us, so I looked behind me like I would do if I was changing lanes in traffic to check to make sure no one was coming.

We started walking quickly around the couple, and when we started going back into the pathway, a biker blared a horn very loudly (waking babies), cussed at us, told us that we needed to stay in our lane and flipped us off.

I couldn’t believe it, mostly because we had babies and some of us had older children with us as well who understood the words used. The biker didn’t have a light on (the lighting was bad; we were over by Sizzler) and came flying at us.

The biker then continued to race down Hollywood Way, still cussing and screaming. What did we do? We stepped foot in the bike path for a whole 15 seconds just to pass someone, and we looked and saw no one coming either way. I didn’t go on it again for probably a year.

The next time we went on it, my 5-year-old wanted to ride her bike (with training wheels), so we took her up there because the sidewalks are terrible in our neighborhood and there’s no safe place that a child — or anyone — can ride a bike or walk without hitting pushed-up concrete and patched sidewalks.

We took her up there, and I pushed a stroller and walked with her (on the walkway) while my husband and son were ahead of us on their bikes (in the bike lane). My daughter was just learning how to ride this new bike and was going a bit slow.

A fast-paced couple walked by and told us that this isn’t the best place for this and that we should go to a school playground and practice, that we were too slow for it. I couldn’t believe it. If not on the bike path, where are we supposed to do this? The schools are just as bad as our sidewalks with bumps, etc.

This was built for use for families, for exercise, for leisure — not for bike racing or stunt tricks on scooters or bikes. Also, I thought it was a great idea that it was so close to Edison Elementary School so that the kids walking to and from school could use it. That intersection is absolutely terrible. No one stops (cars or bikes) at the stop signs. I’ve seen many, many kids come close to being hit. I’ve also seen a few bikers come barreling through the intersections and almost get hit.

We’ve since moved to Valencia where the city has paseos. They wind around the city and you can pretty much walk, bike or jog anywhere you want to go. There are no cars near it, and the pathway is big enough for four people to walk across it and still have room for a bike.

My kids are free to go their own speed, and I don’t feel unsafe. There are no bikes racing down there. In fact, I see more families walking together after dinner or in the mornings, walking their dogs and jogging.

It was a great idea, the Chandler Bikeway, but something needs to be done. Someone is going to get seriously hurt one day.

JENNIFER AGAPIOU, Valencia CA

Published Burbank Leader, Saturday, December 6, 2008
COMMUNITY COMMENTARY: Tough love needed on bikeway

With more and more stories of chaos and incivility arising daily concerning the Chandler Bikeway ("We can’t undo evolution of bike lane," Community Commentary, Nov. 12), I think it is time for the government to step in and put a stop to this madness.

It’s obvious that the concerned parties cannot "play nicely" together, so it’s high time to shove a little tough love down their throats.

Luckily, through the great wisdom of President Bush and his total-world-domination ambitions, a solution is at hand. Hundreds of highly trained military personnel are returning from the front lines every day well-versed in the persuading effects of the AK-47.

I propose that we hire several of these vets, station them every 50 yards along the bikeway and employ them to keep order in the "war zone." A pooch steps across the line into the bikeway, and a warning shot is fired over his head.

Same rule applies to all parties — if City Council member Marsha Ramos' Saturday morning gang of hangers-on starts its usual four-abreast walking, a warning shot will be fired above their heads.

Funding for Operation Chandler Bikeway Freedom can be easily procured by instituting a simple $99-per-month user fee, with $89 for seniors and children. Any excess money obtained can be funneled into a fund to hold more free dinners for retiring Burbank city executives and City Council members.

We live in a land of laws, of the people, by the people and for the people. When citizens refuse to obey those laws, they are not just making a mockery of our country and its institutions. They are criminals and should be dealt with as such.

RICHARD J. TAFILAW, Burbank

Published Burbank Leader, Wednesday, November 26, 2008
MAILBAG: Can’t we all just get along on bike path?

Regarding the so-called "bike path," we should change the name to "walk, dog and bike path" ("We can’t undo evolution of bike lane," Community Commentary, Nov. 12). It’s a sad situation that you’d have to do that, but some people just don’t get it. This might help, but I doubt it.

