LONG BEACH
RIVER TRAILS

environmental graphic design
case study proposal

Ongoing. 2015, started

Budget: TBD

This is a self-directed project to examine an Environmental Graphic Design Way-finding solution for the pedestrian and bike path along the Long Beach river trails. This vision is to set a precedent for a unifying system linking neighboring cities along the river trails of Los Angeles County and Orange County.

As a regular user of the river trail pathways, I've observed several navigational issues which this design study aims to address.

Strategic Improvement Goals

• Provide feedback where user can find exits
• Provide users with distances to the next exit
• Identify street crossings
• Cyclists traveling rapidly for exercise purposes do not want to stop for directory signs
• Feedback at critical decision points

L.A. RIVER BIKEWAY

This 29.1-mile bikeway follows the east side of the Los Angeles River and extends to the Downtown Marina and the Shoreline Aquatic Park Bike Trail. Along the trail you can find the Los Cerritos Wetlands, a great place to see birds and other wildlife. It will also take you down into the Port of Long Beach and to the Queen Mary.

SAN GABRIEL RIVER BIKE TRAIL

This 28-mile bikeway runs along the San Gabriel River through El Dorado Regional Park and extends to the street surface bike trail near the Alamitos Bay Marina. This is one of the most popular bike paths in the area with hundreds of riders each day.

COYOTE CREEK BIKE TRAIL

This trail splits off from the San Gabriel River for another 2.5 miles in Long Beach, bordering neighboring Los Alamitos, Cerritos, and Hawaiian Gardens. It continues on and links out to the cities of Buena Park, Norwalk, and La Mirada.

Information provided by BikeLongBeach.org

OTHER RIVER TRAILS

Ballona Creek, Playa Del Rey

Compton Creek & Rio Hondo River off Los Angeles River

Santa Ana River in Costa Mesa

San Diego Creek in Irvine

San Juan Creek in Dana Point / San Juan Capistrano

CASE STUDY AREA

WEST SIDE

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LOS ANGELES RIVER TRAIL ACCESS POINTS

EAST SIDE

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COYOTE CREEK BIKEWAY ACCESS POINTS

KATELLA

GOLDEN SHORE

W 7TH ST

W ANAHEIM

PCH

W WILLOW

W WARDLOW

BIXBY KNOLLS ACCESS

W DEL AMO

LONG BEACH BLVD

E OSGOOD

E ARTESIA

E 72ND ST

W CERRITOS

BALL

WARDLOW

E SPRING

E WILLOW

2ND ST / WESTMINSTER BLVD

PACIFIC COAST HWY

MARINA DRIVE

7TH ST / COLLEGE PARK

E CARSON

EAST SIDE

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SAN GABRIEL RIVER TRAIL ACCESS POINTS

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4

5

6

7

8

9

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12

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15

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Large, easy to read graphic text applied to both paving and bridge allows users to quickly navigate their location and provides time to consider choices. Large graphic arrows provide intuitive direction guidance.

EL DORADO BRIDGE APPROACH, NORTHBOUND

SG-CC BRIDGE

405

405 UNDERPASS APPROACH, NORTHBOUND

405 UNDERPASS, NORTHBOUND

Large, easy to read graphic text applied bridge overpasses allows users location references.

Distance to next exit with next exit street name(s) provides users valuable feedback.

4

BETWEEN 2ND & 7TH STREETS, NORTHBOUND

3

2ND STREET/WESTMINSTER BLVD, NORTHBOUND

It is easy to forget where one is when between major streets. Periodically text should inform users of upcoming exits.

Text informs users of upcoming exits. Where streets may change along city borders, both street names should be included.

2

PCH, NORTHBOUND DECISION POINT