Long Beach Upgrades Dozens of Bike Lanes and Pedestrian Crossings

Long Beach is ramping up its active transportation policy this summer, with City Hall unveiling a new round of funding and plans to upgrade cycling and pedestrian infrastructure in neighborhoods spanning from Bixby Knolls to the East Village Arts District. The policy, approved unanimously by the City Council last month and detailed in the FY2026-27 municipal budget, directs $28 million to bike paths, protected lanes and sidewalk enhancements over the next two years.

Addressing Safety and Access Gaps

The timing comes as Southern California cities compete to improve street safety and mobility, with Long Beach aiming to keep pace with recent projects in Santa Monica and Pasadena. According to policy analysts, Long Beach has lagged behind its coastal peers in miles of protected cycling infrastructure per capita. The new plan focuses on fixing chronic "gap areas" in the bike network near major thoroughfares like Pacific Avenue and Anaheim Street, where accident rates involving cyclists or pedestrians have stayed stubbornly high. City staff cite data from the 2025 Mobility Analysis suggesting collisions involving non-drivers in Long Beach occurred at a rate of 61 per 100,000 last year, compared to 47 per 100,000 in Santa Monica during the same period.

For local residents, those statistics translate to tangible consequences. Parents walking children to Roosevelt Elementary on North Lemon Avenue have long reported unsafe crossings at busy intersections. The initiative designates $2.8 million to install four new pedestrian signals there and at similar high-traffic sites, according to public works budgets.

Funding Details and Practical Changes for Residents

The city is channelling $14.2 million of the overall package directly into 12 miles of new protected bike lanes, which officials say will prioritize connectors to Metro A Line rail stations at Willow Street and Downtown. Daily commuters like those biking to St. Mary Medical Center or the Port of Long Beach are expected to benefit from smoother, safer links. Residents living along Broadway in Alamitos Beach will see curb ramps rebuilt for ADA compliance and new street furniture to encourage walking.

Comparisons with other cities show that, while Long Beach's previous bike network covered about 51 miles as of 2025, Santa Monica had reached 64 miles and Pasadena 57, according to the Southern California Association of Governments' Active Transportation Database. Long Beach officials say the current expansion aims to close that gap by the end of 2027.

Funding comes from a mix of local measures, including Long Beach Measure A sales taxes, and a recent regional grant secured through Los Angeles County’s Safe Streets for All program. The most recent city budget earmarks $28 million for active transportation, exceeding Pasadena's $20 million allocation but falling short of San Diego's $40 million from its larger population and tourist base.

Next Steps

Construction is projected to begin in September, with priority routes on north-south corridors and school zones. City officials say updated route maps and a draft construction timeline will be released at a public meeting scheduled for July 17 at City Hall. Local advocacy groups have welcomed the expanded focus, cautioning that monitoring and community input will be crucial as projects roll out. The Department of Public Works expects to complete most installations by mid-2027, at which point Long Beach’s active transportation network is projected to rival that of its best-in-class neighbors.