Comments on: Bike Sharing Coming to USC and City Passes Rough Timeline for Anti-Harassment Ordinance. Speed Limit Increases Delayed.

By: PlebisPower

PlebisPower — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 19:52:34 +0000

I’m with Mack on this one – more LAPD on bikes would not only ally our mutual interests in safe streets for cyclists and pedestrians, but it would give officers a finer-grained appreciation of street-level conditions. LA has historically been a car-policed city. Putting some of them on bikes on first consideration would seem to require more cops as they’re less mobile. But I suspect they are more effective at responding to complaints – and more of a deterrent – if they are consistently visible as when they are on the foot beat or on two wheels.
But why not go farther? What if we had more parking meter readers on bikes? More utility readers on bikes? Why not perform many of the civic functions on two wheels? (I was reminded of the promise on this when it was suggested to me that I reach out to bike cops to gain support for bike planning in Beverly Hills.) When more city employees are out in the streets we’ll see a shift not only in how cycling is regarded, but in the policies that would keep us safer.

By: ubrayj02

ubrayj02 — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:31:13 +0000

Adonia, the secret to making people who’ve just buzzed by you dangerously say “I’m sorry”, is as follows:

Pull up next to them at the inevitable light up ahead. Lean over and say “Sorry I got in your way back there – I’m on my home.”

This works like a charm.

By: Charles Mack

Charles Mack — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:23:41 +0000

The solution is simple to address a policy of the LAPD to put more cops on bicycles to enforce the vehicle code for public safety (their primary job); It would sure lower the healthcare cost of the LAPD’s insurance entitlements that taxpayers fund thru their property tax accessments every year with new fees and public bonds. Remember the Los Angeles Sheriffs superb bicycle racing team a few years back…Where is the LAPD on physical performance skills on bicycle issues without some form of competition?

By: Adonia

Adonia — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:07:45 +0000

I agree with MU on bike share; would a few scared tourists on unwieldy cruisers really enjoy cycling down Hollywood Boulevard as it is today? And Reyes, people who are bike-dependent probably can’t afford to pay for bike share.
The harassment thing is tricky for me, because I find that if I don’t say anything to drivers who cut too close or honk at me as I take the lane, then they don’t verbally assault me. But if I have the audacity to pull up next to them at the inevitable light just ahead and try to politely address their rude behavior, they let loose with the verbal slurs. So, if I just ride along and take their ill treatment, no verbal harassment, but if I engage with them, out come the “you bitch” and “fuck you” statements. Does that count?

By: outerspace

outerspace — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:29:33 +0000

Thank you, Roadblock!

By: roadblock

roadblock — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:50:03 +0000

I applaud Rosendahl’s comments today. Truth is that the ordinance will probably never come to fruition and even if it does, wont be enforced BUT it will provide an another avenue to ratchet up the pressure on LAPD to respond to road rage complaints.

I sure wish LaBonge would quit his tired recurring tirade against “scofflaw cyclists.” Seems like every effin’ time a bicycle project or ordinance is discussed he chimes in about cyclists breaking the rules. GET OVER IT LABONGE. With his logic, no parking projects or car centric initiatives should EVER be discussed because god knows by virtue of the sheer volume of parking and traffic tickets processed every single day everywhere in the city, there are plenty of scofflaw car drivers to scream about too.

JUST FOCUS ON TRAFFIC SOLUTIONS. Enabling more cycling trips means LESS cars clogging the streets, less dependence on oil and less obesity. STAY FOCUSED SILLY COUNCIL.

By: Aurisha

Aurisha — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:00:37 +0000

One of the next steps is to gather input from cyclists in order that the Ordinance can be as comprehensive as possible. Rosendahl has asked us to help gather all types of harassment from motorists that cyclists and pedestrians face on a daily basis. Please include even the most minor types of harassment.

We will be collecting all of your input and passing it onto LADOT, Rosendahl, the City Attorneys Office and all other parties involved.

Email input to: aurisha@la-bike.org

This is exciting and thank you all for helping make this happen!

By: MU

MU — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:43:27 +0000

“Councilman LaBonge pushed for greater cooperation between the LAPD and LADOT on the anti-harassment issue.” – Uhhh, why does THAT make me worried?

Bike Sharing – because what’s holding people back from riding bikes in Los Angeles is that bikes are just so hard to get a hold of.

‘Mowery uninformed’ – in other news, water declared to be “wet”.

At least thank god for Reyes and Rosendahl even if it is mostly talk so far.