Meet Team LACBC Climate Rider Michael Rippens
May 8, 2013 at 5:23 pm | Posted in Bike News | 1 CommentTags: Climate Ride, profile
Last but not least in our showcase of our LACBC Climate Riders, we have Michael Rippens. Michael has been a member and volunteer for the LACBC since moving back to California over seven years ago. He was also one of our winners in our Laemmle Theatres contest last month.
After Michael’s college years, he found himself living in Brooklyn, New York, and saved up money to purchase a “cheap, clunky, Frankenstein-esque hybrid bike.” He mainly used his bike to run errands and to meet up with friends and one day he was invited over to a Critical Mass ride from a friend of his who works at Time’s Up.
At CicLAvia – To the Sea, Michael collected donations in a box with the Climate Ride logo on one side, along with “Air for People” and “People for Air.”
“My mind was blown!” he recalls. “Taking over the streets of Manhattan at night with hundreds of other cyclists. . . was hugely empowering and probably the most fun I ever had on two wheels. I’d never before felt ownership of city streets in that way and realized that the roads are public spaces that should be made safe and accessible for everyone–not just cars, cabs, and the occasional parade. Just as importantly, I had the epiphany that the simple act of riding a bicycle could be a powerful tool for engaging in activism and inspiring change.”
After moving back to Los Angeles, Michael purchased a road bike to get around, and when he went on his first Critical Mass ride, there was a lot of frustration in how difficult and unsafe it was to get around via a bicycle. He soon became a member of LACBC and continued commuting to get around wherever he could via bike. Soon Michael heard and attended the AIDS/Lifecycle Ride in 2007 and had a great experience from it. While riding this, he was able to pick up the bike touring bug that has gotten him to continue riding not just locally but beyond the L.A. County limits.
In terms of preparation for the ride, Michael has been training with a couple of friends by going on weekly rides to build up stamina and mileage. They all went on a overnight tour to San Diego. Sadly, a week after the tour and after he found out that he was a winner in the Laemmle Theatre contest, Michael injured his elbow from a pickup soccer game. Luckily, nothing was broken and he has been recovering through therapy. Although he is somewhat nervous about the rigorous five-day Climate tour, he is still determined to ride for the causes he supports.
Through the ride, Michael hopes to raise awareness of environmental issues and also support LACBC in our daily goals. He hopes that riding over 300 miles without burning a single drop of gasoline will make a bold statement in how we get around and that there are alternative ways that are more efficient, healthier, and also environmentally-friendlier—such as a bicycle!
Says Michael: “I bike to make a statement that bicycles belong on city streets and that our infrastructure needs to evolve in order to allow biking to be a safer, more efficient and practical alternative to driving. I bike as a tool for raising awareness and support for causes that I care about and to hopefully inspire others to support my efforts even if they can’t ride themselves. I bike to experience nature while also expressing my respect for the environment by transporting myself in a sustainable, non-destructive manner. I bike to stay active and healthy and to feel a sense of accomplishment and pride by challenging myself physically. But mostly I bike because it’s just darn good fun.”
Michael also knows that alternative means of transportation are hard to swallow but he also knows that organizations like LACBC and movements like the Climate Ride are here to educate and spread the word on these types of issues.
On an ending note, Michael is still working hard to fundraise for the Climate Ride. At the last CicLAvia on April 21st, he brought along a floor pump and searched around for anyone who would need air for their tires. Michael collected donations in a box with the Climate Ride logo on one side along with “Air for People” and “People for Air” to advertise this event on top of fundraising. Although he only managed to raise $18 during the ride and a little more on his donation page, his favorite moment came when a kid standing on the side of the road pointed and screamed out “Hey, it’s the People for Air!” It made him laugh and gave him an idea that maybe he should start up an organization named that. Wouldn’t you support an organization named People for Air?
Lastly if you would like to make a donation to help Michael, do can do so here.
He’ll also be co-hosting a karaoke fundraiser this Friday night if you want to sing some tunes and support LACBC and his Climate ride. Here are more details from Michael:
Join us this Friday, May 10th for an evening of song, dance, food, drink, prizes and good vibes all in support of the 2013 California Climate Ride. It’s free to get in, but proceeds from song donations and the silent auction will benefit three Climate Ride beneficiaries: Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, GreenAmerica and B-Lab!
When: Friday, May 10th / Karaoke from 7 pm – 10 pm / Hang out from 10 pm – late
Where: Subrosa – 3416 Glendale Blvd., L.A., 90039 (Enter trough the alley next to Thank You For Coming)
Why: To help stop climate change and have fun while we’re at it!
What can I win: Silent auction prizes may include bike gear, movie tickets, a guitar and even a virtual Climate Ride experience!
Hosted by Climate Riders Michael Rippens & Garrett Schneider. This event is made possible by the generosity and awesomeness of Thank You For Coming. We encourage everyone in L.A. to visit TYFC for lunch, dinner, a quick snack, or to just drop in and say “hi.” They will be open for dinner during the Fun-Raiser.
Many thanks to our intern Vincent Ho for writing another profile and for Michael Rippens for joining our Climate Ride team and taking the time to speak with us!
Meet Team LACBC Climate Rider Laurie Gelardi
May 1, 2013 at 4:10 pm | Posted in Bike News | 1 CommentTags: Climate Ride, profile
Laurie has been riding for about two years and has found out about the Climate Ride from LACBC.
Continuing on with our The Climate Ride highlights, we’ll be highlighting Laurie Gelardi today. Laurie has been riding for about two years and has found out about the Climate Ride from LACBC. She has participated in various rides and triathlons and has a serious passion for cycling. At first she started riding as a form of exercise but to also improve her health. Soon enough she felt the benefits from riding as it grew more upon her and has also changed part of her lifestyle with Laurie commuting to work by bicycle.
In preparation for the Climate Ride, Laurie is still making progress as there are still a few weeks before the ride begins. The ride will be challenging for her since she will be riding roughly 300 miles over a span of 5 days, but she is looking forward to this ride with excitement as in the past with previous events she has attended.
Laurie will also be riding with her partner, Kathy. They are both excited for the Climate Ride and also for the experience. They do not always have time to ride together since they trade off workout times to watch their children. Although they know the ride will be challenging, they know that it will be enjoyable since they will be riding together and also enjoying the beautiful California scenery.
Kathy will be joining Laurie for the Climate Ride.
Laurie hopes to bring more advocacy and awareness for bicycle lanes through this ride. As a commuter, one question that is sometimes posed to her is, “Aren’t you scared?” At times she is scared, but as one who wants to bring change into the community, Laurie does not allow the thought of being scared to stop her. Safety and the environment are important issues not only for herself and her two children, but also for others in our current and future generations to enjoy as well. Aside from preparation, Laurie and Kathy hope to meet their fundraising goals, which as been a challenge since they are asking the same group of friends and family to meet their requirements. On a final note, Laurie says, “For our health and the health of our environment, we need to get off the couch and out of the car.” So get up and enjoy some fresh Spring weather outside!
