Mayor Villaraigosa breaks elbow in bicycle accident

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa broke his elbow in a bicycle accident Saturday evening, a spokesman said.

The mayor was riding in the bicycle lane on Venice Boulevard in Mid-City at about 6:50 p.m. when a taxi abruptly pulled in front of him. The mayor hit his brakes and fell off the bike.

He was transported to Ronald Reagan/UCLA Medical Center, where he was treated for the broken bone.

By 10 p.m. he had been released and was resting comfortably at Getty House, the mayor's official residence.

The mayor's accident comes as bicyclists in the city have increasingly been complaining about safety issues and pressing city officials to do more to make cycling safe.

Bicycle advocates have called for more dedicated bike lanes and appeared repeatedly before the City Council to argue that a specific share of funds from Measure R, the 2008 sales tax for transportation projects, should be set aside for bicycle- and pedestrian-related initiatives.

Bicycle activist Stephen Box filled out paperwork last week to run for City Council in the district represented by Councilman Tom LaBonge that includes Hollywood, Koreatown and North Hollywood. Box, who was run off the road by a bus while cycling on Sunset Boulevard several years ago, said Venice Boulevard already has bike lanes but needs considerably more attention from city officials.

"Venice Boulevard is notorious for having all of the trash cans block the bike lanes. Venice Boulevard is notorious for having motor homes block the bike lanes. And Venice Boulevard is notorious for having fast traffic that uses the bike lane to squeeze through even when bicyclists are in the bike lane," he said.

Police Chief Charlie Beck has made overtures to bicyclists, promising to make their safety a bigger priority and sending some of his officers to ride in the monthly Critical Mass bicycle ride in June. The LAPD issued a directive instructing officers that a motorist can be held responsible for causing a bicycle accident even if he or she did not make direct contact with the rider -- and can be arrested for fleeing the scene, Box said.

-- Andrew Blankstein and David Zahniser

Comments

[Tom M.]

Maybe now the City officials will realize how ridiculous it is for them to encourage people to use bicycles as transportation in this city. If you ride a bicycle on city streets in Los Angeles you have a death wish. I am an excyclist that logged thousands of miles and personally knew two people that were killed cycling....

[Hiroki]

While I agree with bicycle activists on getting more dedicate bike lanes, etc... , bicyclist laws should be enforced more. I'm not saying all are doing it but I live here in Long Beach, where there are dedicated bike lanes and they don't comply with the laws like: 1) Stopping at a stop sign, 2)Have more than allotted amount of friends ride their bikes along side of them, so they are taking some of the car lane as well, and 3) Not making a left turn properly according to the DMV rulebook.

On another subject, I wish the police would enforce jaywalking more. I understand implied crosswalks but when those are not being used and people are walking slowly across the street illegally and forcing the cars to slow down during traffic is aggravating and happens often here in Long Beach.

[Catfish]

When giving attention to the needs of bicyclists one should be reminded that they are subject to the same rules as motorists, i.e., stopping at stop signs and red lights. In addition bicyclists often go against traffic, cut off pedestrians while using handicap ramps to alternate streets with sidewalks and other unsafe moves creating their own dangerous situations. If so much attention and expense is demanded by bicyclists there should be a license fee to help defray the expenses necessary to please a small group of people.

[GRANNYJ17]

BIKE RIDERS ARE A PAIN IN THE BUTT! THEY ARE ALWAYS IN THE WAY OF VEHICLES, THEY RUN STOP SIGNS AND INTERFERE WITH VEHICLES TURNING CORNERS. THEY NEED TO HAVE THEIR OWN SIDEWALKS TO RIDE ON AND STAY OUT OF THE STREETS!!

[Jim8]

I got nailed yesterday by a mother and child crossing the bike path without looking. I saw that they weren't looking and rode as slow as possible, crossing behind them. At just the right time, the little girl turned and ran right into my bike.

Of course the mother, my candidate for the worst mother of the year, told me I should have looked.

I got a skinned knee, the mother didn't even say she was sorry. I kind of wish they had the skinned knee so they might learn to cross safely.

