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Dedicated bike paths, more bike lanes, and bike rental programs, oh my!
KCBS2 is reporting today that City Councilman Ed Reyes put forth a motion during the City Council meeting to make his council district more bike friendly. He has asked city officials "to create a plan that includes bike-only roadways, more bike lanes on wide streets and sidewalks, and a public bicycle prgram that would allow Angelenos to rent bikes online or at Metro shops."
Reyes, who represents Distrcit 1, has been a vocal supporter of bicyclists in the past. His District area is centered around the 110 freeway and mainly westward from around the Mt. Washington area to the 10 freeway and includes neighborhoods such as Chinatown, Elysian Park, Cypress Park, and Glassell Park (just about anywhere with a "Park" it seems).
The coucilman sees a vital link in transit options for residents between the Metro system and bicycling, explaining that this motion will bring together all components of people's lives, such as jobs, school, arts, and leisure, through a better infastructure that is connected to our existing public transit system, particularly the Red and Gold Lines. Reyes is hoping that this motion gives residents the chance to be more eco-friendly by using bikes, and that it can be readily accomplished at the neighborhood level.
So maybe now it's time to get planning for a New Year's resolution to get a bike and ride it. Perhaps visiting the Bicycle Kitchen for one of their basic tune-up workshops would be a good idea to get you ready to ride. How about getting to know the folks at the LA County Bicycle Coalition?
Will 2008 be the "Year of the Bike" in LA?
Photo by ! ramblinworker via Flickr
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Yay Mr. Reyes!
I'll second that Yay!
If this actually happens - wow! A great feat for LA!
Where are the 3-D glasses???
Since coming back from his trip to Northern Europe, Councilman Reyes has really shown an understanding of what is possible with bicycles. You can move a lot of people, quickly, cheaply, and safely by designing roadways for bicycles.
His district has historically been a big loser in the decentralization and sprawl game of the past 60 years (I start it with the construction of the 110 and the over-paving of the Sepulevada Pass).
Maybe reading this report got his blood boiling:
http://nelanet.org/reportsmaps/figueroa/
Wherein it says:
"The amount of 1996 retail square footage per capita in Highland Park was estimated at 19.5, as compared with a rate of 30.5 in Northeast Los Angeles, and a figure of 51.7 citywide. A lower rate of retail commercial activity, relative to citywide rates, indicates the incidence of income leakage, as disposable household income is often spent outside of the local economy. Defining income leakage as disposable household income minus area retail sales, this study estimated a total income leakage of $167,190,673 in Highland Park, and $369,991,013 in the Northeast Los Angeles region in 1996. Estimated per capita leakage was $7,834 in Highland Park, and $4,952 in the Northeast Los Angeles region in the same period.
The problem of income expenditure outside of the Northeast Los Angles region has been a recurring concern for local merchants, planners, and public officials. Strengthening consumption linkages is a vital component in contributing to broader projects of building local economic development, community self-reliance, and neighborhood revitalization."
A shift away from cars will benefit his district a lot. He controls bottlenecks to regional centers - a great way to slow people down and make them spend in your area.
I want to help him bring other councilmembers around to this idea of his.
If Reyes has one fault that really disappoints his constituents, I'd say it's that he sometimes looks a little weak compared to the other members of the council. It's hard for him to get his way on the council, because he's out in front on good policies, but not on political strategies to see them through.
But, damn, this man is a genius for even bringing this stuff up in L.A. I am building the emotions required to campaign for him, if he keeps on with this stuff.
this is encouraging. i have a bike that i infrequently use out of fear of getting hit by a car. hope this actually works out in the new year.