If you live in Burbank, south of the 5 freeway, and need to get across town or want a leisurely stroll to explore your neighborhood, the Burbank Channel Bikeway might be your answer. The Burbank Channel Pathway Project is a way for the city to provide a safe route and allow pedestrians to diversify their modes of transportation. The path is a concrete paved pedestrian/bikeway for traffic in both directions surrounded by California's native drought tolerant landscaping. The chain-link fence surrounding the wash has been replaced with 4 foot straight bar steel fencing that is both long lasting and aesthetically pleasing.
Exact location of bikeway:
The bike path started as a result of 2009 Metro projects and Urban Greening for Sustainable Communities program grants, the bike path will be completed in phases and will eventually connect Chatsworth to Long Beach.
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The path begins at the Downtown Burbank Metrolink Station below the staircase on the east side of the Olive overpass. The Burbank Metrolink station is the first suburban station on the east side of the valley and is constantly being used by all demographics. Both the train and busses make routes to the station as it is a main hub of Burbank’s transportation. |
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Commuters living in proximity to the Burbank Channel Bikeway can use the bike path for safe and quick travel. The path then crosses the end of Flower Street and begins behind the blue Borrmann Steel building on a footbridge. The footbridge crosses over to the west side of the channel and runs parallel with the freeway. Along this portion path, pedestrians can look to the west to see the Burbank Public Works building and a parking lot full of service vehicles. Traveling southeast, the first intersections of the bikeway is with Verdugo Ave.
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This intersection is well protected with concrete pillars and well marked crossing lines for safety. There are multiple signs alerting drivers of the bike path and directional arrows marking the Metrolink and LA River path. The Verdugo intersection is important because it allows neighboring pedestrians to use the bike path as a route to the Burbank Recycling Center, located just north of the path on Flower St. This connection is also interesting because it interacts with Trustworthy Brewery and their back patio on Verdugo Ave.
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The path continues from Verdugo and transitions to the east side of the channel on Lake St. The next location on the bike path is a parklet on the corner of Providencia and Lake St. The park is named Compass Tree Park and it is wedged into an irregular triangle site on the corner of the street. At this location, there are two park benches and a trash can that surround a compass on the floor. The park is shaded by three coastal oak trees and feels very safe and comfortable to rest beside the road.
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Descending from the top of the mound over the conduit, the path comes to a footbridge on Elmwood. The foot bridge connects Elmwood Ave over the channel providing a pathway for residents and students on the northside of the channel access to walk to McKinley Elementary School. Back on track, the bike path is smooth and free of any blemish or cracks. Just beyond the parklet the path moves up and over an existing conduit for municipalities, this provides an opportunity for a gear change and boost to your heart rate.
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After the footbridge, the path stops at a signal light to cross Alameda. At this point the path connects to the initial phase of the Burbank Channel Bikeway. The first phase of the project tied the community together through public space and physical pedestrian connections. But now that the connection is extended to the Burbank Metrolink Station, residents are able to safely and effectively use public transportation rather than driving. Hopefully in the future, the bikeway will connect to the LA river and allow for a direct and safe route across Los Angeles.
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