Lawsuit Accuses L.A. of Violating Measure HLA Over Bike Lanes

A lawsuit has been filed against the city of Los Angeles by Streetsblog L.A. editor Joseph Linton, addressing the alleged failure to implement updated bike lanes along Vermont Avenue, a key bus route. The legal action stems from the city’s failure to comply with Measure HLA, which mandates the inclusion of bike lanes in street improvement projects, particularly during repaving. Linton argues that the city violated this measure by repaving Vermont Avenue without adding protected bike lanes and by advancing plans for the Vermont Transit Corridor that exclude bike lanes. This project, which aims to enhance public transit with dedicated bus lanes and 26 stations, has sparked criticism from safe streets advocates who feel it neglects the needs of cyclists. The lawsuit seeks to prompt city negotiations for safer street designs rather than financial compensation. Measure HLA, approved by voters in March 2024, requires the city to publicly track progress on mobility improvements, but critics argue compliance has been inadequate so far.