I am a bicyclist, riding for leisure and exercise. The riders who are would-be Lance Armstrongs, with their fancy shirts, think they have domination over everyone.

I’ve been close to being run down while on my bike by these rude riders. They haven’t even the courtesy to say, "Behind you, on your left." They are a hazard to walkers, dog walkers and other bicyclists.

Roller-bladers are another issue. They come at you, weaving from the bike path to the walking path as if the whole thing belongs to them.

With everything going on in the world, all the above things sound pretty stupid, right? I agree.

Maybe the solution is for the city to find other venues and designate them as "bikers only," "speed demons only," "Roller-bladers only" and "walkers only."

As long as people fail to exercise courtesy to all, there is no solution to this problem, and it will continue to exist, and accidents will happen.

STEVE URBANOVICH, Burbank

Published Burbank Leader, Saturday, November 15, 2008
MAILBAG: This city is made for walking

In response to Robert Phipps’ monumentally wrongheaded opinion article about the Chandler Bikeway (“We can’t undo evolution of bike lane,” Community Commentary, Wednesday):

There are hundreds of miles of bike-free sidewalks in Burbank and only a few miles of bikeway.

People walking on the bikeway can expect to encounter bicyclists moving at 15 to 20 mph on their left and must pay attention accordingly.

It’s common sense.

As a bicyclist, I pay attention to my surroundings and am courteous to others. All I ask of other Chandler Bikeway users is that they do the same.

SCOTT LOWE, Glendale

MAILBAG: Maybe traffic flow is the problem

Regarding “Path is no picnic for bicyclists,” Mailbag, Wednesday:

I do agree that those bicyclists who need speed can always ride in Griffith Park, but everyone who uses the bike path needs to be respectful.

Looking at the photo in the Wednesday paper, it seems that the walkers are walking on the wrong side of the path, which can cause a problem with the flow of traffic.

Maybe we should put signs up to let everyone know which side of the road they should be on.

RITA C. GONZALES, Burbank

Published Burbank Leader, Saturday, November 15, 2008
COMMUNITY COMMENTARY: On the bike path to salvation

The kids are arguing because one got a free giveaway ball from the dry cleaner and the other didn’t. The one without claims that I don’t love her as much as her sister. The dry cleaner ruined my favorite shirt. I broke my glasses. The wife is mad at me for spraying sunscreen in the girls’ eyes (again). Fox News is already blaming Obama for all the country’s woes.

And I am out of Prilosec.

Only one thing to do. Take a ride.

Last Christmas, my wife surprised me with a new bicycle. As a simple man in his early 40s, I choose to believe that this gift has more to do with the price of gas and my carbon footprint than the profundity of my midsection. Whatever her motive, the bike has become the best gift she has ever given to me outside of her love, her patience, her cute little bod and our two children. I’ve been a reluctant and unregimented exerciser my whole adult life, and for the first time ever I find myself craving the peace, meditation and physical output of my bike rides.

I set out one recent morning just before sunrise and made my way to Forest Lawn Drive at Barham. Along the way I encountered stoplights and traffic; there was much road work along the way, detouring me down busier streets than I would like. Half-filled and overfilled potholes made the ride bumpier as well.

Once I hit the bike lane at the top of Forest Lawn, I began my ride south. I felt a great sense of relief having finally made it to the path. I work hard, provide for my family, pay my taxes, go to church regularly, buy cookies from girls outside the supermarket and generally try to be a responsible member of society. Finally, as I began what I hoped would be a nice, long, relaxing cruise, I was getting what I deserved. Peace. Is that too much to ask for?

Then one truck and another passed by me so close as to nearly knock me from my bike. Quick, dodge that dead opossum! (Wasn’t that here last week, too?) Broken glass and other debris pushed me out into the road where I narrowly escaped becoming a hood ornament for people too eager to get to their office and surf the Web. There were odors I would rather not know, bugs, dust and exhaust that I couldn’t help but inhale. Grave sites checkered the hillside and gave me caution and pause. Even the wind pushing against me seemed to beg my frustration.