If you would like to support Laurie and Kathy, LACBC, and the Climate Ride, you can donate to Laurie’s ride here and Kathy’s ride here.
Thanks to our intern Vincent Ho for writing this profile and Laurie Gelardi for taking the time to speak with us!
Meet Team LACBC Climate Rider Lisa Liberati
April 25, 2013 at 4:12 pm | Posted in Bike News | 2 CommentsTags: Climate Ride, profile
Leading up to the Climate Ride in May, we’ll be highlighting some of our team riders and their stories with why they are participating in this event. Although it is only almost month away, there is still a lot of preparation left, such as meeting fundraising goals, raising awareness, training for the 300 mile ride from California’s Redwoods into the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and much more.
In this series of people we will be highlighting, the first person up is Lisa Liberati. She has a unique goal of riding 50 miles in 50 states in honor of her 50th birthday. She has already signed up to ride in twelve states so far with plenty more planned in the future. You can read more about this and her at her blog here.
Lisa’s unique goal has brought up a lot of excitement here at LACBC.
Lisa first learned how to ride at a young age but then stopped once she left to college. Along those few years of not riding, she decided to take part in the first California AIDS Ride in 1994. Sadly, the night before the ride, the bicycle she was supposed to ride was stolen. Luckily, she was able to borrow another bicycle, though it was a heavy mountain bike. Looking back, this ride was the hardest ride to her since she said that she was under-trained. After this ride, Lisa took a break and stopped riding for years.
Back in 2008, while on a UC Davis summer study abroad trip in France, she had a professor who was an avid enthusiast. Aside from learning more about cycling, the Tour de France was going on, allowing her to follow it throughout her trip. While in Paris, she got back onto a bicycle again using Vélib’—a bicycle sharing system.
After her summer program, she started to follow the Tour de France. Two years ago, Lisa was given a mountain bike from her neighbor. After spending more money than what it was worth to get it back up and running, she made a deal with herself that if she rode her bicycle everyday during the Tour de France, she would buy herself a more suitable bike. She concocted a miniature version of the Tour de France route each day by riding on hills, the oceanfront, and even crossing rivers. A fun note about her ride following this tour was that she looked for wine from each region of France that they toured to try.
Halfway through the tour, Lisa was talking to a student’s mother and she brought up that she was giving away a bike sitting away in her garage. Highly interested, she took the bike; it was a dusty, ten-speed with strange, old pedals. Looking at it, Lisa had a feeling that it would change her life. She took the bike to the stop to get work done on it and the mechanic complimented her with “Great ride.” After doing research on the bicycle that she received (“Pinarello Banesto”), it did change her life.
“We have the best climate for cycling,” says Lisa about why she rides. “We need to fix the air and the traffic. Making Los Angeles more bicycle-friendly is a win for everyone: cyclists, walkers, drivers. . . anyone who breathes the air.”
Overall, cycling has changed the way Lisa has organized her life. With a busy work schedule, she knows that she has to prepare well in advance by blocking off dates on her calendar and keeping it free. This week, she is working on her final fundraising push wanting to hit her $3,000 goal. Aside from all this, cycling has made her rethink her perspective in Los Angeles by asking herself various questions such as: Could I ride here? Could I climb this hill? How would I get here? And where would I park by bike? Lisa is highly involved in examining her environment and talking to others about it as well as improvements that can be done. LACBC is an outlet for her to keep on these issues through meetings, but it also allows her to find out fun events.
If you would like to support Lisa, LACBC, and the Climate Ride, you can donate to her ride here.
Thanks to our intern Vincent Ho for writing this profile and Lisa Liberati for taking the time to speak with us!
LACBC Storms Washington D.C. for National Bike Summit
March 14, 2013 at 1:50 pm | Posted in Bike News | 2 CommentsTags: National Bike Summit
Eric Bruins, Alek Bartrosouf, Jen Klasuner, Cody Phillips, Cynthia Rose, Colin Bogart, and Dan Dabek before meeting with congressional representatives and staff.
There’s nothing quite like a national conference of leaders in the bike movement to inspire us and recharge our batteries for the coming months. Last week, 750 bicyclists from around the country descended on our nation’s capital to ask congress to support active transportation. LACBC was represented alongside over 70 Californians making the trek east, including our own Jen Klausner, Eric Bruins, Colin Bogart and Alek Bartrosouf. Also in our posse were chapter leader Cynthia Rose of Santa Monica Spoke, LACBC board member April Economides (who co-presented on Bike-Friendly Business Districts and Bike Tourism), and Dan Dabek from C.I.C.L.E.. Cody Phillips, a college student and mountain biker from Altadena, also joined us to meet with congressional staff.
This year’s National Bike Summit was jam packed with information and inspiration thanks to a timely Bikes Mean Business theme and the second annual National Women’s Bicycling Forum. We were addressed by livable streets luminaries including U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and New York City Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. There were also plenty of breakout sessions on diverse topics such as the economic impacts of bike tourism and mountain bike access in national parks. Most interesting for wonks like me (Eric) was the research commissioned by the League of American Bicyclists uncovering what policymakers actually think of us, and how we can shape our messaging to most effectively reach them. Another highlight was the release of a joint PSA between AAA and the League asking people to “Share the Road”. Much of the conference was recorded on video and posted to the League’s blog, for your viewing pleasure.
Shadowed by Bicycle Retailer and Industry News magazine, we met with staff from 17 of the 18 members of Congress that represent part of LA County and both of California’s senators. We asked our representatives to:
1) Join the Congressional Bike Caucus chaired by Democrat Earl Blumenauer of Oregon and Republican Tom Petri of Wisconsin,
2) Come to an event or see a project in your district, and
3) Sign on to a letter to Secretary Ray LaHood about performance metrics for the Highway Safety Improvement Program.
Alek, Cynthia, and Colin use D.C.’s bikeshare to visit the Capitol.
For a bit of background on ask #3: the federal transportation bill passed last year, known as MAP-21, devolves most transportation decision-making to the state and local level. But, it also charges the U.S. Department of Transportation with creating performance metrics against which states will be evaluated for effectiveness in spending their federal money. As anyone who’s ever been to school knows, when your teacher tells you what’s on the test, that’s what you spend your time studying. We are asking USDOT to create a specific metric for bicycle and pedestrian safety so that states will be held accountable for their results. This is important because when you just tell a highway engineer to make a road “safer”, they will usually make it wider and straighter, which we all know encourages drivers to go even faster and makes it less safe for those walking and biking. But, when you ask a highway engineer to make a road safer for bicyclists and pedestrians, they’ll design projects that make the road safer for everyone, including shoulders on rural roads and bike lanes or even cycletracks on city streets.
