The proposal to redesign Fountain Avenue has become the defining issue of the 2024 race for West Hollywood City Council. There has been misinformation spread regarding the process by which the city developed the plans, what the plans actually are and a lack of meaningful public engagement to empower residents to have input on this critical quality of life issue. The plan will result in loss of parking, there was no traffic study done and there was no input from public safety first responders.

In an ideal world, we can create spaces for all modes of transportation, and we can achieve greater safety. The debate must center on where bike lanes make sense and where they do not make sense. There is a strong feeling among residents of West Hollywood that bike lanes do not make sense on Fountain Avenue. That’s it! There is no blanket opposition to the reality that the world can be a cleaner and healthier place if we find responsible ways to enhance biking infrastructure.

There’s also the very real issue of the loss of well over 100 parking spaces for residents along Fountain and the impact that loss of parking will have on adjoining streets. This is not an insignificant issue. This is the same issue that must be addressed on Gardner, where a proposed redesign will result in the loss of 56% of parking along that street.

Some people talk about the fallacy of induced demand, or the concept that if you build it they will come. Observational evidence from throughout the region belie that supposition. There are millions of dollars in public investment in bike lanes in cities such as South Pasadena, Beverly Hills and Culver City that are being torn out. We must look to the experience of other municipalities and let both failures and successes inform our own decision making and we must recognize that our tiny 1.9 square miles needs to coordinate transportation infrastructure plans regionally, not as a standalone island.

West Hollywood can and must do better. Let’s have a robust and respectful community conversation about what makes sense and where it makes sense. If we do this properly, we can walk and chew gum at the same time and put the common good above parochial interests.

Alan M. Strasburg

West Hollywood