Comments on: Councilman Tom LaBonge Talks Bikes and His Recent Trip to Europe http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/ Covering Los Angeles's livable streets movement Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:23:58 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Alan Fishel http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/comment-page-1/#comment-1649 Alan Fishel Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:11:38 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/#comment-1649 Very good to see Tom looking at how people can get around instead of how to get more cars around. The whole idea of bicycling and using streetcars, busses and trains makes better sense than driving especially when parking is just too expensive to provide as a real option. With $5.00 plus a gallon for gas there is a real chance of our mind set changing on how we get to work and entertainment. There is a better way than driving and parking. Good for you Tom at looking at alternatives. Is what I did miss in the blog and questioning was: there was little about the wonderful tram and commuter rail system in Bordeaux as well as the trams, the S and U Bahn in Berlin. Integrating our bike, LRT, Subway, bus and even park and ride lots to make a seamless way to get around can elevate our quality of life here in LA a great deal. Now all we have to do is expand all of the above and add streetcars/trams to the mix. Very good to see Tom looking at how people can get around instead of how to get more cars around. The whole idea of bicycling and using streetcars, busses and trains makes better sense than driving especially when parking is just too expensive to provide as a real option. With $5.00 plus a gallon for gas there is a real chance of our mind set changing on how we get to work and entertainment. There is a better way than driving and parking.

Good for you Tom at looking at alternatives.

Is what I did miss in the blog and questioning was: there was little about the wonderful tram and commuter rail system in Bordeaux as well as the trams, the S and U Bahn in Berlin.

Integrating our bike, LRT, Subway, bus and even park and ride lots to make a seamless way to get around can elevate our quality of life here in LA a great deal.

Now all we have to do is expand all of the above and add streetcars/trams to the mix.

]]> By: Aaron http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/comment-page-1/#comment-1644 Aaron Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:22:10 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/#comment-1644 Militant: Huh. Learn something new every day. That's still the funniest looking "Z" I've ever seen. But at least it would explain the name for it. Interesting. Anyhow, bikes need to be treated as vehicles eventually, I'm in a wheelchair and my big fear Downtown is that some careless cyclist will hit me on the sidewalk before I can get out of the way. Not, not all cyclists are careless, but having them riding the sidewalks Downtown is rather dangerous. Militant: Huh. Learn something new every day. That's still the funniest looking "Z" I've ever seen. But at least it would explain the name for it.

Interesting.

Anyhow, bikes need to be treated as vehicles eventually, I'm in a wheelchair and my big fear Downtown is that some careless cyclist will hit me on the sidewalk before I can get out of the way. Not, not all cyclists are careless, but having them riding the sidewalks Downtown is rather dangerous.

]]> By: ingrid http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/comment-page-1/#comment-1632 ingrid Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:53:20 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/#comment-1632 We all have our disagreements, eh? Common Ground = ? I'd be willing to bet that even people driving cars wanted to be considered "people" and not "vehicles." I know I would. Where is the dialogue and where is the Soapbox? I ask you again: How can we collaborate with the City Council, with Tom LaBonge, with Eric Garcetti, with Wendy Greuel? With the Metro? With LADOT? If we want implementation we need to pressure them and our neighborhood councils to find the funding. (As East Hollywood did last night, with their $5000 donation for SHARROWS on Fountain!!!) You have your ways Soabox, and I have mine. Peace? I'm excited for tomorrow 4SBB ride with LaBonge. 4th and Shatto Place. Near Vermont and the bowling alley. 6pm. We all have our disagreements, eh?

Common Ground = ?

I'd be willing to bet that even people driving cars wanted to be considered "people" and not "vehicles." I know I would.

Where is the dialogue and where is the Soapbox?

I ask you again:

How can we collaborate with the City Council, with Tom LaBonge, with Eric Garcetti, with Wendy Greuel? With the Metro? With LADOT?

If we want implementation we need to pressure them and our neighborhood councils to find the funding.
(As East Hollywood did last night, with their $5000 donation for SHARROWS on Fountain!!!)

You have your ways Soabox, and I have mine.

Peace?

I'm excited for tomorrow 4SBB ride with LaBonge.

4th and Shatto Place. Near Vermont and the bowling alley. 6pm.

]]> By: SoapBoxLA http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/comment-page-1/#comment-1630 SoapBoxLA Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:41:06 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/#comment-1630 "Bicycles are vehicles, many cyclists say they want to be treated as vehicles, and so they need to behave like vehicles." I don't want to be treated as a vehicle! I want to be treated as a cyclist, a human being, not a vehicle. As for the law, it reads in CVC 21200 - Every person riding a bicycle upon a highway has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle..." Listening to Tom LaBonge lecture the public on transportation reminds me of Bluto firing up the crowd by yelling "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?" All that's missing is the reference to Marshall High School. "Bicycles are vehicles, many cyclists say they want to be treated as vehicles, and so they need to behave like vehicles."