Thanks to the League for putting on an amazing summit and keeping us up-to-date during the overhyped “snowquester.” And thank you to our members for supporting this incredibly important work.
Check out the Streetfilms from the Women’s Bicycling Forum and the National Bike Summit.
Are You Bike-Friendly? CD 11 Candidate Odysseus Bostick Responds
February 25, 2013 at 1:48 pm | Posted in Bike News, Resources | 2 CommentsTags: council candidate surveys, Odysseus Bostick
LACBC asked each of the candidates running for City Council of the City of Los Angeles to respond to our questionnaire. We hope our members will find the candidates’ answers insightful into how each candidate proposes to make our streets safe, balanced, and livable. Responses are posted by Council District, in the order they were received. Here are responses from CD 11 candidate Odysseus Bostick.
1. Please share a memory involving a bicycle that has had a lasting effect on you (whether or not you were the one on the bicycle).
I’ll offer two: a positive and negative one.
Growing up in rural area of Florida, I could really relate to the oddball feeling portrayed by the main character in Breaking Away. Being a cyclist in the rural south was challenging, to put it mildly. I know many of the people reading this might have gone to the southern portion of FL for a recent CNU conference, but my cycling was focused on growing up in the panhandle and living in Gainesville while I attended college.
People are fairly cruel and I’ve been chased down by trucks many times, had bricks and bottles thrown at me, but there was a moment in Tallahassee when I was pedaling through some fairly dangerous traffic when someone flew by and hit me with a Big Gulp. I threw my bike down and ran alongside the road to keep up while I whipped out my pencil and paper to write their names down.
I rode home and called the DMV, but they exhibited absolutely no interest in the issue, nor did they offer any process for me to pursue. They said that I could come into the DMV, request the address where the vehicle was registered, and go there myself to “talk” to the owner.
I hung up the phone with a lot of disappointment. Government shouldn’t put the onus on regular people to hash out solutions to their problems when the problem emanates from what was an obvious threat to my personal safety. That is the role of government: to keep the peace. But, with cycling, it felt like I had to go out and fight, probably literally fight, for my legal rights. That’s wrong.
My second memory is of taking my (then) 2 year old to the Ciclavia that stretched through Echo Park to Macarthur through downtown…etc… Sabine was on the back of the bike and had never done such a thing. I couldn’t accurately describe the emotions she exhibited for you now. Let’s just say that her perspective was shaped that day in a lovely way.
2. The Department of City Planning is in the process of updating the City’s Mobility Element for the first time in decades. What policies would you prioritize for inclusion in the Mobility Element? What role do you see bicycling playing in the City’s transportation system, if any?
On transportation planning, I believe we frequently fail to incorporate the organic planning people have created through thousands of trips they take every day. Planners see the big ideas with rail projects and massive investments of infrastructure, but the really important and ultimately most successful planning is rooted in acknowledging the organic routes that have developed for people.
It’s the difference between plopping down a sidewalk that matches the conventional wisdom of sidewalk placement and going down to the area to see if there are places where people are cutting across open space and mapping that as the best place for a sidewalk. It’s the difference between mathematically plotting out a network of bicycle lanes and going to speak directly with moms to find out where most of their short trips are on any given day, working with them to determine safety needs, and focusing on facilitating the movement of people to places they need to get to and would feel comfortable riding a bike to.
Because a major priority in designing the very necessary “small” connectors like sidewalks and bicycle paths should be in making it easier for regular people to move freely within their neighborhood on foot or bike so we can start replacing short car trips with something that alleviates traffic on the neighborhood level.
3. Just a few months ago, Los Angeles was honored as a Bronze-level Bicycle-Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. Do you believe the city should pursue a Silver-level designation, and if so, what steps would you take in the first year of your term to move LA up to the Silver level?
We should pursue Gold, Palladium, Platinum, or even Onyx level designation because the need to find better ways of moving people through our neighborhoods will never really end, simply because we find our needs change as new generations come into adulthood. Technology changes our transportation needs and innovations in our transportation options should always be looked at so that we, as a city, are timely in our efforts.
My first term, not year, would be dedicated to working directly with women to assess what they need to feel safer on a bike, where they would feel comfortable riding a bike to, and what routes they might see as acceptable to make those trips.
Directing this process to women is the only way we will create a culture of cycling in Los Angeles.
4. In 2011, the City Council unanimously adopted the Bicycle Plan proposing a comprehensive 1,600-mile bikeway network across the City. What steps would you take to ensure implementation of Bicycle Plan projects in your district? Are there any specific projects in the Plan you would prioritize?
The north-south “highway” from Brentwood south would be a major priority. Another priority is working closely with our neighborhood elementary schools to develop Safe Routes to School. As mentioned in a previous question, I would also reach out to mothers to identify missed opportunities in the plan to provide families with routes to places they feel reasonably secure biking to in their community.
A major focus would also be to increase bicycle parking in commercial zones.
5. Studies have shown that people on bicycles spend more per month in local business districts than those arriving by other modes. What steps would you take to ensure that local businesses in your district are able to benefit from better access by bicyclists?
More access to bicycle parking. Replacing 1-5% of parking in neighborhood commercial zones with bike corrals would help.
6. The LA Weekly recently wrote a feature story documenting that almost half of traffic collisions in the City of LA are hit-and-runs, according to LAPD records. Many victims of these traffic crimes are people walking and bicycling. What steps would you take to reduce the rate of hit-and-run and ensure perpetrators are prosecuted?
On a fundamental level, LAPD needs to prioritize all hit and runs involving a cyclist/pedestrian regardless of whether the victim dies. We also need to increase the bike unit in the LAPD up to 300 officers per day. I believe it hovers somewhere around 250 at this time. Increasing the bike unit patrol numbers will provide additional law enforcement “eyes” on the ground to better understand the dynamics of cycling in Los Angeles while providing additional insight into the day to day battle for safety we endure.
7. In the event of a collision, the survival of those injured could depend on a prompt emergency response, yet it’s recently been disclosed that response times for the Los Angeles Fire Department frequently exceed national standards. What would you do to address budget and staffing cutbacks affecting the LAFD to ensure a faster response for all those who need emergency assistance?
We need to stabilize our pension costs in public safety and negotiate for lower payouts. They currently retire with 90% of their salary after age 50. That’s unsustainable. We need to adjust that downward to the 78-80% range. We also need to cap the city’s contribution at 15% and require that employees cover the gap that yearly investment returns to do not cover to ensure that their pensions are fully funded.
