The Santa Monica City Council voted 5-2 Tuesday to allow bicycles and e-scooters to share designated transit-only lanes with buses, but rejected a broader proposal to implement the policy citywide immediately.
The ordinance amendment, which passed on first reading, will initially apply only to the westbound Broadway transit lane from 5th Street to Ocean Avenue. The measure grants the city's Transportation Department director authority to designate which bus lanes can accommodate cyclists and shared mobility device users.
The debate highlighted divisions among council members over whether to take a cautious, phased approach or implement the policy across all bus lanes simultaneously.
Council Member Jesse Zwick, who voted against the final measure, pushed for citywide implementation from the start.
"The physics in Santa Monica are the same as those in LA; we know it's safer already; we don't need to study this," Zwick said, referencing successful shared bus-bike lanes in Los Angeles.
Council Member Natalya Zernitskaya also opposed the limited approach, explaining her "no" vote by saying she preferred "city-wide consistency" rather than creating confusion for riders about which bus lanes allow bicycles.
Zwick and Council Member Barry Snell first proposed a substitute motion to legalize bicycles in all of the city's bus lanes, but that measure failed 3-4. Council Members Zwick, Snell and Zernitskaya supported the broader approach, while Mayor Pro Tempore, Council Member Ellis Raskin, Council Member Caroline Hall and Mayor Lana Negrete opposed it.
The original staff recommendation then passed 5-2, with only Zwick and Zernitskaya voting against.
Transportation staff defended the phased implementation as a prudent approach to test safety and operational impacts before expanding to other corridors.
"Staff will be able to hone the implementation of these shared lanes in a limited and favorable setting, and staff will be able to closely evaluate their effect on traveler safety and behavior," said Trevor Thomas, senior transportation planner with the city's Mobility Division.
The Broadway segment was chosen because of favorable conditions, including lower bus frequencies and speeds that align with National Association of City Transportation Officials guidelines. The segment also provides a crucial connection between existing and planned protected bike lanes.
City staff cited successful implementations in Los Angeles, where shared bus-bike lanes on Wilshire and Sunset boulevards resulted in cycling crashes decreasing by 10% and 30% respectively, despite increased ridership.
The ordinance addresses a gap in Santa Monica's cycling network by providing a safer alternative to riding in mixed traffic or on sidewalks, which is prohibited. Currently, cyclists must use regular travel lanes alongside faster-moving vehicles when no bike lanes are available.
"Cyclists and scooter riders are currently presented with three choices of where to ride: in the mixed travel lane away from the curb, on the sidewalk, or in a transit lane," Thomas explained. "The sidewalk option is explicitly prohibited, and for good reason, as it presents collision hazards for riders and pedestrians."
The amendment also grants the Transportation Department director administrative authority to designate new transit-only lanes without requiring council approval, providing flexibility for upcoming major events including the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics.
Santa Monica currently operates four transit-only lanes: peak-time lanes on Lincoln Boulevard and all-day lanes on Santa Monica Boulevard and Broadway.
If fully implemented, the policy would align Santa Monica with neighboring Los Angeles and Culver City, where bicycles are already permitted in bus lanes.
Before implementing the Broadway designation, staff plan to develop evaluation metrics, coordinate with Big Blue Bus operators and police, install appropriate signage and conduct public education campaigns in multiple languages.
The ordinance requires a second reading before becoming law. Staff anticipate implementing the Broadway shared lane ahead of completion of the broader Broadway protected bike lane project.
