Comments on: Community and Cyclists Clash on Ballona Creek Trail Gate

By: david p.

david p. — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:50:15 +0000

i found the path well used and pretty pleasant.
the sawtelle entrance is poorly marked, and not easily accessed by cyclists. i think it should be made wider to attract more people and dispel unwanted uses.

perhaps its an ideal route because of its design/neglect. lets think of ways we can solve the situation without closing it off.

By: Alex Thompson

Alex Thompson — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 09:47:02 +0000

You can't even access the bike path from the section 8 housing (projects). So what does that have to do with anything? I'll tell you this, a lot of kids use that path to walk home from school. This will shut them down too. Fences don't address crime, and even if they did I can jump that fence in one leap. I can also cut a hole in it using garden shears. I could cut the chains off with a cheap set of bolt cutters. Unless LA is ready to spend tens of thousands of dollars on serious fencing they can't really "close" anything. You're really ticked? Support legislation that will increase police funding so LAPD can patrol that area more often.

By: Damien Newton

Damien Newton — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:53:06 +0000

Homeowner,

Thank you for posting. I appreciate it. It's good to get an alternate view on issues as a lot of the posters here tend to agree on a lot of issues. No matter what the outcome of the gate closure controversy, I hope that there is a solution to the crime problem in your area.

By: homeowner

homeowner — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 16:14:34 +0000

If you "ride" the bike path you don't see the impact of the crimes. This entrance is just east of the culver city projects, it is used as an escape route for crime. For instance.. Dealing of drugs is done by the seller driving down the street, parking and meeting the buyer at or around the gate. The buyer then has a quick route home to the projects and the seller also has a quick route out of the neighborhood. Culver dr is close to the major street of sawtelle, so this makes it an easy get away. If you only ride the path you wouldn't see much of this happening. This is why closing the entrance will not affect the cyclist. The cyclist will continue to ride by as always. We are all told to do what is best to create a safe environment for our homes and when the police dept tell you that they need to close off this entrance, because it serves as an artery to the crime, we as a community should have more support to this. We have tried other options, we are tired of living with camera's, seeing the crime and not being able to do anything to control it. And many have stated that you wouldn't close off major exits on frwy's but you are comparing apples to oranges. There are many "streets" that have been closed off to traffic when it becomes a hazared, for example look at the streets that run along jefferson near the back entrance to the cemetary, they were closed off do to it being a residential area and the streets being used as shortcuts to the mall ... well this is our residential area and it has become a hazard because it is used as a getaway for crime.

By: david p.

david p. — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 05:34:22 +0000

i'm riding on it tomorrow morning. i'll make sure to bring my brass knuckles.

By: John D

John D — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:55:22 +0000

Call me crazy, but it appears that if those gang members really want to be on the trail, the fence is easily jumped.

Sounds like just a bunch of way too typical NIMBYism.

By: Fred Camino

Fred Camino — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:44:05 +0000

Shhh... we don't take kindly to queer ideas like logic and common sense 'round these parts pardner.

By: Simon

Simon — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:20:37 +0000

I'm really not sure I understand what the gate has to do with the criminals.

Why would gang bangers want to do their deals on a bike path? What's the difference? It sounds like they're just going to that neighborhood because it's got bad police coverage, not because of anything else.

You'd think the LAPD could put an officer there just for a day or two. If he caught one perpetrator then you figure criminals would pick a different spot next time.

By: Charlie D.

Charlie D. — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:44:33 +0000

Why are there gates on the path to begin with? I have never seen any path that can be closed off like that. The main thing that will deter criminals is more people using the path. Open all the entrances and encourage people to use the path. What's the point of all the chain link fence anyway? Why not just tear it all down?