Comments on: When It Comes to Safety on Bike Trails, Cyclists Are “Not on the Map” http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/08/27/when-it-comes-to-safety-on-bike-trails-cyclists-are-not-on-the-map/ Covering Los Angeles's livable streets movement Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:06:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ubrayj02 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/08/27/when-it-comes-to-safety-on-bike-trails-cyclists-are-not-on-the-map/comment-page-1/#comment-2126 ubrayj02 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:06:31 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=1074#comment-2126 Here is a better legal change: expand the definition of "street" to be any public right-of-way that is used for the movement of goods or people. Make sure that "transportation" is defined to include cycling, walking , and transit use. That would send them all through a loop. But with these changes, you'd have more liability for the City: (1) they'd have to divert precious money from car-only roads to ped- or bike-only roads (2) they'd be liable for injuries due to no maintenance, etc. Find 7 council people who agree with the idea after the LADOT and Public Works "report" on it, and you, my friend, will have a solution. Beneath the assault and petty crime on this bike path, there are deeper crimes that are built into this city's DNA. Our definition of "street" is one of those crimes. Here is a better legal change: expand the definition of “street” to be any public right-of-way that is used for the movement of goods or people. Make sure that “transportation” is defined to include cycling, walking , and transit use.

That would send them all through a loop.

But with these changes, you’d have more liability for the City:

(1) they’d have to divert precious money from car-only roads to ped- or bike-only roads
(2) they’d be liable for injuries due to no maintenance, etc.

Find 7 council people who agree with the idea after the LADOT and Public Works “report” on it, and you, my friend, will have a solution.

Beneath the assault and petty crime on this bike path, there are deeper crimes that are built into this city’s DNA. Our definition of “street” is one of those crimes.

]]> By: Not the original A.T. http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/08/27/when-it-comes-to-safety-on-bike-trails-cyclists-are-not-on-the-map/comment-page-1/#comment-2119 Not the original A.T. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:47:05 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=1074#comment-2119 This goes beyond crime. The same problem exists when detailing accidents (injuries or fatalities) on any bike trail or multi-use path. Peter has a great suggestion. It could be address block numbers or mile markers like on the freeways (except denoted in fractions of a mile). It's not a difficult thing to do. This goes beyond crime. The same problem exists when detailing accidents (injuries or fatalities) on any bike trail or multi-use path.

Peter has a great suggestion. It could be address block numbers or mile markers like on the freeways (except denoted in fractions of a mile). It’s not a difficult thing to do.

]]> By: Peter McFerrin http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/08/27/when-it-comes-to-safety-on-bike-trails-cyclists-are-not-on-the-map/comment-page-1/#comment-2116 Peter McFerrin Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:35:09 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=1074#comment-2116 Brayj, why not just designate the Bike Path as a public thoroughfare--Ballona Creek Way, maybe--mark it as closed to motor vehicles (no legal problems: the city of Los Angeles already maintains numerous pedestrian-only streets), and put in a reflector sign with an address block number every eighth of a mile? Might be easier and cheaper than dealing with GPS. Brayj, why not just designate the Bike Path as a public thoroughfare–Ballona Creek Way, maybe–mark it as closed to motor vehicles (no legal problems: the city of Los Angeles already maintains numerous pedestrian-only streets), and put in a reflector sign with an address block number every eighth of a mile? Might be easier and cheaper than dealing with GPS.

]]> By: Marc Phu http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/08/27/when-it-comes-to-safety-on-bike-trails-cyclists-are-not-on-the-map/comment-page-1/#comment-2111 Marc Phu Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:10:22 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=1074#comment-2111 This might be a good time to create another Google Maps overlay that is publicy managed. I realize that this does not lend the same legitimacy with the LAPD name, but it would still be helpful information. At least the public can discern for themselves their own safety if other people are making reports. This might be a good time to create another Google Maps overlay that is publicy managed.

I realize that this does not lend the same legitimacy with the LAPD name, but it would still be helpful information. At least the public can discern for themselves their own safety if other people are making reports.

]]> By: ubrayj02 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/08/27/when-it-comes-to-safety-on-bike-trails-cyclists-are-not-on-the-map/comment-page-1/#comment-2109 ubrayj02 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:21:47 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=1074#comment-2109 Someone should introduce the LAPD's IT department to GPS coordinates, and the folks who are in charge of incident reports need to add a little box for police to geo-code the exact location of an incident (if it is known precisely). Second, along with being bureaucratically invisible to the police, this separated bike path is not subject to the same laws that govern a "normal" road or right of way. Gaping potholes? Destroyed blacktop? Hazardous road debris? Incorrect or unsafe signage? Cyclists sued to hold the City of L.A. liable for problems like this with its "off-road" bike paths ("trails", specifically). They lost in the California Supreme Court. Prokoff vs City of L.A. Pretty messed up, huh? Someone should introduce the LAPD’s IT department to GPS coordinates, and the folks who are in charge of incident reports need to add a little box for police to geo-code the exact location of an incident (if it is known precisely).

Second, along with being bureaucratically invisible to the police, this separated bike path is not subject to the same laws that govern a “normal” road or right of way. Gaping potholes? Destroyed blacktop? Hazardous road debris? Incorrect or unsafe signage? Cyclists sued to hold the City of L.A. liable for problems like this with its “off-road” bike paths (“trails”, specifically). They lost in the California Supreme Court. Prokoff vs City of L.A.

Pretty messed up, huh?

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