Doing that will allow our city to begin hiring firefighters again, something that has been prohibited for 6 years now.
8. A recent proposal has been floated to assess all property owners to bring streets into a state of good repair. Do you support the proposed bond measure, and do you believe any changes should be made to the proposal to serve all those who travel on city streets, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users?
At this time, I don’t support any revenue increases until the city completes negotiations with the public safety unions to create sustainable pension plans. Any increase in revenue for any reason before those negotiations are complete will remove the pressure to solve this structural problem.
It’s a shame that we are in this state at this time. It’s actually a very good time to float a bond for infrastructure improvements. Interest rates are at historic lows and the Fed’s monetary policies have created pent-up inflation that will begin to take effect within a decade. In other words, money is cheap right now and that money will be even cheaper when inflation begins to rise because of the massive stimulus plan our federal government has pursued this past 5 years.
But political will to fix pension plans in Los Angeles will not survive an increase in revenue. We will end up paying more for the same while those increases in revenue will be used to “feign” progress in our structural deficit. In my opinion.
9. LACBC has formed Neighborhood Bike Ambassador groups in each part of the City to work with local businesses, neighborhood councils, homeowner associations and other stakeholders on bicycle issues. Will you commit to meeting with the local Ambassador group in your district on a regular and ongoing basis? Would you be willing to lead a regularly scheduled bike ride with your constituents?
Yes. Gladly.
10. Would you presently feel safe riding a bike in Los Angeles, and if not, what would it take to make you feel comfortable on our city streets?
I feel safe on the neighborhood level, but not on the city-wide level. We need more protected bike lanes on “highways” to facilitate more neighborhood-to-neighborhood commuting.
Are You Bike-Friendly? CD 13 Candidate Roberto Haraldson Responds
February 21, 2013 at 6:17 pm | Posted in Bike News, Resources | Leave a commentTags: council candidate surveys, Roberto Haraldson
LACBC asked each of the candidates running for City Council of the City of Los Angeles to respond to our questionnaire. We hope our members will find the candidates’ answers insightful into how each candidate proposes to make our streets safe, balanced, and livable. Responses are posted by Council District, in the order they were received. Here are responses from CD 13 candidate Roberto Haraldson.
1. Please share a memory involving a bicycle that has had a lasting effect on you (whether or not you were the one on the bicycle).
I saw a man riding down a hill, flip over his bicycle and land on his head. The man was not wearing a helmet and was injured. Traumatic brain injury, death and other injuries can be prevented in part by educating the public to wear their helmets. I am not against fines for bicyclist not wearing their helmets, because I truly care about the safety of our community riders. We do not have enough bike lanes in our district, nor do we have enough community education programs at community centers and in schools about bike safety. The signage for bicyclists is lacking and that irresponsible planning in our city needs to change.
2. The Department of City Planning is in the process of updating the City’s Mobility Element for the first time in decades. What policies would you prioritize for inclusion in the Mobility Element? What role do you see bicycling playing in the City’s transportation system, if any?
Bicycles are crucial to creating a greener, less polluted community. Bicycles also add aesthetic value to our streets. Bicycle racks on all buses will help us to promote riding. More designated places for bicyclists to lock their bike and more bike lanes will also help keep bicyclists in our community. Beautification of the bike path along the river leading into downtown and in other areas of the community will help make riding to work, more enjoyable for residents.
3. Just a few months ago, Los Angeles was honored as a Bronze-level Bicycle-Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. Do you believe the city should pursue a Silver-level designation, and if so, what steps would you take in the first year of your term to move LA up to the Silver level?
Silver-level designation can be achieved by our city. The Bicycle Plan is a step in the right direction, yet only has half the amount of focus on bikeways that I would like to see in the district. I would double the amount of bikeways for our district and prioritize safety and signage for cyclists, especially in hilly areas and areas where it is hard to see around parked vehicles, shrubs and corners. Warning signs of dangers ahead and of accident-prone intersection is crucial to making safer rides for new area cyclists. These measures will keep cyclist active and help to recruit new cyclists.
4. In 2011, the City Council unanimously adopted the Bicycle Plan proposing a comprehensive 1,600-mile bikeway network across the City. What steps would you take to ensure implementation of Bicycle Plan projects in your district? Are there any specific projects in the Plan you would prioritize?
I plan to be very involved with the Bicycle Plan, so that people in Atwater Village can ride to East Hollywood, people in Koreatown can ride to Elysian Park and anywhere else they want to go. Specifically, I want the Bicycle Plan to reach into every major commercial and business area, as well as, to the beautiful parks. Ride to work and ride to recreation are my two main priorities.
5. Studies have shown that people on bicycles spend more per month in local business districts than those arriving by other modes. What steps would you take to ensure that local businesses in your district are able to benefit from better access by bicyclists?
I believe that business owners who actively pursue creating bicycle racks in their parking lots, deserve awards for being green friendly. Small businesses without parking lots will benefit from having a bicycle-parking zone in their area, provided by the city government as a free service to tax payers.
6. The LA Weekly recently wrote a feature story documenting that almost half of traffic collisions in the City of LA are hit-and-runs, according to LAPD records. Many victims of these traffic crimes are people walking and bicycling. What steps would you take to reduce the rate of hit-and-run and ensure perpetrators are prosecuted?
I believe cameras at intersections and business cameras are important for catching hit and run crimes. In addition, I believe that people who are caught driving under the influence more than once should be disallowed from driving in school zones and areas where there are bike paths. Services that offer rides home to the intoxicated should be mandatorily advertised at bars and other liquor establishments.
7. In the event of a collision, the survival of those injured could depend on a prompt emergency response, yet it’s recently been disclosed that response times for the Los Angeles Fire Department frequently exceed national standards. What would you do to address budget and staffing cutbacks affecting the LAFD to ensure a faster response for all those who need emergency assistance?
Money will not make firefighters faster; better training will make firefighters faster. More drills, more efficiency evaluations in the fire station and more athletic preparation of our firefighters are just the first step. Congested traffic causes slow response times, thus having a follow-up police cars following our fire trucks to ticket traffic offenders that do not move quickly aside to allow the fire truck to pass is essential. Our police must work with our firefighters to manage traffic for emergency personnel.
8. A recent proposal has been floated to assess all property owners to bring streets into a state of good repair. Do you support the proposed bond measure, and do you believe any changes should be made to the proposal to serve all those who travel on city streets, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users?
The bond measure has to address all residents’ needs not just some residents needs. Pedestrians, bicyclist and motorists should be prioritized in that order. It is our right to walk, yet our privilege to drive. The proposal should focus more on local traffic than on those passing through for distant commutes. I am for residents working locally, rather than having to make a long commute and plan to bring more quality jobs to our neighborhood business districts.
