In a debate that seems oddly reminiscant of the Wilbur Bike Lanes controversy from last year, motorists in the South Bay are fuming that a new road diet is "creating traffic" for forty minutes a day and "unsafe conditions" because unsafe drivers are driving even more unsafely.
A pair of underused streets — Westmont and Capitol Drives — recently underwent reductions to calm high-speed traffic, dropping one lane in each direction and installing the typical door zone bike lanes.
And needless to say, motorists are up in arms, even though the streets are almost always empty. And even though it should be bike riders complaining about the lack of buffers between them and flinging car doors.
Meanwhile, the Neighborhood Council has asked Council Member Joe Buscaino's office to investigate the congestion "caused" by the diet. Apparently the video of Buscaino driving around the area letting everyone know thing's are o.k. isn't doing the trick. Not that we should pick on his office for the try, it's hard to imagine either former Valley Councilman Greig Smith or current Councilman Mitch Englander doing the same.
Tonight, those opposing the lanes plan a scripted media event at 4 pm to draw attention to, I'm not sure what they think they're going to draw attention to. Meanwhile, a group of local cyclists is planning a short ride up and down the lanes during the protest, so that any media that happen upon the scene can that there are many people who find the lanes safe and important.
If you ride in the San Pedro area, you’re strongly encouraged to meet at the Albertson’s parking lot a tWestmont Drive and S. Western Ave at 3:45 pm this afternoon.
Metro is already installing on-bus cameras. Soon comes testing, outreach, then warning tickets. Wilshire/5th/6th and La Brea will be the first bus routes in the bus lane enforcement program.
