SANTA MONICA : Master Bicycle Plan Advances Despite Protests

The Santa Monica City Council voted 5 to 1 this week to move forward with a master bicycle plan that would transform the city into a haven for cyclists and, some say, a hassle for residents.

The council approved environmental review of the plan despite strong opposition from residents who fear that their quality of life could be shattered by packs of weekend cyclists in quiet neighborhoods.

Conceived as a network of connecting bike routes and two bicycle boulevards closed to through auto traffic, the $2-million proposal is being offered as a way to curb air pollution by promoting bicycle commuting. Transportation funds earmarked for bike improvements are available so the city will not have to pay for the plan, Santa Monica City Planning Director Paul Berlant said.

While proponents called the plan “visionary,” a larger, louder group at a public hearing Tuesday night dismissed the idea as folly. “The neighborhood fabric is so tenuous now,” said resident Mary Beth Elliott. “You just have to leave it alone.”