This wasn’t working, so I veered off Forest Lawn through the quiet streets of the Rancho and headed for home unfulfilled. As I passed the park with a giant purple dinosaur for a slide, I saw balloons trapped in the telephone wires, remnants of some child’s birthday party. I sympathized with those balloons. As I approached home, I felt gypped. I tried to escape for just a little while, find some peace, and could not get there. So, I continued right past my house and headed through more sleepy streets, avoiding main roads like Buena Vista and Olive. My goal: the Chandler Bikeway.

I’d say it was about 6:30 a.m. when I finally hit the path and started my journey to the east. The San Fernando Mountains seemed oddly majestic and awe-inspiring in the morning haze. I’ve seen this before at the base of the Sierra Nevada or the Rockies. I’d just never seen our local mountains look like this before.

There was an early-morning dew on the grass and plants all around. A soft mist blanketed everything. The dawning sun just cresting the hills ahead of me sparkled fresh light off the landscape like floating crystals. The light reflected especially brightly off the painted lines of the bike path marking the lanes.

I knew that in a few minutes, the sun would move on and the particular intensity of the refracting sunlight would disappear, perhaps never to be seen exactly like this ever again.

I looked around and saw bikers and walkers and dog-walkers, fast, slow and stationary, making their way along this bright path. And I was struck by something I had never realized before. The Chandler Bikeway is crooked.

It is a scribble, a squiggle if you will, through our city. Not a straight and perfect path that I guess I had always envisioned it was. And in that imperfection, I found a kind of perfect peace.

Isn’t it interesting how we can cruise along in life thinking one thing, and in an instant, have that preconception shattered? Perhaps that “too good to be true” mortgage you may have gotten into a couple of years ago?

That smell in Griffith Park is feces. Manure. But what makes that is ponies. Ponies! And ponies make little kids smile and laugh, which makes me smile and laugh. That may be a dead and flattened opossum ahead, but overhead is a flock of exotic parakeets — yes, wild parakeets in Burbank! Their collective chirping sounds like a thousand marbles colliding.

Sometimes there is road work and potholes and exhaust along our ride, walkers in the bike lane and bikers in the walk lane. But there will always be that one old man with his walker, slowly making his way along the path at his own pace, stopping to chat with anyone and everyone willing to take a moment and enjoy good company. He looks like he has more stories to tell than I do mistakes in my life.

Beyond the smells, the garbage and the traffic, there will always be carousels, fountains, ponies and good people willing to share a crooked path with one another.

The straight path to a comfortable and happy life, the straight shot to heaven or salvation or just plain contentedness is real. And it is easy, but only in the decision to actually take the path. In practice, the path is not straight or easy.

There will be obstacles, stumbling blocks, broken glass, dead opossums and foul odors. Sin, if that’s your bag. We can choose only to see obstacles or we can choose to see hope. We can choose to slow down a little, walk together or move out of one another’s way politely. We can choose to do in our hearts what we know is right rather than alienate and demonize one another with rhetoric, rules and restrictions.

Choose to argue or choose to get along. It is not a straight path. But it is our only path.

PATRICK CANEDAY, Burbank

Published Burbank Leader, Wednesday, November 12, 2008
MAILBAG: Path is no picnic for bicyclists

This is in response to John Gaskill’s "Bike speed limit not required" Community Commentary in the Nov. 5 Burbank Leader.

I wholeheartedly agree with Gaskill’s commentary. When I first read about the Chandler Bikeway being proposed several years ago, I thought, "What a wonderful alternative to other options for riding my bicycle while enhancing the beauty of the neighborhood along Chandler Boulevard."

The other alternatives being: the potentially unsafe bike routes on city streets, the trash-strewn Los Angeles River bike path and unsafe bike routes through Griffith Park.

Riding a bike on the Chandler Bikeway is not a rewarding or enjoyable experience; I, like Gaskill, have had to revert back to other places to ride my bike in order to get some exercise.

I have experienced all the pitfalls that he has mentioned and more.

The things that caused me to abandon my attempts to use the bikeway were people standing in the pedestrian lane with their dog’s leash strung across the bike lanes while the dogs were on the grass or in the flower beds on the other side, or a large dog lying across both bike lanes with its owners scratching its belly.

