Eyes on the Street: Trees in the Bike Lanes

Have you ever been gliding along in one of Santa Monica’s protected bikeways and suddenly found yourself dodging overhanging tree branches? You’re not alone. This underreported problem has been an issue for years, but the good news is that there’s something you can do about it—assuming you don’t want to start trimming branches yourself, as one cyclist on a local message board reported doing at 17th and Colorado.

The images above and below were taken by Connor Webb, who says he recently submitted 10 requests to the city through its 311 app for branch clearances just along 17th Street. We’ll keep you updated on how long it takes the city to respond.

In the meantime, if tree branches—or anything else—are obstructing bike lanes on your commute, let the city know. Click here for the different ways to submit a request, including via app, email, web form, or phone.

Or…you could always try this suggestion from Eli Gill (yes, this is AI and a joke.)

About The Author

Damien Newton

Damien is the executive director of the Southern California Streets Initiative which publishes Santa Monica Next, Streetsblog Los Angeles, Streetsblog San Francisco, Streetsblog California and Longbeachize.

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