The Ralph and Goldy Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies

The City of Los Angeles has two transportation entities responsible for building protected bike lanes—bicycle lanes that are physically separated from motor vehicle traffic lanes. Building protected bike lanes is a goal that Los Angeles established in its mobility plan, Mobility Plan 2035, that the City Council passed 11 years ago. In 2024, city voters passed an initiative, Measure HLA, to prompt quicker implementation of this plan; the initiative’s website noted that the city had only completed five percent of the plan. However, even since Measure HLA’s passage, Los Angeles has not delivered protected bike lanes faster or at scale, nor has it appeared to maintain existing protected bike lanes. For my client, FASTLinkDTLA, I investigated how Los Angeles could improve its management and delivery of protected bike lanes. Through my research, which spanned a literature review, interviews with seven planners in more bike-friendly American cities outside Los Angeles, and interviews with four Los Angeles advocates for walking and cycling, I identified nine best practices for bike infrastructure project management; Six concerned institutional structure and three concerned staff and interpersonal skills. Four best practices—hierarchy, or having one government entity focused on streets; dedicated funding; leadership and culture; and community support strategies—act as a foundation for the other five by creating the context in which staff can develop these practices. I conclude my report by making seven recommendations to improve Los Angeles’ management of protected bike projects so that it can quickly complete bike projects in Mobility Plan 2035 and beyond.