On a recent Sunday morning, I had to leave the bikeway into the grass to keep from being attacked by two large dogs that, although on leashes, could not be controlled by their master.

One recent evening just before dusk, a small child accompanied by an adult was sitting on one of the bike lanes playing with a remote-controlled toy car.

Other than punish the bikers for riding on the bikeway, the city should require all bikeway users to obey the posted signs, know and use commonly accepted walking and biking etiquette and common courtesy without the policing that, it seems, will eventually be required.

FRED CASE, Burbank

Published Burbank Leader, Wednesday, November 12, 2008
COMMUNITY COMMENTARY: We can’t undo evolution of bike lane

In his Nov. 5 Community Commentary about the Chandler Bikeway ("Bike speed limit not required"), John Gaskill makes a number of assertions, most of which are wrong. Instead of a long fact-versus-fiction list, I'll say this:

The Chandler Bikeway is a dangerous place. Its very design and creation guaranteed that. There are two primary reasons:

One, it invites and encourages a diverse and concentrated group of users, some of whom are traveling much faster than the others, and this creates an inevitable intermixing and colliding of the groups.

And two, although the place is called a "Bikeway" the lanes are in the pathway to indicate use — not command it. No law requires people to stay between certain lines. The plan assumed goodwill and cooperation, which was pre-designed by the meandering shape, the soft curves with park-like lawns and trees that suggest a place of leisurely enjoyment, slow comfortable pace and social interaction — not speed. It assumed that speed-cyclists would stay in the street where they belonged and always were.

Gaskill himself disclosed the true purpose and use of the pathway when he said he was driven from it "by increases in the number of pedestrians walking three abreast...; groups of people standing and conversing...; cruiser bicyclists riding in groups of two and three abreast...; roller-bladers and scooter pushers...; and last but not least, families attempting to teach young children how to ride bicycles with training wheels."

Yes, he's right. The place has evolved, and the groups he listed demonstrate the current primary use. He complained that each of the groups was not paying attention or was in his space, but the very design of the place has encouraged both a wandering mind and step. And, besides, it seems bicycle riders are fewer in number than walkers, and far fewer than all combined non-cyclists. Gaskill's lament is similar to that of a homeowner who sees his neighborhood becoming commercial: Frustration, anger and ultimately sadness are all understandable; nevertheless, the genie will not go back in the bottle, and his practical options are to adapt or move.

Having bicycles and pedestrians in close proximity is inherently dangerous. That's why the city has made it illegal for bicyclists to ride on many sidewalks.

A general rule of the road says that with intermixed modes of locomotion (cars, bicycles and pedestrians; boats and swimmers, etc.), the faster must watch for, and defer to, the slower. And, in fact, there is a law that prohibits "reckless bicycle riding," which would encompass traveling at unsafe speed for any given location or conditions.

But, again, the name "Bikeway" has created a problem. It has given some bicycle users a sense of ownership to it, which has led them to ride way too fast; to become enraged at walkers, toddlers, dogs, roller-bladers, or others who drift into "their" lanes; and to put other users and themselves in great danger.

Gaskill says he "use[s] the bike path multiple times each week in pursuit of fitness," that he would "ride...24 to 30 miles" at a time, and that in an accident with a skateboarder, the collision occurred despite his "hard braking [that] could not stop me in time, even though I had previously slowed to about 10 mph." All this, if not the accident itself, suggests that Gaskill rides the pathway at speeds that are excessive and unsafe.

Here are ways to greatly reduce the danger on the pathway:

Generally, the bicyclists must slow way down — willfully or otherwise — and the signs should be changed from "Bikeway" to "Pathway" or "Multi-access Path."

Bicyclists on the pathway must use sound warnings (bells, horns) when nearing someone from behind.

Bicyclists who wish to ride faster than is safe among other pathway users must ride in the street, not on the pathway.

If complaints and/or accidents continue, then the city must force bicyclists using the pathway to stay within safe speeds (possible methods are another discussion), and if they can't, then, ironically, bicyclists will have to be removed from the pathway altogether.

If the pathway is not made safe — and soon — then, at some time, there will be an accident in which a speeding bicyclist kills a toddler or a dog, or turns a plain ordinary person into a quadriplegic. Then, after the bicyclist (certainly not the slower mover) and the city are successively sued and pay out massive damages, voila, a solution will be found.

