Month: June 2010

The first round of the "Last Battle of Farmdale" has been decided, and it appears to be a rout for those supporting the creation of a new station for the Expo Line at the intersection of Farmdale and Exposition Boulevard in front of Dorsey High School. Yesterday afternoon, California Public Utilities Commission Administrative Law Judge Maribeth A. Bushey ruled that the construction of an at-grade station satisfies C.P.U.C.'s safety requirements for the intersection. The full C.P.U.C. Committee can overturn Bushey's decision after public comment, which ends on July 13, but Bushey's ruling is a blow to those fighting for a grade-separates Expo Line.

Responding to the poster put out last week by the LAPD inviting themselves to Critical Mass, at least one rider wasn't impressed.  Rider Plebis Power, roughly translated to Power of the People, posted a poster at Biking in L.A. that both lampooned the LAPD's flyer and made the point that the bad relationship between the LAPD and the cycling community is hardly just the fault of cyclists.  Where the LAPD creates a list of infractions that will earn cyclists a ticket tomorrow; Power writes a list of "incidents" caused by the LAPD at "recent group rides."

I was recently cruising the web and came across a query posted on Curbed L.A. about the stub end of the Harbor Transitway north of Adams and whether there are any plans to extend it. Dredging up memories of events over the years relating to the topic I posted two monster sized paragraphs of comment.

Earlier this week, we wrote about a Mike Pintek, a Pittsburgh radio show host who joked about hitting bicyclists with his car.

Just a reminder… Ballot Measure That Could Preserve State Transit Funding Heads to Fall Ballot (The Source) Gov. Wants to Give State Workers Minimum Wage During Budget Season (LAT) Sgt. Kumer Hanging Out with the Ridazz (Midnight Ridazz) Assembly Rejects Bill That Would Ban Tolls on Carpoolers (Political/LAT) Council Bends and Approves Contract with AZ … Continued

Critical Mass has gone mainstream.  Following last month's "Critical Mass Attack," where an officer was caught on tape kicking at cyclists' bikes before the cameraman was tackled to the ground, it seems you can't go anywhere without reading or discussing Critical Mass.  There have been press conference's, lawsuits, and even a promise that the LAPD will ride with Critical Mass in the future.

On Monday, at Vine and Selma, a woman attempting to cross Vine on foot was killed after being hit by a delivery truck. The streets were immediately filled with LAPD vehicles and an investigation ensued. Although it was evident that statements were taken and that measurements and photos were taken, missing from the investigation was any evidence that the traffic signals were tested or surveyed. This is unfortunate because the signal at Vine and Selma is malfunctioning.

Gary Kavanaugh has been documenting bike parking, or lack therof in Santa Monica. The promenade has a lot of rack parking, but apparently not enough to meet demand. California License Plates Might Go Digital? (AP) Texas Gas Companies Environmental End-Around Goes to California’s Ballot (LAist, LAT) Council Punts on Red Light Camera Vote…Because Cameras Were … Continued