9. LACBC has formed Neighborhood Bike Ambassador groups in each part of the City to work with local businesses, neighborhood councils, homeowner associations and other stakeholders on bicycle issues. Will you commit to meeting with the local Ambassador group in your district on a regular and ongoing basis? Would you be willing to lead a regularly scheduled bike ride with your constituents?
Yes. I am an avid bike rider and believe leading rides around our community will lead to better efficiency in our transportation. In addition, I want to encourage our disabled community to try adaptive bicycles on our rides.
10. Would you presently feel safe riding a bike in Los Angeles, and if not, what would it take to make you feel comfortable on our city streets?
Having a team of bicycle safety assessors regularly ride the routes of our district to report and evaluate problems is key. We need professional engineers on our team to evaluate each section of our bicyclist’s paths.
Are You Bike-Friendly? CD 13 Candidate Alex De Ocampo Responds
February 21, 2013 at 6:17 pm | Posted in Bike News, Resources | Leave a commentTags: Alex De Ocampo, council candidate surveys
LACBC asked each of the candidates running for City Council of the City of Los Angeles to respond to our questionnaire. We hope our members will find the candidates’ answers insightful into how each candidate proposes to make our streets safe, balanced, and livable. Responses are posted by Council District, in the order they were received. Here are responses from CD 13 candidate Alex De Ocampo.
1. Please share a memory involving a bicycle that has had a lasting effect on you (whether or not you were the one on the bicycle).
Growing up my family didn’t have a lot of money, so on weekends my mom would take us to the park on our bikes. We didn’t have a car back then, so bikes were how we got around. They became a way of life for me, and I have loved them ever since.
2. The Department of City Planning is in the process of updating the City’s Mobility Element for the first time in decades. What policies would you prioritize for inclusion in the Mobility Element? What role do you see bicycling playing in the City’s transportation system, if any?
If the updated Mobility Element will truly be one for the future, it must account for multi-modal transit within Los Angeles and throughout the Greater Los Angeles region. The reality is that our city is becoming denser and will be developed further along transit corridors. The Metro system won’t work if the Los Angeles streetscape isn’t retrofitted to account for pedestrians, bicycles, and heavy transit use. Bikes will provide a vital link between rail and bus and peoples homes and works, which is why I would support additions to zoning codes that require bicycle parking, as well as the continued expansion of bicycle sharing programs and bike lanes.
3. Just a few months ago, Los Angeles was honored as a Bronze-level Bicycle-Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. Do you believe the city should pursue a Silver-level designation, and if so, what steps would you take in the first year of your term to move LA up to the Silver level?
Absolutely, from an economic, social, and environmental perspective, any improvements in bike-friendliness in this city are huge positives. While our focus should be on making it easier and safer to use a bike to travel to work, the store, or for fun in this city, angling for distinctions such as those provided by the League of American Bicyclists will be a credit to us on the national stage and attract attention to the improvements underway in Los Angeles.
4. In 2011, the City Council unanimously adopted the Bicycle Plan proposing a comprehensive 1,600-mile bikeway network across the City. What steps would you take to ensure implementation of Bicycle Plan projects in your district? Are there any specific projects in the Plan you would prioritize?
I strongly support the Bicycle Plan and, if I had been in office, would have voted to support it. If elected, I will closely monitor the progress of projects in my district and keep constituents updated on the status of things. I will also bring together various interests if there are delays in implementation, so we can make sure these improvements do not get stalled.
One great candidate for additional work in District 13 is improving multi-modal connectivity where the freeways like the 101, 2, and 5 cut through neighborhoods. Too often freeways create blighted and forbidding environments for pedestrians and bikers. There is great room for improvement here, especially in dense neighborhoods like Hollywood and around the LA River in Atwater Village and Elysian Valley.
We also must capitalize on the upcoming introduction of bike share programs to Downtown LA and various neighborhoods on the Westside. As a City Councilmember I will aggressively solicit the implementation of a bike share programs in our neighborhoods.
5. Studies have shown that people on bicycles spend more per month in local business districts than those arriving by other modes. What steps would you take to ensure that local businesses in your district are able to benefit from better access by bicyclists?
One of the priorities of my campaign is to provide support for job-creating small businesses in my district and at large. I believe an effective way to accomplish this is to improve the life of our streets and storefronts. Bicycle traffic is a common sense solution here–people on bikes pass by storefronts slower, and are more likely to notice individual businesses they may soon patronize. We can promote this by making sure there is space to park bikes and working with small business owners to make their streets more accessible.
6. The LA Weekly recently wrote a feature story documenting that almost half of traffic collisions in the City of LA are hit-and-runs, according to LAPD records. Many victims of these traffic crimes are people walking and bicycling. What steps would you take to reduce the rate of hit-and-run and ensure perpetrators are prosecuted?
This is a vitally important public safety issue. The recent revelations of the scale of this problem are staggering and a call to action. As a City Councilmember, I will ensure that we have an “all hands on deck” approach to solving this issue, mobilizing community groups to bring perpetrators to justice, educating residents about the perils of hitting and running, and making sure the LAPD is responsive to these kinds of cases.
7. In the event of a collision, the survival of those injured could depend on a prompt emergency response, yet it’s recently been disclosed that response times for the Los Angeles Fire Department frequently exceed national standards. What would you do to address budget and staffing cutbacks affecting the LAFD to ensure a faster response for all those who need emergency assistance?
This cuts to the heart of one of my campaign priorities–improving city services in the wake of debilitating budget cuts. It is vitally important that we prioritize economic recovery in this city to stabilize our finances and bring back robust city services . All departments have had to navigate financial stress, but I will ensure that the LAPD and LAFD are the first ones to be relieved of that pressure. It is a solemn responsibility the city has to provide emergency services to its residents, and must be acted on quickly and decisively.
8. A recent proposal has been floated to assess all property owners to bring streets into a state of good repair. Do you support the proposed bond measure, and do you believe any changes should be made to the proposal to serve all those who travel on city streets, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users?
Ideally we wouldn’t need to saddle our residents with more taxes in order to maintain our streets, but, because this bond measure represents a full reconstruction of the much of Los Angeles’s street system, I can see the benefits, especially in light of our budget challenges. I believe that it would be much wiser if this proposal included provisions for multi-modal transportation, cataloguing and repair of sidewalks, and ways to achieve the goals set forth in the Los Angeles Bike Plan passed in 2010.
9. LACBC has formed Neighborhood Bike Ambassador groups in each part of the City to work with local businesses, neighborhood councils, homeowner associations and other stakeholders on bicycle issues. Will you commit to meeting with the local Ambassador group in your district on a regular and ongoing basis? Would you be willing to lead a regularly scheduled bike ride with your constituents?
