That is true for a street, but I believe the Ballona Creek bike path is considered a trail, meaning a different legal distinction.

IANAL, nor do I play one on tv.

Climbing a chain link fence with smooth soled cycling shoes is no easy feat – especially for those of us approaching 50 on the bioclometer. But answer this: if a 49 year old guy wearing cycling shoes can climb that fence with his bicycle in tow, why does anyone expect that teenage thugs will be deterred by locking that gate?

Here’s a safety issue for you, misters Commander and Councilman: when you prevent access to the bike path, you force cyclists to use substituted routes shared with automobiles – routes that have not been developed for this purpose precisely because the path has been accessible. Do you wish to be responsible for the injury and death of cyclists – people who are among the few in our community who, through their cycling, mitigate most of our most dyer problems (e.g. air and water pollution, traffic congestion, inadequate health care system due to rampant obesity, diabetes, etc., unavailable or expensive parking, space unavailability due to it’s expropriation for roads and parking lots, huge cost to maintain transportation infrastructure, green house effect….).

As for local homeowners, well, I feel for you. I wouldn’t want my house vandalized or burgled, and I know what it’s like to share my street with a bunch of boisterous teenagers. And if locking the gate were a solution to these problems, it might be fair to consider it. Nevertheless, you knew you were buying a house a stone’s throw from Ballona Creek and were – I should hope – aware of the possible advantages and disadvantages of your proximity to the Creek. And, the cost of your property accorded with this - or should have – when you purchased it. I paid a bit less for my property because of the two easements in my backyard, so I don’t have fit every time DWP needs access.

Let’s work to find real solutions to the problems associated with the bike path so that homeowners can enjoy the safety and peace every resident deserves. Are better lighting and a neighborhood watch program the solutions? I don’t know, but I’m sure that back peddling on our path to an ecologically sustainable community isn’t the answer.

About a year ago, on one occasion the gate was locked and I did ask a local resident who was out on the street if he knew why. What I got was an angry reply and rant from the guy about young punks and criminals, and the guy was basically yelling at me. I suspect that guy was Lou Corbin, and he is totally out of control and scarier than anything I have witnessed on the bike path.

Last week at the entrance, I see the same guy with a council member or aide ranting again about the path and how he’s going to attack people with a baseball bat if they come thru the gate causing crime.

That day I come home from work and the gate is locked and I am stuck on the path and cannot get off at my local exit. After throwing my bike over and climbing the gate, I research and find out what has been going on with the proposed gate closure.

A notice or sign explaining the situation would have been helpful prior to the gate closure/locking and after. How is the average public user of that gate supposed to know that hearings are going on? How can we voice an opinion when one day you show up and the gate is locked? If the gate is to be locked post a sign warning of the closure so at least path users can navigate appropriately and voice their opinions.

This week the gate is open again, so is the entrance staying open or not? Please keep it open!!!

And then the committee went ahead and voted to close access to the right of way ("for 90 days").

After that happened, I started hearing this strange buzzing in my ear demanding I call a bicycle injury attorney down on his luck, and with some free time, to file a lawsuit against the city for violating state law.

Alarcon brought up a great response to the local citizen's complaints about the bike path. He said something like, "You want to close off a resource to the community, when you haven't even gotten together with your neighbors and formed a neighborhood watch?"