I don't want to be treated as a vehicle! I want to be treated as a cyclist, a human being, not a vehicle.

As for the law, it reads in CVC 21200 - Every person riding a bicycle upon a highway has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle..."

Listening to Tom LaBonge lecture the public on transportation reminds me of Bluto firing up the crowd by yelling "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?" All that's missing is the reference to Marshall High School.

]]> By: ingrid http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/comment-page-1/#comment-1629 ingrid Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:26:00 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/#comment-1629 As LaBonge says in this interview ---> **** "But the most important thing, and this could take awhile for the people of Los Angeles to change, the motorists had great respect for people on bikes. I never felt anyone on my tail. If we were going straight and they were turning right, they waited for me to get through the intersection. Nobody cut me off . It was amazing. You immediately felt that there was some respect for the bicycle." **** As LaBonge says in this interview --->

**** "But the most important thing, and this could take awhile for the people of Los Angeles to change, the motorists had great respect for people on bikes. I never felt anyone on my tail. If we were going straight and they were turning right, they waited for me to get through the intersection. Nobody cut me off . It was amazing. You immediately felt that there was some respect for the bicycle." ****

]]> By: Gary Kavanagh http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/comment-page-1/#comment-1628 Gary Kavanagh Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:03:28 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/#comment-1628 I agree the bike restrictions at the festival of lights is something that needs to change. However it's quite incredible to hear any politician here speak with such understanding of cycling issues, and gasp interact by actually going on rides. I hope actions follow the lofty words. I agree the bike restrictions at the festival of lights is something that needs to change. However it's quite incredible to hear any politician here speak with such understanding of cycling issues, and gasp interact by actually going on rides. I hope actions follow the lofty words.

]]> By: Damien Newton http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/comment-page-1/#comment-1626 Damien Newton Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:43:18 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/#comment-1626 Ok, my computer doesn't have the ability to put in some of those cool foreign letters. But I'm amazed you call debated this and didn't notice I spelled the word "busiest" without a "t." Ok, my computer doesn't have the ability to put in some of those cool foreign letters. But I'm amazed you call debated this and didn't notice I spelled the word "busiest" without a "t."

]]> By: militant angeleno http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/comment-page-1/#comment-1624 militant angeleno Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:29:21 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/#comment-1624 Aaron - No, it's definitely a "Platz." Look how the "t" part crosses. If it indeed was a "ß" then it would be a smooth curve. There is an actual Los Angeles Platz in Berlin: http://www.hotel-rates.com/germany/berlin/steigenberger-berlin.html He can't help but wonder that in some Berlin suburb there's this sleepy place with a restaurant and some shops called "California Village" that's only really active once a year. Aaron - No, it's definitely a "Platz." Look how the "t" part crosses. If it indeed was a "ß" then it would be a smooth curve. There is an actual Los Angeles Platz in Berlin:

http://www.hotel-rates.com/germany/berlin/steigenberger-berlin.html

He can't help but wonder that in some Berlin suburb there's this sleepy place with a restaurant and some shops called "California Village" that's only really active once a year.

]]> By: ingrid http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/comment-page-1/#comment-1623 ingrid Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:07:44 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/#comment-1623 Soapbox- LaBonge has more depth than you give him credit for. There is more at stake than Griffith Park. We're talking about the streets of Los Angeles here. This interview should reveal the level of understanding that LaBonge has about the importance of making big changes for cycling in this city. As of this point he is the ONLY City Council Member to organize bike rides of his own volition. That is mildly awesome actually. I know you are the watchdog, but SRSLY. Give the man a *LITTLE* bit of credit. Radical Idea --- Bike Advocates cooperate with City Council members to create incredible improvements to the bike-ability of Los Angeles. ha! LIVE THE DREAM!!!!! Soapbox-

LaBonge has more depth than you give him credit for.

There is more at stake than Griffith Park.

We're talking about the streets of Los Angeles here.

This interview should reveal the level of understanding that LaBonge has about the importance of making big changes for cycling in this city.

As of this point he is the ONLY City Council Member to organize bike rides of his own volition. That is mildly awesome actually.

I know you are the watchdog, but SRSLY.

Give the man a *LITTLE* bit of credit.

Radical Idea --- Bike Advocates cooperate with City Council members to create incredible improvements to the bike-ability of Los Angeles.

ha!

LIVE THE DREAM!!!!!

