Mark Bixby Memorial Bicycle-Pedestrian Path
Background on this bicycle and pedestrian addition to the new bridge.
The Mark Bixby Memorial Bicycle-Pedestrian Path opened on May 20, 2023, with an event at the Civic Center Plaza, followed by a bike procession and opening on the path itself. Read more about the opening event here.
The Long Beach International Gateway Bridge includes a separated, 1.5-mile-long bicycling and walking path along the south edge of the bridge. Officially named the Mark Bixby Memorial Bicycle Pedestrian Path, the route offers spectacular views of the San Pedro Bay, the Port of Long Beach and much of the city’s coastline.
At its crest, the Bixby Path reaches a height of 205 feet above the water. The pathway is equipped with three overlooks, each with informational signage and benches. The Ocean Boulevard Connector includes a viewing area with a timeline of the Port and other architectural features.
The Mark Bixby Memorial Bicycle-Pedestrian Path and the Ocean Boulevard Connector are accessible from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Cyclists and walkers will start from the southwest corner of Ocean Boulevard and Golden Shore and proceed west on the Ocean Boulevard Connector and then the Bixby Path. Just after the Bixby Path’s third overlook, everyone will turn around and head back over the bridge to downtown Long Beach.
The Mark Bixby Bicycle-Pedestrian Path and Ocean Boulevard Connector integrates the Port of Long Beach and the International Gateway Bridge to Long Beach’s wider bicycle network. The project closes a critical gap in the California Coastal Trail, improving public access to coastal areas for pedestrians and cyclists.
The path is named after one of Long Beach’s leading bicycle advocates. Mark Bixby helped create the city’s Bicycle Master Plan and founded the Long Beach Bicycle Festival. He also spearheaded the successful grassroots effort to have a bike path included in the design of the new bridge. Bixby died in a tragic airplane crash on March 16, 2011. It wasn’t long after that when the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners approved the addition of the path to the Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project.
Download the project fact sheet: English | Español
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