Absolutely, I have experience working with community groups from my time as a member of the Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council.I believe that Neighborhood Councils have been underutilized by most City Councilmembers and I fully intend to work closely with them to identify problems in Council District 13 and find solutions that everyone can agree on. More broadly, I would make sure to meet with local groups as frequently as possible to ensure all stakeholders in the district have their voices heard.
10. Would you presently feel safe riding a bike in Los Angeles, and if not, what would it take to make you feel comfortable on our city streets?
Yes and no. Some parts of the city are very bike friendly and allow for smooth commutes. Other parts, whether because of the lack of bike lanes, clear streetscapes, quality roads or congestion are not as bike friendly. This problem has only gotten worse as we have faced severe budget cuts. This is why it is important for City Hall to identify new sources of revenue and promote job creation, which will bring in new revenue and investment.
Are You Bike-Friendly? CD 13 Candidate Mitch O’Farrell Responds
February 21, 2013 at 6:16 pm | Posted in Bike News, Resources | 8 CommentsTags: council candidate surveys, Mitch O'Farrell
LACBC asked each of the candidates running for City Council of the City of Los Angeles to respond to our questionnaire. We hope our members will find the candidates’ answers insightful into how each candidate proposes to make our streets safe, balanced, and livable. Responses are posted by Council District, in the order they were received. Here are responses from CD 13 candidate Mitch O’Farrell.
1. Please share a memory involving a bicycle that has had a lasting effect on you (whether or not you were the one on the bicycle).
Learning to ride a bike at age 5 by myself, no training wheels, no one helping me and I had never been on any bike before. I hadn’t started school yet but my older sister had. So I picked up her bike while she was at school (it was way oversized for my tiny body), and I just spent the time on a wonderful, sunny day during the Spring time in Oklahoma learning to ride that bike. When I had it down, I ran into the house so my mom could come outside for me to demonstrate. I will never forget her encouragement and delight and I remember having a wide eyed grin, experiencing pure joy. I have ridden bikes ever since.
2. The Department of City Planning is in the process of updating the City’s Mobility Element for the first time in decades. What policies would you prioritize for inclusion in the Mobility Element? What role do you see bicycling playing in the City’s transportation system, if any?
I want LA to become known for biking in the way Berlin, Germany is. We need to dream big and the Mobility Element must envision a day when tens of thousands of people across the city utilize a comprehensive biking system that moves cyclists more safely across the city.
(What role do you see bicycling playing in the City’s transportation system, if any?) Obviously, a big, big role.
3. Just a few months ago, Los Angeles was honored as a Bronze-level Bicycle-Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. Do you believe the city should pursue a Silver-level designation, and if so, what steps would you take in the first year of your term to move LA up to the Silver level?
Great question. Yes! There is the proverbial “low hanging fruit.” We have the resources to create Sharrow lanes across the city – right now. I am baffled as to why this has not yet been done and I will make sure we begin in the 13th. The LA bicycle Master Plan was created over years of volunteer input from people who know how to make Los Angeles bike friendly. The experts have spoken and it is now our job to begin implementation as soon as we possibly can. Of course this will require additional outreach in the neighborhoods where new lanes will go, but I have experience at bringing people together to make positive change happen and I will be an active leader on this issue in the 13th and in the city. The city and the county will have to work closely together, identify additional resources for areas where engineering is involved that require public funds.
4. In 2011, the City Council unanimously adopted the Bicycle Plan proposing a comprehensive 1,600-mile bikeway network across the City. What steps would you take to ensure implementation of Bicycle Plan projects in your district? Are there any specific projects in the Plan you would prioritize?
I mentioned Sharrow’s above and will get them going on a regular basis until they are on every street that calls for them.
(Are there any specific projects in the Plan you would prioritize?) Fletcher Drive needs Sharrow lanes, as does Virgil, Hoover, Bellevue, Brunswick, San Fernando Road, Chevy Chase Drive, Glendale Boulevard, Franklin, Fountain, Temple, Melrose, 3rd, Normandie, and dedicated bike lanes on portions of Glendale, Beverly, Elysian Park Drive, Stadium Way, and Riverside Drive. I am sure I am leaving many out but this is a reasonable start. I will dissect the plan and develop a comprehensive approach to prioritize elements of the plan in the District, that get people moving on bikes as soon as possible. Bicycling is part of my comprehensive Transportation strategy plan for the District; available on my website under the “Plan” link. As I mentioned above, we don’t just start laying down pavement markings. To do this right and not have a rebellion from people who drive but feel threatened by bicyclists, will take some heavy lifting from my office but I have done that for 10 years and know this is part of the process.
5. Studies have shown that people on bicycles spend more per month in local business districts than those arriving by other modes. What steps would you take to ensure that local businesses in your district are able to benefit from better access by bicyclists?
Bike racks everywhere! There are some really great programs for this but the city tends to over think it. I am a bicyclist. I can hook my bike on almost anything and be just fine! Also, we need to promote bike culture in Los Angeles as we roll out the lanes. We need to take a look at incentives for new and existing businesses to build biking in to their business model and need a permit.
6. The LA Weekly recently wrote a feature story documenting that almost half of traffic collisions in the City of LA are hit-and-runs, according to LAPD records. Many victims of these traffic crimes are people walking and bicycling. What steps would you take to reduce the rate of hit-and-run and ensure perpetrators are prosecuted?
1. Change the culture so law enforcement takes this seriously! While on staff I dealt with a few of these and know firsthand the laissez faire attitude, at times, from investigative officers when this has happened. The LAPD needs to formalize an administrative review process for all hit and run crimes and I would love to work with the bicycle community and the Chief on developing this so it actually becomes citywide policy. That would let people know we take this issue seriously.
2. We need to make our pedestrian experience much safer in the city. I have worked on several streetscape master plans and found funding for them too. These are great devices to calm traffic and make walking safer. Creating more of these will be a hallmark of my time in office. I’ll throw in here that Headphones are another culprit. I see people walking and biking all the time, wearing them. It is dangerous!
7. In the event of a collision, the survival of those injured could depend on a prompt emergency response, yet it’s recently been disclosed that response times for the Los Angeles Fire Department frequently exceed national standards. What would you do to address budget and staffing cutbacks affecting the LAFD to ensure a faster response for all those who need emergency assistance?
The reduction plan, rolled out during the summer of 2011 was haphazard and Northeast Los Angeles in particular, took the brunt of the losses for the rest of the city. For example: Nearly 25% of the cuts affected 7 fire stations (all NE area) out of 106 stations city-wide. This makes our hillside neighborhoods from El Sereno to Silver Lake and every hillside in between more prone to a slower response time and these are all “high fire danger” zones. But this obviously affects our EMT’s too.
