LAPD

(In addition to a great report by Jeremy Grant, Bikeside has a list of things that you can do to make certain that justice is served in this case.  Including a "Storm the Bastille" ride to this week's meeting of the Bike Advisory Committee)

Playing the part of Gallant is the LAPD. At Soap Box, Stephen Box outlines several important policy changes announced last week by the LAPD/Cyclist Task Force. The LAPD committed to filing reports when Metro buses are involved in crashes and enforcing parking policy when cars or trucks are clogging bike lanes. They debuted training materials that lay down the rights of cyclists so that there is no confusion. And, they clarified once and for all that crosswalks are an extension of a sidewalk.

Always wish you could participate in Critical Mass, Midnight Ridazz, or Crank Mob, but are more of a morning person?  Then today's Downtown LA bike ride was for you.  At 8:30 this morning, roughly 100 bicyclists, Metro Staff, and yours truly took an scenic tour on the streets of Downtown. 

Over 500 slogans have been submitted to the Bike Safety Slogan Contest being organized by the un-likely (some would say un-holy) coalition of the LAPD, the LACBC, MidnightRidazz.com, and the LADOT. These groups have been working with the City of Los Angeles to procure ad spaces in bus shelters and Public Amenity Kiosks (PAK.) The goal being to raise awareness among road users about issues such as rights, rules, safety, and road courtesy in relation to bicycles. The final slogan will be designed and illustrated by the world renowned artist Geoff McFetridge.

Last Sunday, a cyclist was forced off his bike when trying to avoid colliding with a car that raced out of a parking lot on Sunset Boulevard. The cyclist went over his handlebars, while the vehicle sped off.  Another cyclist, who did not know the victim, raced after the driver and photographed their plates and the driver herself before returning to the scene.  Eventually, the driver did as well; only to find the LAPD didn't seem interested in the crash, or the driver fleeing the scene and refused to even write a report.  Naturally, there was some outrage.

Everyone who had a problem with the "Caution! Pass With Care" posters because they were "illegal" can rest assured that the next awareness campaign aimed at motorists, but designed by cyclists will be perfectly legal.  Of course, that the LAPD, along with the LACBC and "Midnight Ridazz," is sponsoring a contest to create the poster theme that will appear in bus shelters and Public Amenity Kiosks (PAK) throughout the city.  People interested in learning more about the project, or how to submit a theme for the posters, the art is being donated by Geoff McFetridge, can read more about it at the LACBC blog.

Yesterday, San Francisco Streetsblog reported on a SFPD officer harassing a cyclist and the horror that it would take nine months for the case to get a full review. As much as I sympathize with the cyclist, all I could think of is, "nine months, that's it?"

(Editor's note: Ari Bloomekatz also has full coverage of the meeting at LA Now.)

(Update: Tuesday, 2/23/10 at 8:02 A.M. - I had a chance to talk with Magos' lawyer over email last night and he confirmed that the LAPD sent the case to both the District Attorney and City Attorney; so in this case the LAPD isn't to blame.  I'm going to leave the text below unchanged so that the anyone reading through won't be confused by the comments section.)