ROBERT PHIPPS, Burbank

Published Burbank Leader, Wednesday, November 5, 2008
COMMUNITY COMMENTARY: Bike speed limit not required

I suggest that Pamela Lang’s recent call in this space for a speed limit on the Chandler Bikeway (“Bikeway needs a speed limit,” Community Commentary, Oct. 15) represents a mistaken understanding of what the bike path is about and what it may do for us all in the longer run.

The bikeway is not a sidewalk, even though it looks like one. It is illegal to ride a bicycle on many city sidewalks in Burbank. Sidewalks are reserved for pedestrians. The bikeway is for bicycles, tricycles, unicycles and other person-powered means of wheeled transit. It is divided into three segments by painted lines: two wheeled-traffic lanes for east- and westbound bikes, etc., and one lane for pedestrians, joggers and walking stroller-pushers. Overhead signs at main entry points indicate traffic lane assignments and flows using pictographs. Faded pavement markings restate the overhead signs. I recall that, at one time, there were signs prohibiting skateboards, but they seem to have vanished (sadly).

I use the bike path multiple times each week in pursuit of fitness. In the past, I rode back and forth from Vineland to Mariposa, completing four or five laps for a ride of 24 to 30 miles, but now use the bikeway as a traffic-free zone to and from the Los Angeles River Bikeway. I was driven away by increases in the number of pedestrians walking three abreast in bike lanes; groups of people standing and conversing in the middle of the bike lanes; cruiser bicyclists riding in groups of two and three abreast, oblivious to the traffic lanes and unwilling to ride single-file when opposing traffic approaches; roller-bladers and scooter pushers ignoring their surroundings; and last but not least, families attempting to teach young children how to ride bicycles with training wheels.

While using the bike path, I was once knocked off my bike by a skateboarder traveling in the opposite direction who turned across the lane in front of me without warning and did not bother to look up in spite of my shouts. Hard braking could not stop me in time, even though I had previously slowed to about 10 mph. He was with five other westbound skateboarders, all of whom had moved out of the eastbound lane I was using. I was also nearly felled once by a scooter rider in the pedestrian lane who lost his balance and turned a 360 holding the handlebars while the scooter became airborne like a scythe blade.

In spite of these problems, the bikeway is a space dedicated for the use of bicyclists by the city of Burbank. Most bike riders I see have no problems staying in the bike lanes when others are using the path. Speeding is not really a problem because even the strongest riders achieve only 25 to 30 mph at maximum effort. Many cruiser riders stay in lanes and ride single-file, just as many walkers keep to the pedestrian lane. Courtesy and common sense suffice.

People need to understand that cyclists have the right of way in the bike lanes. When bikes approach, pedestrians should stay in the pedestrian lane or move to the grass.

After all, if the sidewalk along Olive Avenue were full, one would not step into traffic expecting cars to stop. Would they?

The Chandler Bikeway is a “street” for bicyclists. It allows people to commute to work, visit friends, shop, or get out and exercise without worry that some auto or truck driver is going to run them over. Having bike paths encourages bicycle use, saving all of us from more greenhouse gases. Having bike paths helps people stay healthy and get in shape. Placing an artificially low speed limit on the bike path is not the answer.

JOHN GASKILL, Burbank

Published Burbank Leader, Wednesday, October 22, 2008
MAILBAG: Chandler bicyclists aren’t to blame

As a longtime Burbank resident and regular user of the Chandler Bikeway, I was shocked at the Community Commentary by Pamela Lang (“Bikeway needs a speed limit,” Oct. 15) suggesting a “speed limit.”

Having regularly traveled the bikeway, I can safely say I have not encountered any traffic problems.
In fact, it has been the opposite, with bikers always being courteous and giving advanced warning of their approach to pedestrians.

On the rare occasion, I have noticed pedestrians encroaching on the bike side of the path, but by and large, it has always been a very amicable relationship with a mutual respect shown by both parties.

It may be more of a case of the writer having a nervous disposition at the very sight of a biker or roller-blader.

