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Letters to the Editor: Cyclists don’t buy what recent letter-writer was peddling

A long-simmering dispute between equestrian and local bicyclists boils up this week in the letters to the editor. Shown above in 2016, the bridge is at the terminus of Mariposa Street at Valleyheart Drive, next to Circle K Riding Stables.
(Raul Roa / Burbank Leader)
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Re: “Another bridge exists for bikes,” Mailbag, Feb. 17. There is no bridge dedicated to cyclists. By mislabeling the segment of Riverside Drive where it crosses over the L.A. River and 134 Freeway as the cyclist’s “own, newly constructed bridge crossing dedicated to just cyclists.” Letter writer Lisa Dyson may endanger new cyclists, perhaps even children, by implying that this is a safe route for inexperienced cyclists. If there is more than light traffic, it is not.

This is a location that many experienced cyclists would sometimes avoid if there was a safer route. The recent improvements simply widened a portion of the bridge.

Riding north is not so bad, but going south past the freeway onramp, especially as a solo rider, can be difficult. Even though drivers need to slow down to make the turn onto the freeway, they often won’t make space (nose to tail) to allow cyclists to merge left and continue south. Worse yet are the drivers that “floor it” at the last instant and make a hard right turn directly in front of cyclists when they could have just passed on the right because the cyclist had already moved left.

This is not a bridge used only by cyclists, it is not dedicated to cyclists, and none of the recent changes make it so. The recent improvements didn’t address the safety issues. Currently, there is no dedicated bridge west of the Mariposa Street bridge either. Dyson states though “Apparently, this isn’t enough.” She’s right. It isn’t.

Rhonda Levine

Burbank

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In her letter, Lisa Dyson states incorrectly that cyclists have a newly constructed, dedicated bridge crossing. In reality, cyclists who wish to cross the L.A. River must use the recently renovated Riverside bridge. This requires sharing the road with cars and crossing a freeway onramp and offramp. This is risky, especially during heavy traffic hours. I’ve been yelled at and have had a car slide sideways in front of me as the driver desperately tried to beat me to the onramp. Dyson’s statement is misleading to young or inexperienced people seeking a safe place to ride their bikes.

The bridge renovation includes a new continuation of the L.A. River bike path under the bridge to connect with the paved road west of the bridge, next to the river. There is a new entrance to the path on the west side of the bridge, and signs and pavement markings indicating the proper areas for cyclists to use. The paved road continues west almost to the Mariposa Street bridge and is suitable for motor vehicles and bicycles under the codes referenced by Dyson. However, the paved road has been fenced off a few yards west of the Riverside bridge at the urging of equestrians who refuse to share the segment between the two bridges. This prevents cyclists from using the paved path to get to Forest Lawn Drive or simply to enjoy the scenery and open space.

It’s a shame we can’t emulate the example of Malibu Creek State Park, where bicyclists and equestrians share and enjoy the space peacefully.

Paul Nicholas

Burbank

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Re: “Longtime horse stable at equestrian center closing,” Feb. 17. The article shows local horse stable folks at each others’ throats with lawsuits, business divorce, hard feelings and nasty statements in the media flying fast and furious. It’s not enough, I guess, that the equestrians are warring against bicyclists in Burbank. Now they’re apparently turning on each other, and I’m not surprised at all to see mention of a competing horse rental business near the Mariposa Street bridge as possibly being involved in the nastiness.

Doug Weiskopf

Burbank

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