Want to be featured as the cover photo of a future Turtle Talk issue? Reply to this email with a photo of you on a low-speed vehicle.

Welcome Back

We're excited to present our fourth issue of "Turtle Talk," a monthly e-blast with the latest updates and news-you-can-use about the South Bay Local Travel Network (LTN), produced by the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG).

Here's a little reminder: the LTN is planned to be a 243-mile network of existing, low-speed routes designed to accommodate travel via small, low-speed vehicles (aka street-worthy golf carts, e-bikes, pedal bikes, e-scooters, etc.).    

To reread this content in the future, visit our website. Be sure to follow our social media campaigns on Instagram, Facebook, X and LinkedIn.  

LTN is Coming to Lomita

On March 19, 2024, the Lomita City Council approved the Measure M funding application for implementation of the Local Travel Network in the City of Lomita. The proposed routes will connect to important destinations in the city such as schools, downtown Lomita, and Lomita Park. The project will be implemented in two phases:

• Phase 1 will install LTN infrastructure throughout the city, and
• Phase 2 will provide traffic calming and safety improvements to Eshelman Ave, which is the primary route in the city’s bicycle network.

Folks can expect to see turtle signs in Lomita starting in Fall 2025. CivicSpark Fellow Anne Tsai sat down with Lomita Mayor and SBCCOG Transportation Committee Member Bill Uphoff to discuss what this means for the city.

Anne: Why is now the right time for an LTN in Lomita? 

Mayor: As we look to be more energy-efficient and consider safety on the roads, the city is ready for it. We need to make the roads more user-friendly for e-bikes and other slow vehicles. As we look at improving our roads, whether it's Eshelman or Pennsylvania, where it makes sense, [we are asking] 'what can we do to make the roads more safe and enticing to people who want to use golf cart-like cars or other low-speed electric vehicles?' 

Anne: What do you hope that the LTN introduces or changes in terms of the culture of mobility in the city? 

Mayor: Instead of getting in a car, consider jumping into your street-worthy golf cart [if you have one] to go to the grocery store. We're trying to do more mixed-use development that blends commercial and residential in Lomita. For example, we just added The Slip, which is a new restaurant downtown. So we're saying, "come downtown, and you don't need to drive there.” Lomita is just 1.9 square miles, and you don't need a whole lot of charge to go 2 miles. When you consider what we want the city to look like in the future, the LTN just makes good sense.

The turtle wears a helmet - do you? 

Helmets are required for anyone under the age of 18 riding a bicycle, skateboard, or scooter, but they are important safety equipment for everyone. Follow these guidelines from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for proper helmet fitting: 

1. Your helmet should fit snugly on your head. It should sit no more than two finger-widths above your eyebrow.

2. Both side straps should form a Y shape under and slightly in front of your ears.

3. The buckle should be centered on your chin, with no more than two fingers fitting under the strap.

4. Replace your helmet immediately after an accident. 

Mode of the Month highlights low-speed modes that are frequently seen on the road today.

Why not take the littles to school or run errands on two wheels instead of four? Cargo e-bikes are a zero-emission way to enjoy the amazing weather we have in the South Bay. 

The Three-Wheeled E-Bike

With three inline wheels, three motors, two seats, and two handlebars, Dolas e Bike’s Defender 250 looks like an e-bike from a fever dream. Each 250-watt motor and the extra wheel equips the tandem e-bike (trike?) for all terrains and heavy cargo, touting a carrying capacity of 550 pounds. The Defender is currently only available in Germany and the Netherlands and is priced at 4,650 euros ($5,100 USD). 

New micromobility innovations and technologies are constantly emerging from around the world. We want to showcase some of these exciting vehicle inventions in the industry. Perhaps you’ll spot one of these devices cruising around the South Bay in the near future.

Did someone forward you this email? Sign up to receive future emails from us.