Bike paths in the greater Los Angeles area are divided into "classes" which seem to vary in definition from document to document, but essentially are: This article or section should include material from Cycle path debate Segregated cycle facilities may consist of a separate road, track, path or lane that is designated for use by cyclists and from which motorised traffic is generally excluded. ... Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Riverside and San Bernardino counties in Southern California The Greater Los Angeles Area is the agglomeration of urbanized area around the city of Los Angeles, California. ...

• Class 1 Bike Path - Completely separate from traffic.
• Class 2 Bike Lane - A lane set aside in city streets exclusively for bikes. California traffic laws state cars may only pull into a path when within 200 feet of making a right turn. There is no law on opening the driver's side door, which is a common cause of injuries.
• Class 3 Bike Route - Allegedly safe city streets connected into a means of getting from one place to another on a bike.

It should be noted that when riding on these bike paths you will be completely uncovered by any warranties as regards their fitness for safe cycling. In other words, if there is a dangerous hazard as a result of the construction standard of the bikepath and you are injured you can not sue the City or Council of Los Angeles to cover your medical expenses. This is in direct contrast to ordinary city streets. There are two pieces of case law which establish this clearly, one of them being Prokoff vs City of L.A.

It is legal in Los Angeles to ride on sidewalks as long as they do not show "wanton disregard" for the safety of other sidewalk users. In California, when mounted and riding on the road, cyclists are required to 'behave like vehicles' when it comes to obeying signals, signage, and lane restrictions (see the "California Driver Handbook" for details). In brief: Riders are to ride with traffic, yielding unobtrusively to the right when practicable, merging with a "true lane" of traffic when shoulder hugging is not practicable or when turning left.

Paths

• Arroyo Seco bicycle path
• Azusa River bicycle path
• Ballona Creek bicycle path
• Bolsa Chica bicycle path
• Browns Canyon Wash bicycle path
• California Aqueduct bikeway
• Coyote Creek bicycle path
• Culver City Median bicycle path
• Duarte bicycle path
• Hermosa Valley Green Belt path
• L.A. River bicycle path
• La Mirada bicycle path
• Lario bicycle path
• Legg Lake bicycle path
• Long Beach bicycle path
• Long Beach Green Belt path
• Metro Orange Line bicycle path
• Mount Lowe Railroad Trail
• Puddingstone Reservoir bicycle path
• Rio Hondo bicycle path
• San Gabriel River bicycle path
• San Diego Creek bicycle path
• Santa Ana River bicycle path
• Santa Clara River Trail
• Santa Monica bicycle path
• Sepulveda Dam bicycle path
• South Bay bicycle path
• Thompson Creek bicycle path
• Watts Towers Crescent Greenway
• West Los Angeles Veloway
• Yorba Linda bicycle path

The Arroyo Seco bike path is a short path leading along the Arroyo Seco river basin in Los Angeles, from the Montecito Heights Recreation Area through the gap between Ernest E Debs Regional Park and Sycamore Park in the Highland Park district, paralleling California State Route 110, and ending at... // Description The Ballona Creek bicycle path is a six mile stretch of Class 1 bicycle path that parallels Ballona Creek from Los Angeles through Culver City, and ends at the bridge between Marina del Rey and Playa del Rey. ... The Bolsa Chica bicycle path is a mixed-use path that runs adjacent to the sand along the length of Bolsa Chica State Beach. ... // Description Entry Points / Parking Maintenance Current Condition Future Plans References External links Acknowledgements Categories: | | | ... When it was open, the California Aqueduct Bikeway was the longest of the paved paths in the Los Angeles area, at 107 miles long from Quail Lake near Gorman through the desert to Silverwood Lake in the San Bernandino Mountains. ... // Overview The Coyote Creek bikeway runs adjacent to the Coyote Creek flood control channel. ... // Description The Duarte bicycle path is a Class 1 bike path in Los Angeles County that parallels Royal Oaks Drive from Buena Vista Street to Royal Oaks Park (Vineyard Ave) for about 1. ... // Description Entry points / parking Maintenance Current condition Future plans References Rails to Trails Conservancy profile page External links Categories: | | | ... The LA River bicycle path eventually ends up in Long Beach. ... // Description Entry Points / Parking Maintenance Current Condition Future Plans References External links Acknowledgements Categories: | | | ... // Overview Entry points / parking Current condition The Los Angeles Times reported bridge that burned down at Beverly Boulevard on November 5, 2005. ... // Description Entry Points / Parking Maintenance Current Condition Future Plans References External links Categories: | | | ... The Long Beach Bike Path in Los Angeles County meanders about 4. ... // Description Entry Points / Parking Maintenance Current Condition Future Plans References Rails to Trails Conservancy profile page External links Categories: | | | ... // Description The Metro Orange Line bicycle path is a mixed Class 1 bike path and Class 2 bike lane that parallels the Metro Orange Line busway in Los Angeles County. ... // Description Entry Points / Parking Maintenance Current Condition Future Plans References Rails to Trails Conservancy profile page External links Categories: | | | ... // Description Entry Points / Parking Maintenance Current Condition Future Plans References External links Categories: | | | ... The Rio Hondo bicycle path is a Class 1 bicycle path that parallels the Rio Hondo through Los Angeles County. ... The San Gabriel River Trail (also known as SGRT) is a bike path in Los Angeles County, California, USA. The South end of the SGRT is Seal Beach. ... The San Diego Creek bicycle path is largely contained within the city of Irvine, California. ... // Description The Santa Ana River trail is a Class 1 bicycle path in the Los Angeles area that parallels the Santa Ana River channel. ... // Description Entry Points / Parking Maintenance Current Condition Future Plans References Rails to Trails Conservancy profile page External links Categories: | | | ... // Description The Santa Monica bicycle path is an 8. ... The Sepulveda Dam bike path is a loop (linking to the Metro Orange Line) that starts at Victory Boulevard and Interstate 405, runs Westward to Whiteoak with an alternate loop at Balboa, and returns to Victory Boulevard via Woodley. ... Going southbound it starts at Will Rogers state beach (about Tesemacal and PCH) and this part is paved. ... // Description Entry Points / Parking Maintenance Current Condition Future Plans References External links Categories: | | | ... // Description Entry Points / Parking Maintenance Current Condition Future Plans References Rails to Trails Conservancy profile page External links Categories: | | | ... // Description The West Los Angeles Veloway is a Class 1 bike path that starts at the Northeast corner of the Westwood Federal Building in Los Angeles, and runs South from Wilshire Boulevard along the Western side of Veteran Avenue. ... // Description Entry Points / Parking Maintenance Current Condition Future Plans References External links Categories: | | | ...

References

• List of Class I paths fleshed out with information from the LA Bike Paths site
• Locally available information and maps
• User postings from the Bikepaths Yahoo group
• Rails to Trails Conservancy trail page
• California Driver Handbook
• LA Bikeway Guide, Westside / Central City Area
• LA Bikeway Guide, Valley Area
• LA Bikeway Guide, Harbor Area

External links

• "Bikepaths: LA Bicyclists" Yahoo group
• "California Driver Handbook"