Tustin council advances Old Town Main Street improvements after residents push for protected bike lanes

Tustin — The Tustin City Council moved to advance plans and authorize advertisement for bids on the Main Street and Old Town Improvements project after several residents urged stronger bike protections and more bike racks downtown.

Public commenters praised the project’s intent to increase walkability and downtown activity but urged the council to prioritize protected, not merely painted, bike lanes. A resident identified as Ethan cited research in the International Journal of Transportation Science and Technology that, he said, shows painted bike lanes can create a false sense of security and produce poorer safety outcomes than protected lanes. Tony, a downtown resident, urged the city to add bike racks to the Old Town core so visiting cyclists have a secure place to park.

Council members and staff acknowledged the concerns. Public Works staff said a bike rack is included in this component of the project but located in the Civic Center complex, not immediately adjacent to Old Town; staff said additional bike racks could be added under a separate public-works project. Staff also said the city is pursuing a comprehensive bike master plan to identify safer bike routes and funding options, with a proposal expected in next year’s budget.

Multiple council members thanked residents who biked to the meeting and supported the project. A motion to accept the plans and move the project forward to bidding was made and seconded during the meeting; the transcript does not include a roll-call vote for that motion.

Next steps: staff will proceed with the advertised bidding process for the Main Street/Old Town improvements. Council discussion indicated the city may pursue standalone work or future projects to add bike racks in Old Town and will seek funding for a bike master plan in the next budget cycle.