Equestrians take the lead against bicyclists in Mariposa Bridge battle

In March 1939, the opening of a narrow bridge across the Los Angeles River from Burbank to Griffith Park was heralded by fanfare — a high school band and a horse show — that brought together horse riders and hikers.

Representatives of the “outdoor-minded” citizens of Burbank, Glendale and Los Angeles to whom the structure was presented, both those afoot and bestride steeds, joined hands at the center of the Mariposa Street Bridge, according to a Los Angeles Times article from the time.

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Nearly 76 years later, however, the suspension bridge is at the center of a fight that has pitted “horse people” in Burbank’s Rancho area and elsewhere against a type of bipedal bridge user: bicyclists. Now, a little more than a month after introducing an ordinance to ban cycling across the bridge, the Burbank City Council is poised to ban even the possession of bikes on it.

The original ordinance, passed unanimously on Dec. 14, had been backed by equestrians and would have restricted the bridge only to those afoot or on horseback — which would include cyclists walking or carrying their bikes. Several cyclists viewed it as a fair compromise and said it would allow them to cross into Los Angeles, where they believe they’re allowed to ride.

However, the equestrians weren’t pleased to learn that the term “pedestrian” includes anyone on foot, even those accompanied by their two-wheeled conveyances.

“We thought we were safe,” said Jay Geisenheimer, a Rancho resident and Realtor who said she was at the December meeting and has touted Burbank’s horse-friendliness to prospective home buyers. “Who would have thought that that would mean walking or pushing a bike would be OK? Bicycles are dangerous to horses — this is a fact, period.”

In past several weeks, equestrians have mounted a campaign to lobby the council to ban even the possession of bikes on the bridge, which they say is a “bridge to nowhere” for bike riders because, they say, bikes aren’t allowed on the L.A. side. Many have met with council members privately, some at the bridge, to discuss their concerns.

Councilman Will Rogers, the only council member who did not meet with the equestrians to discuss the ordinance after the December council meeting, said that he visited the bridge to see how many cyclists use it, but did not see any during three visits last weekend.

This week, during a meeting where the council was set to vote on the original ordinance for a second time to put it into effect and to ban bicycle riding on the bridge, equestrians filled the chambers. More than 40 people spoke before the council, many citing safety concerns and telling them “horses and bikes don’t mix.” More than 100 also sent emails.

Bicycles — among many things including dust, leaves and joggers — spook horses and endanger riders of both bike and beast, the equestrians said, warning of liability issues for the city.

“Even the most well-trained [horse] can easily spook over things that seem, to us, innocuous: a stray plastic bag blowing in the breeze, the sound of a car horn,” wrote Deborah Valenta, in a Jan. 22 email to council members.

In past several weeks, equestrians have mounted a campaign to lobby the council to ban even the possession of bikes on the bridge, which they say is a “bridge to nowhere” for bike riders.

(Raul Roa / Burbank Leader)

The Mariposa Street Bridge is their only access to Griffith Park, the horse riders said, but bicyclists have many more places they’re already able to ride and more to come.

“Why do they need our little bit?” Geisenheimer asked the council, referring to the bridge. Raising hoots and hollers from the audience, she added: “I have never heard of a group of equestrians get together and say, ‘Oh, let’s go riding on Chandler Bikeway.’”

In a city staff report presented in December, Ken Johnson, Burbank’s assistant public works director, said that while signs on the bridge indicate bicycles are not allowed, they are no official signs and the regulations for enforcing such restrictions were not in the Burbank Municipal Code. The purpose of the original ordinance was to add a restriction against bike riding.

Mary Dickson, speaking on behalf of the pedestrian and bicyclist advocacy group Walk Bike Burbank, was one of only two members of the public to voice concerns about banning bikes completely. Dickson advocated for shared use, but said she thought the original ordinance was consistent with the rules in Griffith Park, since both bar bike riding.

Patrick Joyce, a senior park ranger on the Los Angeles side of the river, said bicycles are allowed in Griffith Park and people walking or carrying bikes are considered pedestrians even on the bridle paths restricted for hikers and equestrians.

Joyce also said that bicycles and horse riders cross paths further down the river with few incidents at the Glendale Narrows, near DreamWorks. He said that plans to extend the Los Angeles River Bike Path further up the river toward the Mariposa Street Bridge means cyclists and equestrians will have to work out their differences.

“At some point, they’ll have to come to an agreement,” Joyce said.

The Burbank City Council had considered the possibility in December of restricting the bridge to horse riders and hikers only, but City Atty. Amy Albano said she was uncertain how the city would differentiate “hiker” from other pedestrians. Some council members said this week they were confused as to whether they could have banned bikes from the bridge.

This week, Albano said she was comfortable with the stronger restrictions, on the basis of the council’s findings that there were safety concerns and after visiting the 7-foot-wide bridge herself.

In the end, the council unanimously agreed to scrap the original ordinance and asked for a new one that would ban bikes altogether at the bridge.

“You cannot mix bicycles and horseback riders together,” said Mayor Bob Frutos.

It’s not clear how the bike ban will be enforced. The amended ordinance will be reintroduced in a meeting set for Feb. 9. Until then, city code allows cyclists to walk, or pedal, their bikes across the bridge.

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Chad Garland, chad.garland@latimes.com

Twitter: @chadgarland