If so, there are quieter and slower-paced walks such as along the sidewalks in the city or the seafront that may be more suited to her.

In the meantime, let us all continue to enjoy the beautiful bikeway in our lovely city without adding another law to the books.

What’s next? A breathing restriction?

ANTHONY KELLY, Burbank

MAILBAG: No need to clamp down on speed

The Burbank Leader published a letter from Pamela Lang (“Bikeway needs a speed limit,” Community Commentary, Wednesday) in which she calls for a speed limit on the Chandler Bikeway.

She cites an accident in which two cyclists collided with a skater as justification for the speed limit.

I know the cyclists well, and have ridden with them on many occasions.

They have ridden literally tens of thousands of miles, and I know them to be careful, courteous and mature. They are not riding recklessly or at excessive speeds.

The cyclists saw the skater approaching from the opposite direction and moved to the right side in single file, as they often do to provide a margin of safety.

Nevertheless, the skater veered across the centerline and collided with them head-on, resulting in a fractured humerus for one cyclist and a fractured collarbone for the other. The skater said she had not seen either of them, and was able to skate away after speaking with those who came to assist. My friends, on the other hand, will require many weeks to heal.

Given the skater’s comments, the accident most likely resulted from inattention and not from excessive speed. These injuries can occur at the speeds of casual cyclists and skaters, especially in a head-on collision.

Inattentive users can create risks for themselves and others. Dogs and small children can dart suddenly across the path, so they need to be closely controlled. For safety’s sake, all who use the path must mind the pavement markings and be alert, aware and courteous. Then everyone can enjoy this multiuse asset to the community.

PAUL NICHOLAS, Burbank

Published Burbank Leader, Saturday, October 18, 2008
MAILBAG: In defense of Chandler cyclists

I guess I’m the exception to the legion of reckless cyclists Pamela Lang has encountered (“Bikeway needs a speed limit,” Community Commentary, Wednesday).

I’ve respectfully and considerately pedaled the length of the Chandler Bikeway on many occasions and agree with her that it is a jewel of a resource of which every Burbank resident should be proud. I consider it one of the finest realizations of an urban bikeway in the region.

But I have to disagree when Pamela generalizes about cyclists’ “sense of ownership that apparently goes with using the bike lanes.” I could say the same thing about the fair share of pedestrians, skaters or joggers (or my favorite: the dog walkers with their pets strung across the path on 15-foot leads) that I’ve encountered either solo or in groups who occupy the bike area with little regard or consideration — and who often grumble after I’m forced to slow down to their speed, repeatedly ring my bike bell and beg their pardon as I pass them. Bikeway entitlement issues aren’t limited to just my form of self-propelled transport.

Pamela may be ready to foot the bill for the law enforcement resources that she wants dedicated to maintaining speed traps focusing on me and my bike, but I think an educational reinforcement is the better and less costly way to go. Rather than speed limits, my suggestion would be to post signage urging everyone to “share, take care and be aware.”

Of course, I offer the above compromise as something of a skeptical outsider — a Los Angeles resident — still shaking my head over Burbank’s decision a couple of years ago to remorselessly kill the planned and budgeted on-street connector route between the Los Angeles River and Chandler bikeways, so it won’t surprise me if I see a radar gun pointed in my direction the next time I have to slow down and alert some wayward walkers that they’re in my way or stop and wait while some dog owner reels Rover in.

WILL CAMPBELL. Los Angeles

Published Burbank Leader,Wednesday, October 15, 2008
COMMUNITY COMMENTARY: Bikeway Needs a Speed Limit

I was on my daily morning walk on the Chandler Bikeway recently when an unfortunate and entirely preventable accident occurred.

A woman roller-blading collided with two bicyclists, one male and one female. This accident was something I, and many other people who frequently use the bikeway, have dreaded and knew would eventually happen.

The Chandler Bikeway is a wonderful and much-appreciated addition to the general ambience of Burbank.

I use it every day, sometimes two or three times a day. In the three years I’ve been using the bikeway, I’ve almost been run over by speeding bicyclists, roller-blading individuals whizzing by and runners paying attention to their cellphones or music devices instead of where they are going.

