Westlake takes steps toward pedestrian and bicycle safety

Officials in Westlake Village say they have a plan to make city streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.

The city's public safety committee identified several problem areas, including pedestrians walking or jogging in bike lanes when sidewalks are available, causing cyclists to veer into traffic lanes.

Another concern involves pedestrians who walk or run with their backs to the traffic instead of facing it. Several pedestrian deaths have occurred on Lindero Canyon Road in recent years.

Bicyclists, conversely, are supposed to ride with the traffic, not against it.

Streets identified as trouble spots include both sides of Lindero Canyon Road between the northern city limit and Hedgewall Drive and between Agoura Road and Rustic Oak Drive; both sides of Thousand Oaks Boulevard between the western city limit and Lindero Canyon; both sides of Via Colinas, Via Rocas, La Tienda Road, Lakeview Canyon Road between Watergate Road and Lindero Canyon, and Ridgeford Drive between Lindero Canyon and Canterhill Place.

The City Council approved a $20,000 program to identify and address the safety concerns and to develop community outreach measures to educate the public. Enforcement, when appropriate, is also part of the plan. The campaign will be unveiled in May to coincide with National Bicycle Safety Month and will run throughout 2009.

The public safety committee hopes to encourage cyclists to avoid the high traffic area of Lindero Canyon Road between Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Agoura Road and instead use Lakeview Canyon Road. The offstreet bike path in that section of Lindero is not attractive to serious cyclists, said Mark Wessel, city traffic engineer.

The city will develop materials that explain bicycle laws and offer safety tips, such as complying with traffic laws, including stopping at stop signs and red lights, riding single file and making eye contact with drivers when crossing the street.

Brochures will be distributed to homeowners associations, bike shops, schools and bike clubs, and will be available at the library, at city hall and on the city's website.

Sheriff's deputies and members of the group Volunteers in Policing will help counsel erring pedestrians and cyclists.

The program will be reviewed on an ongoing basis to make any necessary changes.

"This is groundwork for something we will use as a general guide," Councilmember Sue McSweeney said.