Month: December 2011

Last night nearly 50 Streetsbloggers gathered at Earl's Gourmet Grub, across Venice Boulevard from the Bikerowave, for our first even End-of-the-Year Party.  There's so many people to thank and congratulate, so let's get right to it.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced yesterday that 32,885 people lost their lives on our nation’s roads in 2010. While a staggering toll, this represents the lowest total number of traffic fatalities since 1949. "We're making historic progress when it comes to improving safety on our nation’s roadways," said LaHood in a statement, also pointing out that the decrease in deaths came even as Americans are driving more [PDF].

(For more on the new charges filed against Christine Dahab, visit Culver City Patch (who broke the story), LAist and Biking In L.A.)

Here's the thing about big transportation projects: Even the worst of them, the biggest stinkers, at the very least produce a few temporary construction jobs.

You don't need to look too hard to find signs that the ground is shifting when it comes to highway construction. Around the country, state DOTs are running out of money. Headlines ask "Are Freeways Doomed?" Overall vehicle miles traveled are down in the Pacific Northwest.

Featured Headline: The LACBC released the results of their summer bike counts yesterday.  Some potential headlines: Biking up 32% Since 2009, or Only 5% of Cyclists Ride "Wrong Way" in Lane or Only One in Six Cyclists Are Women.  Read more at the LACBC Blog.

There's still some loose ends to tie up for tonight's End of the Year Party, starting  at 6:30 at Earl's Gourmet Grub, 12226 Venice Boulevard between Grand View Boulevard and Ocean View Avenue, so unless there is major breaking news, L.A. Streetsblog won't have new stories until tomorrow.

Yesterday, KCET announced a new draft ordinane that would finally clarify the legal status of murals painted on private property.  In an odd twist, the capital of the street art movement classifies murals as "outdoor advertising" and bans them in all but the most special cases.  This leads to odd stories such as the poor Valley Village homeowner who was fined by the city for encouraging students to decorate the fence in front of her house as violating advertising codes or other building owners being fined for allowing vandals to graffiti their property.

Last week, we reported on Metro's involvement in the "eviction" of Occupy L.A.  Yesterday, Metro spokesman Rick Jager was able to fill in the rest of the questions we had.  So here is your Metro/Occupy L.A. complete F.A.Q.  If you have other questions related to Metro and the Occupy eviction, leave them in the comments section and we'll pass them on.