At the very least, the city of Burbank needs to impose and post a speed limit for bicyclists and those using roller blades, skateboards or any other vehicle on wheels. I have personally witnessed those on bikes passing me at an alarmingly fast speed. I’ve always known that if they hit me, I would be seriously injured.

I have also been yelled at and verbally abused for having the need to step into the bike lane when passing slower- moving pedestrians.

This is a problem that needs to be addressed by the city of Burbank. It’s a problem that I personally have spoken to the Burbank Police Department about on several occasions. I’ve voiced my concerns that the city has advertised the Chandler Bikeway in such a way as to make bicyclists feel entitled to speed on it. At this time, there are no posted speed limits anywhere on the bikeway.

As a pedestrian, I’ve noticed that there is an inequity in the amount of space allotted to runners and walkers, and that allotted to bicyclists. There is absolutely no way a pedestrian can avoid stepping into the bike lane when passing slower-moving pedestrians.

In the last three years, I’ve been verbally abused countless times by others using the bike lanes for simply walking my dog on the grass nearest the bike lanes. There’s a sense of ownership that apparently goes with using the bike lanes, and it has to stop.

I’d like to think most of us use common sense when out in public, as we go about our daily business, when we exercise and when we come into contact with other people.

This was a preventable accident. I don’t want to see anyone else involved in such an accident on the Chandler Bikeway, and I don’t want to be one of the victims of such an accident. A speed limit, some signs and some good old-fashioned common sense and courtesy should solve the problem.

PAMELA LANG, Burbank

Published Burbank Leader, Saturday, February 23, 2008
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Please observe simple rules on bike path

I’m writing this letter not because I really want to, but because I feel compelled to. And, you’re right, I have nothing better to do. Some simple rules of etiquette for a “walk” — bike path.

1. Keep your dog leashed. It’s not a biker’s fault if he accidentally hits an unleashed dog.
2. Clean up after your dog. Duh.
   
3. Walkers, the lanes are adequately marked; stay in the proper lane. I guess if it’s Saturday morning, and you’re with the mayor, this rule doesn’t apply.
4. This is not a layman’s practice course. If you must go 50 mph, stay single-file in the proper lane, and upon coming up to a slower rider, yell, “on your left.”
5. If you must talk on your cellphone, remember where you are, and stay in the right lane.
6. Slow bike riders, keep looking over your shoulder and be aware of violators.
7. If you must stop and chit-chat in groups, remember where you’re at and don’t block the lane (I think I’ve been guilty of this a time or two).

It’s a great addition to the city of Burbank, this bike-walk path. Let’s try to observe the rules, and make it the best it can be for everybody.

STEVE URBANOVICH, Burbank

Published Burbank Leader, Wednesday, February 6, 2008, Opinion
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: A Tale of a Man and his Dog

I’ve wanted to write a letter about a man named Mel and his dog Hobo for quite some time.

I met them two years ago when I first moved to Burbank. I walk on the Chandler Pathway each morning, and each morning I see Mel pushing his silver walker with his dog Hobo walking beside him.

Over the past two years, I’ve come to delight in both of them. I’ve come to look forward to seeing them off in the distance, knowing that when I encounter them, Mel would charm me with a pithy comment and Hobo would welcome the love I show her and give me even more love in return.

It’s common knowledge on the pathway that Mel rescued Hobo from the railroad tracks before they were turned into the Chandler Pathway. Mel never put Hobo on a leash.

He carried one on his walker, but Hobo would walk untethered, either a few steps ahead of Mel or a few steps behind him.

When Mel would meet friends along the pathway and stop for a chat, Hobo hunkered down and waited patiently for her walk to resume.

One of the funniest and most endearing things I’ve ever witnessed was when Mel and Hobo would reach the intersection of California Street and Chandler Boulevard each morning. Each time they would stop at the intersection, Mel would wait for the traffic to pass and roll his walker off the curb into the intersection. Walking beside him and only walking on the white painted stripe, would be Hobo.

Why she would only walk on the white stripe, I will never know, but she never walked on the asphalt. Each time I saw this, I marveled at it and secretly, it made me love her more.

I found out on my walk this morning that Mel had to put Hobo down. She stopped eating two weeks week ago and the last time I saw her, she wasn’t feeling well. When I stroked her stomach, I felt a lump and I worried and wondered if I would ever see her again.

