So, why not just work with what we’ve got and try and make living conditions more humane and less likely to lead people to want to beat up strangers on bicycles (and in general).

I can’t say that I will be able to physically transport myself to this area to regularly work to improve things. However, I don’t think it will be wasted time to do something nice for people in the area. It is, after all in the interest of tracking down the fools who hurt people and making sure that random violence is not an easy thing to commit.

Systematic violence on the other hand … that is for another thread.

A few things to add to the mix, coming from someone with family in local law enforcement.

(1) It is true that many of the folks in the Gardens are also victims here. The projects have long had a “no tolerance policy” that evicts all residents of any unit on which a warrant is served. Thus, many of the bangers have moved to other residences to prevent their families from being evicted. The problem is they still consider Mar Vista Gardens their turf and they still do ‘business’ there even though they live elsewhere. Of course, there are some problem residents in Mar Vista Gardens, but many of the folks there would also, I suspect, consider the various gangs a problem.

(2) Problematically, perhaps because of tough economic times, perhaps because of random cycles of violence, there has been a significant upswing in serious (e.g., more serious than just a mugging on the path) gang activity in the area. Like Will, I am a regular commuter on the path, back and forth from Culver City at least once, and often twice, a day. My experience has been nothing but positive for the past year. However, from what has happened in the past few months on the path, and what I’ve heard happening in other places in the area, I must admit that I am dreading the proverbial drop of the other shoe.

I understand there may be another Tour de Ballona in January. I hope you all can participate, and that you will bring the good humor and creative ideas evident on this thread.

Brian

The cure in LA has always been COPS and cops in LA have been notorious at being assholes and overreacting and making things worse, maybe just this once when the economy gets shitty we’ll not always go to the LAPD solution. I think the heavy hand of the LAPD always leads to burning, looting and destruction, because every kid that fits the description is going to be harassed to death because of one asshole who is causing problems and everyone is already frustrated at their lack of a job and a future and I don’t think anyone wants that. If we were in a recession in 1992 when certain parts of the city where set on fire what would happen this time when we are in 1930s conditions?

I call for a kinder and gentler economic collapse this time around.

Yes, a nonagenda oriented activity for the young men down there I bet that would actually work. I’m sure it would actually work. A completely alturistic program for the people who live in the projects the pouring cops in never worked in the 80s or 90s, so why not try something different this time.

Even if no one ever gets jacked again, that would still be a nice thing to do.

Browne

Certainly there have been incidents that have increased its negative profile, but from my perspective of the past four months commuting back and forth on it between Duquesne and Inglewood Blvd without incident on practically a weekdaily basis, Ballona Creek has shown me its kinder, gentler side.

PS. While the Duquesne mural is often targeted by taggers, the photo leading this post is of the heavily defaced once-beautiful “Postcards from Ballona” mural at the Overland Avenue entrance to the creek bikeway.

What could really be done to get these young men to stop beating people up and taking their things on this bike path and in the surrounding area?

I think that any ideas should be: super duper CHEAP (i.e. require $0), and also require a minimal amount of time.

Maybe a mini-flood of guerilla gardening, free bike repair, and some F.U.N. that allows non-white, non-art-scene, people to have some fun and realize that beating up bicyclists is stupid for two reasons: (1) they are making your area nicer; and (2) they are typically broke as a joke.

That is my 10-seconds worth of thought towards a solution.

If this is such an important issue to ballona bike path riders, then I’d think a little bit of regular (fun) community work (without political minders, cops, nor politicians around) might help find out who is beating people down and help to put an end to it.

Very true. It’s not just people on the path who are having problems, after all. The surrounding neighborhood is troubled, and I have no doubt that the majority of people living there are also being menaced by a small minority. Ultimately everyone should be able to live in a safe neighborhood, regardless of income bracket.

Awesome thinking. That is what should be done not slapping a bandaid on a problem (put a bunch of cops along the trail, so they just go somewhere else and becomes another person’s problem,) but go to the root of the problem and put in some after school programs and jobs of course that would take not simply thinking about yourself, but thinking about other people in the long term helps you more than just being me oriented…

I think that’s what society should really be focused on more broad answers to questions instead of the simple and pointless solution.

Browne

The LAPD presence has been non-existent on this bike path, correct? So if that changes to … the LAPD presence being non-existent, then where does that leave us?

Things won’t get better, but will they get worse?

Maybe looking to law enforcement on this one isn’t going to work – since they are obviously going to move their troops regardless of how many “town hall” meetings Rosendahl holds with Chief Bratton.

So, what are we, as both cyclists and concerned neighbors going to do? It seems that this bike path has a problem associated with a particular down-on-its luck housing project and surrounding neighborhood. Is there any way to engage residents to improve living conditions that drive young men to loiter and beat up strangers?

This isn’t an easy path to travel, but neither is the Ballona Bike Path.

It’s hard enough to find a way to bike on the Westside as it is, unless you’re already experienced at biking through the hazards of traffic. Ballona Creek provides an easy, protected route for novice cyclists and others who want to reach the coast without battling with cars.

The answer should not be to abandon this area to the criminals.

While you post is clever, you can’t be serious.

Brian

The LAPD pulling out of the area are likely going to have no effect on the bike path, as it is a lawless hinterland already.

When the cops leave, what are we in for? Lord of the Flies, hogs heads on pikes, and cannibalism? We’re practically there already, right? Maybe we need fewer police – that way the underworld can establish a hierarchy which will bring some modicum of peace to the bike path.