Segways, scooters as traffic fighters

Here's an idea for easing Southland traffic congestion you don't hear everyday. Forgot those subways and light rail lines. Instead, encourage commuters to leave the car at home and drive bikes, scooters and Segways. That's part of the congestion plan by City Hall watcher and mayoral candidate Walter Moore:

To encourage people to use these types of efficient commuting vehicles, we need to convert the parking lanes on our major surface streets (e.g., Wilshire, Sepulveda) into lanes dedicated to such vehicles.  Some of the lanes would become “bus only” lanes.  Others would become “two-wheeled vehicles only” lanes.

What do you think of this idea? Are two wheels the answer? Hit the COMMENT button and speak out!

Comments

[KateNonymous]

I think it's a great idea, and so will the people (like my husband) who have been commuting by bike/scooter/etc. for years.

[Eric Almendral]

I ride a "scooter" (150cc Vespa) to work every day, from North Hollywood to downtown LA. I'm all for any changes in vehicle codes to favor and incentivize non-car forms of transportation. Easiest among these would be to change the county's parking laws to allow more than one scooter/motorcycle per metered parking space, permitting parking on sidewalks when foot traffic is not obstructed, etc.

It's important to note, though, that motorscooters are essentially motorcycles and should not share lanes with Segways, bicycles and the like.

[Christopher Neal Wyatt]

Simply re-designating existing traffic lanes for different uses is a cheap and quick 'solution', but unless this road space is protected by some kind of median divider from general traffic, abuse will be rampant, negating whatever positive effects had been hoped for.

[Robin]

This idea is a great one...IF you reside in a safe city. I live in North Long Beach where it would be stolen in a heartbeat.

[Jeff Gross]

It's a good idea as far as it goes, but Walt presents this as an either/or option. This should be considered as part of a comprehensive traffic solution, which needs to include the Purple Line down Wilshire and extension of the Aqua (Expo) line to Santa Monica.

Walt also repeats the canard about how "subways are the last place you want to be in an earthquake". Absolute bunk. Remember in the 1991 Bay Area earthquake, it was BART that was undamaged and kept the area moving after a 7.1, not the Bay Bridge.

[SteveC]

It's a great idea, as long as two wheeled vehicles include the ones most people already have, namely bicycles.

And let's not encourage gasoline powered skateboards. Those things are terrible smog and noise producers. They should be banned ASAP.

[Kate]

I think it's a great idea, for short-distance commutes and errands. There would need to be more, and more secure, parkng for such vehicles. And the people who have to travel longer distances would still need reliable transportation, either public or private.