Mayor Villaraigosa to hold bike summit Monday

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who broke his elbow last month in a bicycle accident, plans to hold a town hall meeting Monday on ways to make cycling easier and safer throughout Los Angeles.

“If there’s one thing everyone now knows after my recent accident, it’s that I like to bike in Los Angeles,” he wrote on his blog recently.  “The City’s landscape, climate, and neighborhoods offer a cyclist’s paradise.  Biking in Los Angeles should be a natural. Unfortunately most of our City was built with cars in mind.  It’s time to recognize that bicycles also belong on L.A.’s streets.”

Part of the discussion will include the Planning Department’s latest draft of the bicycle plan update to develop safe bike routes throughout the city.

‘Eventually we plan to build a network of 1,663 miles of bikeways,” he wrote. “I encourage everyone to take a look at the plan and give input.”
 

The meeting will be held at 9 a.m. at the MTA Board Room, 1 Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles.

 --Joe Mozingo
 

Comments

[bob]

How about obeying traffic laws? There are many problems related to cars and bicycles, but traffic laws are prominent. All I can say is throughout the city I live in bicyclists blow through residential stop signs without pause. This is most noticeable on the Sunday morning group ride when they blow throw a specific stop sign turning right onto a four lane street. This type of activity is common and local police ignore this type of activity. This causes a tension between all participants on the roadway.

While we are at it, why not have a motorcycle summit? Perhaps someone could explain why it is okay for motorcyclist to ride in between lanes in moving traffic on the street or highway? Really, does this seem like the best practice?

[Louweegie272]

This is the first time since he got elected that I think he is really trying to do something that would be helpful. Awesome.

[petestage]

Thanks mayor for the bike summit...L.A. Bikes are fun and cool way for getting around the secret LA...the city we love. This is major.... good energy....good public relations... best wishes for all the people of L.A.

[pmg]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_bicycling_in_la

According to the above article, it is his first ride since taking office. Stop with the lies Tony (i.e. "you love to bike in LA).

[donfitness]

All the river ways should have bike paths on the levees. Phoenix does this with all their aquaducts. I know LA has some, but it's a small fraction of what's available. The pathways are there. Most of them are already paved. Obviously you would have to make crossings, special gates, put up railing. But it would be the least expensive and fastest way to add over 100 miles of bike/skate routes.

[Jordan]

Bob,

If cars never blew through stop signs or red lights in L.A. then maybe that tired argument would score a point or two. Also, what's more dangerous, a bike rolling through a stop sign or a 1,000 pound hunk of metal? Argument is irrelevant, and furthermore improved bicycle facilities will further remove the incentive for cyclists to flaunt traffic laws (often this is actually done for defensive reasons).

Also, people on motorcycles drive between lanes because it is completely legal to do so. It also moves them faster through traffic...otherwise traffic would flow even more slowly.

[West Valley Dave]

The midget mayor wastes more time and taxpayer money. How about figuring out how to cut waste to close the budget deficit? Like the CRA? And all that "anti-gang" crud.

[West Valley Dave]

The midget mayor wastes more time and taxpayer money. How about figuring out how to cut waste to close the budget deficit? Like the CRA? And all that "anti-gang" crud.

[Tony Villar]

I am just a fair weather rider. I will forget about all things with two wheels come winter.

[Bern-Dog]

I agree with the first comment about bicyclists. California's Driver Handbook states "Bicyclists on public streets have the same rights and responsibilities as automobile" and that it includes all traffic signals and stop signs. It also states that they should ride as far to the right as practicable, should ride single file on a busy or narrow street and make left and right turns the same as drivers, and bicyclists must ride in the same direction as traffic. Many bicyclists and drivers wear headphones while riding - California Vehicle Code Section 27400 Wearing of Headsets or Earplugs states that this is unlawful for both drivers and bicyclists.

[JCC476]

If you went to this meeting - will you post the outcome - or where we can give input?

[Brandon]

The Mayor is such a self-serving egotist. He gets hurt on his bike, so now he wants to do something. It isn't always about him.