FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –
April 21, 2022
**PRESS RELEASE**
COUNCILMEMBER BOB BLUMENFIELD OPENS LATEST ADDITION TO THE LA RIVER BIKE PATH
CANOGA PARK, CA – Continuing to make progress toward making the West Valley more bike-friendly, Councilmember Bob Blumenfield welcomed bike advocates and city leaders to unveil the newest portion of the LA River Bike Path. This ceremonial ribbon cutting was followed by the inaugural bike ride of this addition to the LA River bike network. Located at the headwaters of the River from Owensmouth Ave to Mason Ave, this 1.5 mile of new path connects to established portions Blumenfield has helped create over the past few years.
“The LA River is such an incredible resource and we must invest in projects like this so we can bring it to its full potential,” said Councilmember Bob Blumenfield. “Thanks to organizations like LACBC and our city partners, including LADOT and StreetsLA, for joining together as we continue to make LA a city where Angelenos can bike and walk without fear.”
“We think that the bicycle is a vehicle for progress that is healthy, sustainable, affordable, equitable and fun but the problem is that not a lot of us can ride bikes safely or feeling like we are supported- that’s why this infrastructure is so important,” said Eli Kaufman, Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC) and Chair of the LA City Bicycle Advisory Committee.
While he is leading the way on other multimodal projects like the Reseda Blvd. Street Improvement Project also aimed at making the West Valley a safer and more accessible destination for bicyclists and pedestrians, Blumenfield has remained focused on doing his part to make the entire 51 miles length of the LA River a beautiful linear park, starting at the headwaters in Canoga Park.
This $6M stretch of the River Path was mostly funded through a California State Active Transportation Program grant and the next phase is planned from Vanalden to Balboa in the Sepulveda Basin. Next week, Council will vote on the Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for that phase, which will clear the way for city departments to proceed with bidding out that construction contract. When complete, there will be a continuous bike path along the River across the West Valley that will allow one to ride from the Headwaters at Owensmouth to Woodley Ave. without having to stop for a single traffic signal.
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