Burb’s Eye View: Chandler Bikeway’s 10-year anniversary celebrated

Bob Olson first strapped on a pair of skates nearly 60 years ago, but until 10 years ago, he’d drive off to Hansen Dam to use them.

“There weren’t many places to go” in his Burbank neighborhood, he said — not with the type of pavement where he could get up to speed and still stay out of car traffic.

Last Wednesday, he took up a pen and signed an oversized birthday card for the Chandler Bikeway, which officially opened Aug. 20, 2004.

His note: “Thanks every day for the trip provided.”

Under a small pop-up tent on the side of the bikeway, members of Walk Bike Burbank, city staff and residents celebrated Chandler’s 10-year anniversary with a little cake, a look back at its history and a lot of conversation around what’s happening next for Burbank’s bikeways.

“This is where people feel the most safe. Having a bike path network is crucial,” said Cory Wilkerson, assistant transportation planner for the city of Burbank.

A few passing cyclists, walkers and runners took up the group’s offer of free snacks and desserts while they indulged in a history lesson about the path and the city’s plans to extend routes to the downtown Metrolink station.

In 1991, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the city of Burbank bought a 2-mile railroad right-of-way from the Southern Pacific Transportation Co. In 1993, the city applied for a grant through the MTA to convert it into a bikeway, but designs would take another two years to complete.

By 1997, the city had a $750,000 grant to help build the bikeway, which ended up costing $2.7 million in total.

In October 1999, the City Council authorized the bikeway’s final design, but approvals were held until the city could respond to neighbors’ complaints. It would be another year before the MTA approved the city’s design, and another two years of paperwork before the city could start construction.

In January 2003, city officials pried four stakes from the old railroad tracks to begin work, and in May 2004, the city held a tree-planting ceremony along the path, which was still under construction. The Luther Burbank Middle School cheerleaders and a local doo-wop group joined city officials on Aug. 20, 2004, to herald the official opening of the bikeway to anyone who wanted to use it.

In 10 years, the Chandler Bikeway lived up to that mission, if only too well. One woman at the event last week who declined to give her name said dog walkers on the path “drive her crazy” when she’s on a bike.

“I’d rather ride on the street on Chandler than on the bike path,” she said.

City staff at the event and members of Walk Bike Burbank see the path’s heavy traffic as a sign that the city can use more routes that keep people away from cars.

“You guys are awesome,” yelled a man in a running club as the group of joggers passed the tent at California Street.

The city will next work on the second phase of a path, which extends along the tributary of the L.A. River that runs from South Victory Boulevard (near Linden Avenue) to the Metrolink station off Olive Avenue. The first phase of that project, between Victory Boulevard and Alameda Avenue, was completed in 2011.

The second phase of the project is currently under review while the city addresses neighbors’ concerns about the placement of the path, as it would abut property lines along several streets.

Wilkerson said the city hopes to arrive at a solution that benefits the neighbors as well as the city. In the case of Chandler, property values in the neighborhood increased — one of several benefits to having the bikeway, he said.

“Attitudes are changing slowly,” he said. “It’s about sharing the path.”

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BRYAN MAHONEY writes about Burbank neighbors and the place they call home. He can be reached at 818NewGuy@gmail.com and on Twitter at @818NewGuy.