I’ve wanted to write this about the two of them because of how special they both are. It saddens me to know I waited too long to write the letter I originally wanted to write. I wanted to honor both of them in life. They matter so much to me and so very much to our community.

You might ask if it’s possible for one beautiful, golden dog to mean so much to so many people. It is possible. I will miss Hobo, Mel will miss Hobo, and others will miss Hobo.

And if in the future, off in the distance, I see Mel pushing his walker with another dog by his side, I’ll be happy for him. But, I know that each time he comes to an intersection, walking unseen on the white painted stripe will be Hobo. I miss you, sweet girl. I love you.

PAMELA LANG, Burbank

Published Burbank Leader, Saturday,October 6, 2007, Opinion
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Bikeway has its weak points

On Tuesday evening at roughly 6:15 p.m, I turned east onto Chandler Boulevard to see that a clearly confused and extremely flustered woman had driven her car onto the Chandler Bikeway.

It’s no secret that the Chandler Boulevard Bikeway is very popular at that hour, and Tuesday was no exception. Several adults and children were present on the bikeway when she drove onto it.

Although I’m grateful for everyone’s sake that luck was on their side, the situation could easily have turned into a tragedy similar to the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market in 2003.

Folks, to my mind, it should not even be possible for an unauthorized vehicle to enter the bikeway at any point.

I strongly suggest that the city install retractable pillars at each intersection entry point of the Chandler Boulevard Bikeway.

I work at UCLA, and these barriers are used throughout campus to stop the public from driving their cars into restricted areas. The retractable pillars are locked into position and can be unlocked and retracted in

A solution like this would allow authorized city vehicles to enter the bikeway when necessary but would provide a barrier against people accidentally entering the bikeway.

Pillars like these could have saved 11 lives in Santa Monica. Tuesday was a near-miss, so please, let’s not wait for the tragedy to happen before some action is taken.

Patricia Rough, Burbank

Published Burbank Leader, Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Mayor asks residents to join her on weekly stroll to promote a healthier lifestyle and open communication. By Jeremy Oberstein

About a dozen residents kicked off their weekend Saturday morning with Mayor Marsha Ramos during her new, weekly Walk with the Mayor.

The three-mile round-trip walk along Chandler Bikeway affords Ramos the opportunity to get to know residents and promote the city’s efforts toward maintaining a healthier lifestyle.

“We are all here to get healthy,” she said as she and fellow walkers shared the narrow path with joggers, bicyclists and strollers. “Walking is one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to incorporate physical activity into our lives. Plus, this is part of our push toward more pedestrian-friendly enhancements [in Burbank].”

The Chandler Bikeway is a two-mile path from Mariposa Street to Clybourn Avenue on what was an abandoned railroad track. In 1991, Los Angeles and Burbank jointly purchased the median and agreed to refurbish the dilapidated property.

Joining Ramos during the second of her weekly walks were local residents and city officials.
Though constituents could have taken the opportunity to discuss city matters with their mayor, conversations between Ramos and walkers were more friendly than civic.

Burbank resident Hilda Feters spoke with Ramos about her weekend plans and why she enjoys the weekly stroll. “It’s a very good workout,” she said. “It’s very pleasant and nice to meet people from the community.”

Burbank Water and Power board member Bob Olson spoke with Ramos about the city’s decision to build the pathway.

“This is great,” he said. “It’s the best three miles this city has ever spent money on.”
Asked whether his participation was compulsory as a city employee, Olson laughed. “No, no. I’m just here for the exercise.”

Others there for exercise included June Musurlian, the 3-year-old daughter of Peter Musurlian, a senior producer for the city’s government access channel.

“Is exercise important?” he asked her as they strode along.

“Um, yes!” she shouted.

Musurlian took the opportunity to walk because “it’s a nice incentive to spend some quality time with my daughter.”

And that is what Saturday morning was all about — healthy living, Ramos said

“The goal is to get as many people out here as possible,” she said.

“We want kids, adults, dogs, everyone. We want people to get healthy, and it starts with me. You have to walk the walk to be able to talk the talk.”