Bicycling
Streetsblog LA
First Steps in Culver City, Connecting Downtown to the Expo Station
(This week L.A. Streetsblog will be looking at the projects completed as part of a PLACE Grant awarded to Culver City in 2008. Part of that grant was a "physical project" that would demonstrate the city's committment to creating a more bicycle and pedestrian friendly atmosphere. Don't forget to tag any responses with #ccsb.)
As part of every PLACE Grant, each of the five municipalities had to complete a physical project to demonstrate the goals of the grant. The main goal of Culver City's grant was to create the Bicycle and Pedestrian Initiative, the city's first serious attempt to do long-term planning for bicycling and pedestrian projects. However, the city also needed to complete a "Downtown Connector" that would provide safe and comfortable passage for cyclists and pedestrians between the future Expo Line Station and Downtown Culver City. The city just completed the connector project in the last several weeks.
August 2, 2011
Media Commentary: LADN Editorial Plays Up Bicyclists Vs. Drivers — What’s the Point?
Editor's Note: On Wednesday, the Daily News published an editorial that acknowledged that riding a bicycle in Los Angeles is dangerous and that cyclists are harassed on the road, but that Los Angeles' recently passed anti-harassment ordinance was a "missed opportunity to create more harmony on our roads." Carter Rubin responded in their comments section, and expands on those views below.
July 29, 2011
Looking at Bike Progress in L.A., from the View of a Journalist
(Angelika Sjostrom is a senior at California State University Northridge where she studies journalism. A recreational bike rider, doing research for the story has inspired a budding interest in cycling culture. Angelika resides in LA's historic Angelino Heights. This is her first contribution to Streetsblog. Any opinions found within are that of the author. - DN)
July 27, 2011
Reading Assignment: What to Do When Trashcans Block the Bikelane?
During the next three days, I'm on extensive baby duty and there's no guest articles in the hopper that I know of. Since I don't like leaving readers who have grown accustomed to two longer stories everyday with less than their usual fare, each of the next three days I'm going to spotlight original reporting issues within our usual coverage sphere.
July 25, 2011
Live! Follow the Race Between the Wolfpack and Jet Blue via GPS and Jet Blue Flight Tracker…
Thanks to Joe Anthony of Bike Commute News and Errin Vasquez of Frontage Roads for helping with the tech stuff last night. I'd wish Anthony luck on his race today, but LASB is $90 richer if he loses...
July 16, 2011
Cyclists Gearing Up for Anti-Harassment Ordinance Hearing, Scheduled for Next Wed.
It's been almost two years since Councilman Bill Rosendahl first proposed an ordinance to better protect cyclists as vulnerable users of the roadway from harassment from empowered and obnoxious drivers, but now his proposed ordinance will finally get it's final hearing at City Hall. The full City Council is expected to hear the ordinance at next Wednesday's meeting at 10:00 A.M. The idea was first floated publicly in 2009 but had been discussed behind the scenes for months beforehand. If passed, the law would be the first of its kind anywhere in America, a fact not lost on safe cycling advocates from around the country. You can read the ordinance at the LADOT Bike Blog.
July 14, 2011
Bicycle Safety Program Comes to Huntington Beach
(Last month, Huntington Beach announced a new program to offer scofflaw cyclists a chance to go to bicycle safety school in lieu of paying what can be a hefty fine for illegal cycling. The program received some pretty harsh feedback on social media, but when I looked into it, I thought it was a pretty good program so I asked Huntington Beach Council Member Joe Shaw to write a piece for our best practices series explaining the program. Incidently, this is Shaw's third piece for Streetsblog having written for StreetHeat, our predecessor site, in 2007 and again for Streetsblog in May of 2008. You can follow him on twitter at @joeshawforhb)
July 14, 2011