UCLA Transportation is continually improving the campus infrastructure to make UCLA a more bike-friendly university. These enhancements include a new bike lane and speed cushions that have been installed on Westholme Ave. between Hilgard Ave. and Charles E. Young Drive.
The protected bike lane features highly visible bright green striping and bollards to separate the lane from vehicle traffic. Speed cushions slow down drivers without impeding emergency vehicles, enhancing the safety of an important campus entry point for bicyclists and scooter riders. The bike lane was converted from an outer vehicle lane after peak hour traffic data indicated that one vehicle lane was sufficient.
These improvements were necessary because of a pattern of speeding as vehicles entered campus on Westholme from Hilgard. The campus speed limit is 20 mph, lower than a typical city roadway, to ensure the safety of all community members. Higher vehicle speeds increase the likelihood that a pedestrian can be killed in a vehicle-on-pedestrian collision. At 20 mph, a pedestrian hit by a vehicle survives 95% of the time. At 40 mph, the fatality rate jumps to 85%. Even at 30 mph, there’s just a little more than a 50/50 chance of survival.
The Westholme bike lane and speed cushions add to the existing seven miles of bike-friendly roads on campus. They include protected bike lanes on Charles E. Young Dr. East, a bike lane on Westwood Plaza connecting to Gateway Plaza, and speed cushions on Strathmore Pl. to slow down vehicles entering campus.
These enhancements were made in coordination with the Design & Project Management team at UCLA Facilities Management, and support the campus’ goals as outlined in the UCLA Sustainability Plan and Active Transportation Plan.
