For another possible demand, I'd like to see Councilmember Rosendahl show that he values cyclists lives by getting behind accelerated implementation (ie: within one year) of approved facilities in the city's approved Bicycle Master Plan (at http://www.ci.la.ca.us/PLN/Cwd/GnlPln/TransElt/BikePlan/B1intro.htm ). Facilities in Rosendahl's district that haven't been completed (as far as I know) would include: Bike lanes on Montana, lower Sepulveda, Beverly Glen, Manchester, Westchester and Pershing (and maybe others - that's from a quick look at the westside facilities Bicycle Master Plan map at http://www.ci.la.ca.us/PLN/Cwd/GnlPln/TransElt/BikeMaps/B2West.gif
These won't quite make it bike heaven on all those streets, but it's aready approved and will make a big difference. They're all bike lane projects - very cheap, but often a matter of political will, as sometimes they require some removal of parking and/or travel lanes. Consider it a big downpayment on a westside where it's safe and enjoyable to bike.

Lay off the ad hominems.

I co-founded the Bikerowave, stewarded it for nearly a year, and dropped $11.5K into it. I worked over 50 shifts as a head mechanic. I co-authored the Cyclists' Bill of Rights, endorsed now by three neighborhood councils representing over 150,000 people. I write the fourth most authoritative LA based biking blog according to Technorati, behind Will Campbell's blog [sic], LA Streetsblog, and CICLE. I co-founded ibikeu Wiki. I assist in organizing Santa Monica Critical Mass, CRANK MOB, ROB0101011TZ, and Venice Critical Mass.

I have a doctorate pending in Mathematics.

So when you say I haven't proved myself, it doesn't work for you, but against you, because you appear to be ignorant.

Here are my recommendations:

1) Triple fines for traffic infractions in which motorists endanger cyclists.

2) Conduct one police sting a week in which a experienced vehicular cyclist police officer rides the canyon and a patrol car ahead pulls over and warns offenders.

3) Send a mailer to residents. Illustrate graphically the results of driver error and motorist aggression. Humanize the players.

Longer term:

4) Conduct regular town halls to re-engage cyclists.

5) Fire a few key city staff, or shuffle them out of their current positions.

6) Endorse the Cyclists' Bill of Rights.

The town hall is a good recommendation and could be great. The other stuff is awful.

I am routinely passed (while going the speed limit) by cars going much faster than me on residential or busy commercial streets - and I am the "nuisance"? Hurtling around in a multi-ton vehicle is a real safety hazard. Just 'cuz everyone has one doesn't make it okay for them to abuse the rules of the road.

The tenor and outcome of this meeting would have been markedly different if some bicyclists with a backbone were in attendance.

As for the vehicle code issue, what we do on bicycles and the current speed of motor vehicles is not adequately addressed but in most cases, police are untrained in bicycle physics and laws anyway. That's true in Pasadena for sure. The police consider traffic flow well before cyclist safety and don't even know that 21202 contains the words "including but not limited to". Giving Cyclists the opportunity to decide the safety of a situation at that time. So ofetn, I see drivers (of a vehicle whose space could hold 10 bicycles and can go over 100 MPH if desired) complaining about the actions of bicycle which can go MAYBE 35 on the flat and takes you about 3 feet wide on the street. What are they really complaining about? Goliath complaining about David, seems nonsensical to me. Even if it is TWO cyclists together, is that any different then a car traveling at or near the speed limit on say Walnut in Pasadena where the speed limit is already a substandard (for a 4 lane road) 30 MPH anyway? (There is a story on that in the Star News a few months ago)

A similar situation to the Mandeville crash occurred a number of years ago on Mullholland Drive but in that case, the car which cause the 'accident' was a California Highway Patrol Car on duty. He also just wanted to talk about the cyclists taking up too much roadway. I think it is regretful for a major injury to happen before we can discuss these issues deeply and meaningfully.

Yes, I am aware of the planned widening of Sepulveda. That's going to be fun for about a year during construction! Yes, I think the end result will be enabling cars to go even faster than they do now, endandering cyclists even more.

The cyclist must be respected on the road, this problem is going to only get worse as more and more cyclist hit the roads as the price of gas goes wild.

Lets hope something good comes of this, NO MORE PRIVATE MEETINGS!!!

As stated by James in the comment above, this issue is both an attitude problem and an education problem. There are more and more people everyday out on their bicycles on the streets. Most of the cyclists have safe riding skills but quite a few have no clue how to ride safely in traffic. A graver concern is the very high percentage of drivers who are totally ignorant (ignore) about a bicyclist's right (and need) to share the road.

The road sharing video mentioned above is excellent and many of our local advocacy groups also post safe riding tips on their websites.

A lot of good points were raised by all parties from the task force. Hopefully, this initiative will continue and spread all across Los Angeles.

Suggestions:

More "Sharrows", please.

Why not turn the frequent traing runs into an organized, scheduled event. A time trial, for instance. The bike clubs and the neighborhood associations could run them as a benefit and charge a nominal fee with the proceeds going to street maintenance and signage. That way the runs could be scheduled in intervals and the traffic could be controlled better.

Smile and wave all five fingers when someone honks at you. Or blow them kisses. Sometimes they smile back;)

Second, I am a motorist.

Third, both need to follow the rules of the road.

Fourth, Hence, this is both a bike & car problem. It is more an attitude problem.

As tempting as that sounds...

There is a bad piece of engineering work on the horizon for that stretch, lovingly referred to as the "Sepulveda Reversible" project.

There were at least three members of the Bel Air Beverly Crest Community at yesterday's Storm the Bastille, all opposed to the "improvements" that will move more cars, faster, squeezing cyclists into a reversible lane dilemma in the tunnel. Funded with bikeway dollars, engineered to squeeze cyclists. The LADOT at work!

Look forward to more cars, moving faster unless we can modify this project some more.

You also substitute "possible" for "practicable."

Please don't dispense any more bad legal advice.

The City of Pasadena attempted to pass a law restricting cyclists from riding THREE abreast. It failed because the municipality does not have the authority, under CVC21, from enacting this restriction. It failed to pass the legal challenge. I was there.

Cyclist are allowed to share the lane and in this case the only other there isn't enough room to share with anything larger than a bicycle or a motorcycle.

This is not just the good law, it's good physics.

The only user group using a moving weapon to get around are motorists. Speed indicator signs? Come on!

Heaven forbid that car drivers would have to obey the law for their own safety, and for the safety of others!

Traffic calming should have been the FIRST item on the agenda. This may be "their neighborhood" - but it is a public right of way! They've no right to expect to be able to drive, with impunity, over the speed limit on a narrow mountain road (regardless of what the car commercials tell them).

Bullshit. This is bullshit.

There is no law forbidding riding two abreast, this is not a shareable lane, lane positioning is not dictated by the impatience of the motorist but by the safety of the motorist.

This issue has city-wide impact as is demonstrated by the incredible animosity revealed in the 600+ comments on the LATimes blog.

While those involved in this meeting were making plans to reorganize, Cycling Education Professionals were out on Mandeville Canyon preparing this video that goes he distance in addressing this situation.

http://laist.com/2008/07/14/video_of_the_day_how_to_bicycle_rid.php