Bicycling

Yesterday, the LADOT and City Planning made their quarterly update to the City Council on the progress of the implementation of the Bike Plan.  The Council's Transportation Committee also moved a motion that would transfer $475,000 to LADOT's overtime account.  Between the somewhat confounding report offered by the agencies and the revelation that bike projects have to be built on overtime, it's no surprise that some advocates are anxious.

Following the decline of the studios in the 1960's and 1970's, Culver City had to reinvent itself.  In the 1990's, the city once commonly referred to as "The Heart of Screenland" undertook an aggressive campaign to revitalize their Downtown area that was mostly successful in attracting businesses and tourists to bolster the city's economy.  Today, nearly 40,000 people call Culver City home, and it's widely thought of as a safe place to live and a good place to raise children.

Earlier this week, The Source announced that it is adding a pair of bike cars to the Antelope Valley Inland Empire Line.  While this is generally considered good news, even though some Source readers have some pretty valid concerns, I hate The Source's picture.  One bike, one lonely and clearly posed bike, alone on a giant car.  To be fair to the Source, it's not their picture.

Alert reader Joe Dunavan alerts that new bike lanes have appeared on Woodley Avenue heading south.  The pictured section is just south of the Van Nuys Flyaway.  These lanes-in-waiting will run for a half mile from Saticoy Street to Sherman Way, roughly a half mile.  They connect to existing bike lanes to the north on Woodley Avenue.

Sounding like a spokesperson for the Republican opposition to the bill, Governor Jerry Brown announced a veto of SB 582, citing the cost to small businesses.  From his veto statement:

(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.

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.

(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)