]]> By: Aaron http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/comment-page-1/#comment-1622 Aaron Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:34:06 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/#comment-1622 Militant: The sign is for a Los Angeles-Plaß [Modern spelling being "Plass" since the Esszet is being excised from German, and "Plass" isn't a word], and I'm not familiar with that usage. My guess is that it means "Place" or is an attempt to sound like the English-language "Place." But it's definitely not "Platz" so that may be why it's hard to find. Google doesn't give me anything either - it makes me wonder if it's a sign similar to LA's kooky sister cities sign near City Hall. Militant: The sign is for a Los Angeles-Plaß [Modern spelling being "Plass" since the Esszet is being excised from German, and "Plass" isn't a word], and I'm not familiar with that usage. My guess is that it means "Place" or is an attempt to sound like the English-language "Place." But it's definitely not "Platz" so that may be why it's hard to find. Google doesn't give me anything either - it makes me wonder if it's a sign similar to LA's kooky sister cities sign near City Hall.

]]> By: SoapBoxLA http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/comment-page-1/#comment-1621 SoapBoxLA Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:32:31 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/#comment-1621 While Tom admonishes the public to obey the law, he stubbornly insists on violating CVC 21 by prohibiting cyclists from the Griffith Park Festival of Lights. (The streets are open to motor vehicle traffic but not bicycles!) The call is out for Tom and the DWP to operate the Festival of Lights in compliance with State Law. Tom - Be a law-maker, not a law-breaker! http://illuminatela.com/2008-griffith-park-festival-of-lights/ While Tom admonishes the public to obey the law, he stubbornly insists on violating CVC 21 by prohibiting cyclists from the Griffith Park Festival of Lights. (The streets are open to motor vehicle traffic but not bicycles!)

The call is out for Tom and the DWP to operate the Festival of Lights in compliance with State Law.

Tom - Be a law-maker, not a law-breaker!

http://illuminatela.com/2008-griffith-park-festival-of-lights/

]]> By: Damien Newton http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/comment-page-1/#comment-1619 Damien Newton Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:32:53 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/#comment-1619 Thanks Angeleno...I made the changes. Thanks Angeleno...I made the changes.

]]> By: militant angeleno http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/comment-page-1/#comment-1617 militant angeleno Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:27:39 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/#comment-1617 Sorry, spell check time: Alexander Plaza = Alexanderplatz U-Bon = U-Bahn S-Bon = S-Bahn Las Feliz = Los Feliz The Militant has been to Berlin before, hence the spelling corrections...very funky city, to say the least. To him it was like NY, SF and Vegas (they have random gambling machines in places) all rolled into one. It's also rather sprawling for a European city. He was there post-wall and the whole damn place was full of construction cranes. He's sure Berlin is way different today. He also tried looking for Los Angeles-Platz pictured above, but wasn't able to find it. The Militant may or may not have been on that 4th Street ride last year...Oops, he blogged about it, so he most likely must have. Otherwise, great interview, despite the interruptions! Sorry, spell check time:

Alexander Plaza = Alexanderplatz
U-Bon = U-Bahn
S-Bon = S-Bahn
Las Feliz = Los Feliz

The Militant has been to Berlin before, hence the spelling corrections...very funky city, to say the least. To him it was like NY, SF and Vegas (they have random gambling machines in places) all rolled into one. It's also rather sprawling for a European city. He was there post-wall and the whole damn place was full of construction cranes. He's sure Berlin is way different today. He also tried looking for Los Angeles-Platz pictured above, but wasn't able to find it.

The Militant may or may not have been on that 4th Street ride last year...Oops, he blogged about it, so he most likely must have.

Otherwise, great interview, despite the interruptions!

]]> By: ubrayj02 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/comment-page-1/#comment-1615 ubrayj02 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:05:07 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/#comment-1615 That Tom LaBonge is one swell guy. That Tom LaBonge is one swell guy.

]]> By: ingrid http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/comment-page-1/#comment-1613 ingrid Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:56:15 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/22/councilman-tom-labonge-talks-bikes-and-his-recent-trip-to-europe/#comment-1613 I'm so glad Tom LaBonge is still showing his passion and commitment to making Los Angeles a more bike friendly town! A little over a year ago, LaBonge took his first tour of the 4th Street Bicycle Boulevard... bike cops + LaBonge's corking skills + ice cream made for a fun night! Come join us for another! Positively 4th Street ---> http://midnightridazz.com/viewStory.php?storyId=1552 4SBB - LIVE THE DREAM!! http://www.4sbb.com I'm so glad Tom LaBonge is still showing his passion and commitment to making Los Angeles a more bike friendly town!

A little over a year ago, LaBonge took his first tour of the 4th Street Bicycle Boulevard... bike cops + LaBonge's corking skills + ice cream made for a fun night!

Come join us for another!

Positively 4th Street --->

http://midnightridazz.com/viewStory.php?storyId=1552

4SBB - LIVE THE DREAM!!
http://www.4sbb.com

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