Mar Vista Voice - May 31, 2023

Well, it has come to pass. The real-estate-backed conservative majority on the Culver City Council decided to strip the downtown corridor of the safety and mobility features piloted by the MOVE Culver City program, which include a bus-only lane and a bike lane.

Since its implementation, the MOVE pilot has been a success by all metrics. Downtown Culver City has undergone a type of renaissance, becoming a destination for old and new visitors thanks to increased accessibility. Because folks can now use transit or get around safely by bike or foot, they can also spend more time and money in downtown Culver.

Needless to say, the gutting of MOVE is a disastrous step backward considering the epidemic of traffic violence that plagues our streets and the looming climate apocalypse driven by our car dependent infrastructure and the elected officials unable or unwilling to lead us into a liveable future. 

There is a glimmer of hope, however, for a new destination on the Westside accessible by transit bike or foot: the new Venice Blvd. The street’s new configuration is slated to be completed this month and will include long-overdue safety and mobility improvements like a bus-only lane and a parking-protected bike lane. While there are still major concerns about the road, these new safety and mobility improvements have the potential to be life-changing for the thousands of Angelenos that use Venice Blvd. 

As one of LA’s busiest thoroughfares, the businesses and spaces on Venice Blvd reflect the rich diversity of the communities it serves, both as a road and as a local landmark for adjacent neighborhoods. From some of the most authentic Indian cuisine to trendy coffee shops and independent florists, beauty services like eyebrow threading or the many food trucks that line the streets -this stretch of road is vital and essential to residents of communities like West Adams, Palms and Mar Vista.

We believe that with proper implementation, maintenance and continuous attention to user feedback, the new safety and mobility improvements can turn this street from one of the deadliest in the city to a more liveable part of our everyday life. We hope that Councilmembers Heather Hutt, Katy Yaroslavsky and Traci Park realize the importance and potential of this new project and will work together with LA Streets, LADOT and municipal and county transit agencies to ensure the success of the new Venice Blvd.

In this map you can find some of our favorite spots on or off Venice Blvd, easily accessible by foot, bike or transit. These entries are suggestions from real Venice Blvd users who already frequent these spots by transit, foot or bike. We hope that this guide will encourage you to try new places or consider visiting old favorites via transit, bike or foot!