1. I will insist on a re-evaluation of the plan and make sure no neighborhoods are left more vulnerable than others.
2. I will work to make sure we get empirical date based on fact and not politics, so we have a real picture of response times.
3. Get the budget under control and go back to full deployment.
8. A recent proposal has been floated to assess all property owners to bring streets into a state of good repair. Do you support the proposed bond measure, and do you believe any changes should be made to the proposal to serve all those who travel on city streets, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users?
I do not support it. There are times to raise property taxes and times when they shouldn’t be raised. This plan was hastily crafted and voters are generally in no mood to raise taxes at the moment unless the proposal is well crafted, fair, and believable. I do like the idea of EVERYONE paying a share of this but we passed measure R and voters need to see tangible evidence the additional taxes they pay are resulting in projects in the ground. There is well earned cynicism out there. Having said that, we need a long term funding plan to repair or broken infrastructure without relying only on the state each year with the various gas taxes that depending on what the legislature or federal government decides, can only be used for certain, specified types of streets; alley’s, major artery’s, secondary hi-ways, collector streets, etc. I was public works deputy for ten years in the 13th and there is never enough money to repair everything so we are losing ground as more streets fall into disrepair than we can keep up with. I would support and will help craft a ballot measure that is fair, community driven, and comprehensive enough to actually help repair our crumbling infrastructure AND I will advocate strongly for federal help from our Congressional delegation.
9. LACBC has formed Neighborhood Bike Ambassador groups in each part of the City to work with local businesses, neighborhood councils, homeowner associations and other stakeholders on bicycle issues. Will you commit to meeting with the local Ambassador group in your district on a regular and ongoing basis? Would you be willing to lead a regularly scheduled bike ride with your constituents?
Yes, I relish the idea! As a Council Staffer for ten years in the Office of Eric Garcetti, I actually rode my bike from Glassell Park to Hollywood on a somewhat regular basis. It took only a few minutes longer to get there but it is an enjoyable little trek! So, I will be the elected official guy who rides his bike to work; not only on “leave your car at home day,” but at least on a regular basis, and hopefully setting a good example. It’s such good exercise and is fun, except during heat waves.
10. Would you presently feel safe riding a bike in Los Angeles, and if not, what would it take to make you feel comfortable on our city streets?
Yes, but no matter how safe we make our streets for bicycling, us bike riders will always need to be very careful. There are streets I avoid for sure. I really don’t like riding downhill on the Hyperion Bridge for example! But – there’s almost nowhere I wouldn’t bike in the city. That does not mean I expect everyday people to be the same. Clearly, we need to implement many of the improvements discussed in this questionnaire because people need to feel safe and secure in our city.
Are You Bike-Friendly? CD 13 Candidate Josh Post Responds
February 21, 2013 at 6:15 pm | Posted in Bike News, Resources | 1 CommentTags: council candidate surveys, Josh Post
LACBC asked each of the candidates running for City Council of the City of Los Angeles to respond to our questionnaire. We hope our members will find the candidates’ answers insightful into how each candidate proposes to make our streets safe, balanced, and livable. Responses are posted by Council District, in the order they were received. Here are responses from CD 13 candidate Josh Post.
1. Please share a memory involving a bicycle that has had a lasting effect on you (whether or not you were the one on the bicycle).
Growing up in a small town of 900 people, many of my friends lived on country roads 5 to 10 miles from my family’s home. I would use my bike to visit my friends as a means of transportation throughout my childhood and as a young adult. This mentality as stayed with me to this day. I love commuting to work by bike and riding my bike across town to visit friends or to explore the sights.
2. The Department of City Planning is in the process of updating the City’s Mobility Element for the first time in decades. What policies would you prioritize for inclusion in the Mobility Element? What role do you see bicycling playing in the City’s transportation system, if any?
I want to make Los Angeles more bike friendly: create more bike lines and bicycle parking; encourage better education for LAPD in dealing with bicycle traffic; support the implementation of the bicycle master plan.
3. Just a few months ago, Los Angeles was honored as a Bronze-level Bicycle-Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. Do you believe the city should pursue a Silver-level designation, and if so, what steps would you take in the first year of your term to move LA up to the Silver level?
Los Angeles should pursue the League’s Diamond Level Designation. LA’s 2010 Bicycle Plan is a wonderful start to making Los Angeles the most bicycle friendly community in the country. I realize we have far to go and I will continue to make Los Angeles more bike friendly: create more bike lines and bicycle parking; encourage better education for LAPD in dealing with bicycle traffic; support the implementation of the bicycle master plan. I will consider alternative uses of our roadways through strategically placed “road diets” to mitigate traffic, increase bicycle and pedestrian safety, and encourage alternative forms of transportation.
4. In 2011, the City Council unanimously adopted the Bicycle Plan proposing a comprehensive 1,600-mile bikeway network across the City. What steps would you take to ensure implementation of Bicycle Plan projects in your district? Are there any specific projects in the Plan you would prioritize?
I would work to expand beyond the three goals that were established by Mayor Villaraigosa’s 2010 Bicycle Plan by continuing to increase the number and types of bicyclists who bicycle in the City; make every street a safe place to ride a bicycle, and continue to make the City of Los Angeles a bicycle friendly community. I would also work to expedite completion of Measure R transit projects within the City; bring Measure R projects to CD13 as well as more bike lanes in CD13.
5. Studies have shown that people on bicycles spend more per month in local business districts than those arriving by other modes. What steps would you take to ensure that local businesses in your district are able to benefit from better access by bicyclists?
I would lead the city and our neighborhoods and businesses in CD13 in creating bicycle and pedestrian friendly neighborhoods. I believe that having bike friendly business districts will enhance the local quality of life and increase revenue for local businesses because walkable neighborhoods that are allow both bicyclists and pedestrians access to business will increase business revenues while drawing the community closer.
6. The LA Weekly recently wrote a feature story documenting that almost half of traffic collisions in the City of LA are hit-and-runs, according to LAPD records. Many victims of these traffic crimes are people walking and bicycling. What steps would you take to reduce the rate of hit-and-run and ensure perpetrators are prosecuted?
With over 4,000 felony hit-and-runs occur yearly in L.A., the city council has to collaborate with LAPD’s Multidisciplinary Collision Investigation Team (MCIT) and create a task force to raise public awareness. We will create a plan of action with the LA Police Department to reduce the frequency of these types of accidents and to catch and punish hit-and-run drivers for fleeing from the crash site.
7. In the event of a collision, the survival of those injured could depend on a prompt emergency response, yet it’s recently been disclosed that response times for the Los Angeles Fire Department frequently exceed national standards. What would you do to address budget and staffing cutbacks affecting the LAFD to ensure a faster response for all those who need emergency assistance?
