Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In
Bicycling

Councilman Dennis Zine: Southern California Car Culture Here to Stay

7:12 AM PST on January 13, 2010


The above ABC News story on this Monday's meeting of the Los Angeles City Council Public Safety Committee's hearing on the anti-harassment ordinance for cyclist has a couple of jaw dropping moments.  One bike messenger describes being the victim of a hit and run crash four times and Ted "Biking in L.A." Rogers recounts the hate mail he's received in the wake of the conviction and sentencing of Dr. Christopher Thompson.  Scary stuff.  But perhaps the scariest thing is the comment by City Councilman, former LAPD Officer and former member of the Bike Advisory Committee Dennis Zine who clearly states that this is a car town and it's going to stay that way.

Gleeson: Councilman Dennis Zine says he sympathizes, but doesn't know how police would enforce such an ordinance.  He says L.A. isn't designed to be bicycle friendly.

Zine: "I think we are a car culture here in Southern California.  I don't know if we're ever going to change that."

I think anyone that regularly rides throughout the city would agree that there's a major design problem, but an elected official that wants to show leadership on transportation and public safety should be looking for ways to make things safer for all road users.  After all, our streets should be a public space for everyone to use, not a funnel for people who happen to own expensive pieces of personal property.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

Bus Rapid Transit Plans in SGV Get Clearer, and More Complicated

New concepts for rapid bus service across the 626 have ironed out the questions of where an East-West route would run and where demonstrations could begin.

December 1, 2023

Metro Board Approves $207 Million for 91 and 605 Freeway Expansion Projects

Metro and Caltrans eastbound 91 Freeway widening is especially alarming as it will increase tailpipe pollution in an already diesel-pollution-burdened community that is 69 percent Latino, and 28 percent Black

November 30, 2023
See all posts