[HeyitsDonny]

Wow hang in there buddy! Pwnd...wish I was there

[Joe]

How's the bicycle?

[sonnygun]

Too bad this worthless ex Gang member didn't break his mouth. Los Angeles would be a lot better off if they wouldn't have to hear him spewing forth lies from that sewer under his nose.

[So What]

Roads were built for cars, not bicycles.

[Marc]

Wish he broke his neck instead of his elbow.

[vm]

I am voting for Stephen Box to replace Tom LaBonge because what he says about sharing the road with bicyclists makes sense. He also believes that Billy the elephant should go to a sanctuary in Northern California. If you want to help free Billy, and let him be around other elephants and not cramped up in a tiny space for the selfish viewing pleasure of humans, vote for and get out the vote for Stephen Box. Animal lovers unite! Time for Tom LaBonge to go!

[Jim Q. Citizen]

Cab drivers in Los Angeles drive like literal maniacs. They'll risk people's lives for a $2.00 fare. Cab drivers need much more safety training and should be cited when they flagrantly disregard safety rules.

[Thinline72]

Wonder if he was riding his bike to another freebie event.

[martin miller]

Sorry Mayor, but as you probably know, Los Angeles area drivers are generally not skilled and often oblivious, if not rude. Our taxi drivers are not much better, stopping unpredictably at times and milking their fares by driving extra slowly. These are not highly skilled NYC taxi drivers.

[Chuck]

Since he claims to always be on city business, I suppose there is a workman's comp claim in the works?

[Don meaker]

So the mayor lost control of his bike and is blaming a taxi....

He must be disconsolate if he damaged his left wing. On the other hand he may feel that if he hurt his right wing that is justified.

Oh for the days when we had real politicians, rather than bad jokes.

[Public Servant54]

Welcome to the world of the cyclists Mr. Mayor! Now go do your job and get the proper bicycle lanes constructed!

[Cecilia]

I am sorry that the Mayor broke his elbow, but maybe something good will come of this considering there is lots of problems relating to the samething that caused his accident. Maybe now they will enforce the safety of the bicyclists. I personally have seen drivers use that lane to turn right, thats fine but when you are on it a whole long block. That's just wrong, and then when bicyclists use street lane when there is no bicycle lanes the drivers get all huffy about it, like the bicycles have any other choice. I am for implementing and enforcing laws and regulations related to bicycle lanes and bicyclists.

[Too Many People]

Don't ride your bike where there are cars. Get out of the way!

[SNL]

hope this doesnt take away from his ability to stick his grubby little hand out for free tickets to events.

[Zach]

Wow! I feel bad for the mayor. But as a cyclist, I wonder if it will take an incident like this to enact some serious changes in how LA deals with cyclists. Not only does LA have to render its roads friendly to cyclists, it has to enforce rules it already has.

In my time riding, I have never seen any member of law enforcement or parks police (Griffith Park) stand up for a cyclist. "A motorist cuts you off? " That's your problem. "A jogger is taking up your path pushing into your road?" That's your problem. "Rammed from behind by a motorist?" 911 will take so long you have to suffer the consequences.

Get well soon Mayor and help improve the streets of LA for cyclists.

Z

[Ollie]

Taxi drivers. Say no more. Most cabs I've ever ridden in had sub-par everything from brakes to suspension. They don't care. Then you add that most taxi drivers are from other countries [with vastly different ideas of safety] and talk on their cell phones much of the time.

Basic rules of riding a bike in LA. Car kill you, you no kill car [watch your back].

[Thomas46]

Sorry Mayor...

Maybe now we'll get some more attention!

How about dumping some money into PROMOTING cycling and making it easier and safer for people to do.

Less fat people, less med bills and less pollution and the downside is?

[Adrianne]

While I agree with a lot of the comments shown, I have also noticed as a driver, that those who drive taxis seem to have their own rules of the road. They take chances nobody should take, like making illegal u-turns, etc. It's very disturbing that taxi drivers are also creating risk.

[Donations]

In the wake of recent ticket inquiries I guess the question should be..... Who provided the bike?