We must ensure our police and fire departments have the resources they need to provide core services. I don’t support the cuts last year to the fire department and I will fight to give the fire department the resources it needs to reduce response times.
8. A recent proposal has been floated to assess all property owners to bring streets into a state of good repair. Do you support the proposed bond measure, and do you believe any changes should be made to the proposal to serve all those who travel on city streets, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users?
The recent proposal introduced by Mitch Englander would add $24 to a homeowners property tax bill for the next twenty years. Potholes and disrepair of our infrastructure are serious issues in our district. The proposal was a good idea, but we need to communicate with our neighborhood councils, schools, the Dept. of Transportation to make it better. I would advocate for any street/sidewalk repair bond to include funds for bike lanes and crosswalks for more walkability/bikeable neighborhoods.
9. LACBC has formed Neighborhood Bike Ambassador groups in each part of the City to work with local businesses, neighborhood councils, homeowner associations and other stakeholders on bicycle issues. Will you commit to meeting with the local Ambassador group in your district on a regular and ongoing basis? Would you be willing to lead a regularly scheduled bike ride with your constituents?
I think a regularly scheduled bike ride with my constituents is a brilliant idea. Your representative should know his or her constituents on and individual basis. It’s a great opportunity to discuss local issues, enjoy our beautiful district and I will listen to your concerns and ideas. I have participated in a number of such rides with LACBC learning about different areas of our city. I would love to lead similar rides of my as a councilmember.
10. Would you presently feel safe riding a bike in Los Angeles, and if not, what would it take to make you feel comfortable on our city streets?
I ride my bike my bike in the district all the time. I don’t necessarily feel safe, especially on streets like Glendale Blvd. near my home with no bike lanes and very fast traffic. Nonetheless, I am very careful when riding and take precautions to remain safe. I am committed to making our city’s streets safe and user friendly. I believe the number one issues we face if we are to grow as a biking city, we much ensure that we have more protected bike lanes.
Are You Bike-Friendly? CD 13 Candidate Michael Schaefer Responds
February 21, 2013 at 6:14 pm | Posted in Bike News, Resources | Leave a commentTags: council candidate surveys, Michael Schaefer
LACBC asked each of the candidates running for City Council of the City of Los Angeles to respond to our questionnaire. We hope our members will find the candidates’ answers insightful into how each candidate proposes to make our streets safe, balanced, and livable. Responses are posted by Council District, in the order they were received. Here are responses from CD 13 candidate Michael Schaefer.
1. Please share a memory involving a bicycle that has had a lasting effect on you (whether or not you were the one on the bicycle).
First learning to ride, down slightly sloaping streets in Hillcrest/San Diego, could not stop so ended up crashing onto a lawn. No trouble after that.
2. The Department of City Planning is in the process of updating the City’s Mobility Element for the first time in decades. What policies would you prioritize for inclusion in the Mobility Element? What role do you see bicycling playing in the City’s transportation system, if any?
We need more bike lanes and the lanes command more respect from motorists; in my door to door visits in Atwater ran into some young Armenians who are bike advocates and chatted me up on issues, and assured them my door was open to get-things-done if I have the honor to serve.
3. Just a few months ago, Los Angeles was honored as a Bronze-level Bicycle-Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. Do you believe the city should pursue a Silver-level designation, and if so, what steps would you take in the first year of your term to move LA up to the Silver level?
Am not that familiar with the possibilities, the alternatives, but we are a huge worldclass city, maybe 8 million in our county, and we should set the standard for urban areas.
4. In 2011, the City Council unanimously adopted the Bicycle Plan proposing a comprehensive 1,600-mile bikeway network across the City. What steps would you take to ensure implementation of Bicycle Plan projects in your district? Are there any specific projects in the Plan you would prioritize?
Have not seen the plan. My district includes Griffith Park and Hollywood, both great areas for cycling. I have travelled extensively in Europe and Asian and know that foot-strength is much more of a protected and promoted part of urban live there.
5. Studies have shown that people on bicycles spend more per month in local business districts than those arriving by other modes. What steps would you take to ensure that local businesses in your district are able to benefit from better access by bicyclists?
Must be expanded bike-racks accessible to those patroning businesses, have these in commercial parking lots but without fees, and bike-accessible should be included in advertising; maybe the bike locks can come with some securing device so bikers without a lock can feel comfortable storing their bike for an hour.
6. The LA Weekly recently wrote a feature story documenting that almost half of traffic collisions in the City of LA are hit-and-runs, according to LAPD records. Many victims of these traffic crimes are people walking and bicycling. What steps would you take to reduce the rate of hit-and-run and ensure perpetrators are prosecuted?
Was not aware of any hesitation to prosecute, if this is the case would talk to a vigilant media and seek editorial support.
7. In the event of a collision, the survival of those injured could depend on a prompt emergency response, yet it’s recently been disclosed that response times for the Los Angeles Fire Department frequently exceed national standards. What would you do to address budget and staffing cutbacks affecting the LAFD to ensure a faster response for all those who need emergency assistance?
I think both police and fire responses to incidents assure prompt attention to any traffic injury where minutes can make difference between life and death or disabilitating injury.
8. A recent proposal has been floated to assess all property owners to bring streets into a state of good repair. Do you support the proposed bond measure, and do you believe any changes should be made to the proposal to serve all those who travel on city streets, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users?
I support the bond measure, curing the serious sidewalk tree-uprootings would make bike travel safer and more popular for those on sidewalks or adjacent to uprooting tree growth. Was not aware that travellers who not in mind of those doing the goodworks.
9. LACBC has formed Neighborhood Bike Ambassador groups in each part of the City to work with local businesses, neighborhood councils, homeowner associations and other stakeholders on bicycle issues. Will you commit to meeting with the local Ambassador group in your district on a regular and ongoing basis? Would you be willing to lead a regularly scheduled bike ride with your constituents?
Would be open to joining in a bike ride, have had several paper routes bike-serviced, and my two sons have too, and I saw six bikes on a subway car over lunch hour today so know that our subway and bus system opens of extended travels for bikers.
10. Would you presently feel safe riding a bike in Los Angeles, and if not, what would it take to make you feel comfortable on our city streets?
Yes, would feel, as I stop look and listen, and proceed with diligency so as to not impede pedestrian or vehicle traffice. With high gas prices I think bikes are going to be more important in our urban growth; we tend to focus on Foot Marathons/Races, more should be done for bike competition. A large number of our residents, perhaps half, come from countries where bike travel is more important/numerous than auto traffic, so we must accommodate.I would encourage whomever is Mayor to put his or her prestige on the line to maximize public attention to bike events. More bike racks everywhere is important to encourage bike travel with bike-security not a concern at arrival.
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