Last night, a group of cyclists from throughout the LA area delivered the Bicyclist Bill of Rights to the Los Angeles Bicycle Advisory Committee and asked the members to deliver it to the Mayor and City Councilmembers.

After leaving the meeting (10:30 pm) the cyclists were riding on Virgil and approaching Melrose when four cyclists executed a "vehicular left turn" on the approach to a red light. The car to the rear and left continued to accelerate toward the red light and only yielded to the cyclists in control of the lane at the last moment, causing him to stop suddenly. The cyclists were riding in pairs throughout the left turn maneuver. Behind the cyclists was an LAPD Sgt. who looked at the incident and decided that the cyclists were impeding traffic, all on the approach to a red light.

He pulled over the cyclists, let the motorist go, called for backup and tied up an additional three squad cars and a helicopter while he lectured the cyclists on everything from "impeding" to pedal reflectors to the difference in weight between a bicycle and an automobile.

Ultimately, he did the cyclists a service, reminding them of how far the cycling community has to go if they are to be considered legitimate users of the road and with equal access and the full support of educated law enforcement. (Item #3 on the BBR!)

The cyclists eventually proceeded down Melrose to Pure Luck which was packed with cyclists, all celebrating the release of the Bicycle Bill of Rights and the misfortune of MikeyWally who took a ticket from Rampart for not having the correct reflectors on his pedals. (An antiquated law on the books that only serves to demonstrate how outdated the Rampart's enforcement strategies are when dealing with cyclists on the streets)

As for the Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting earlier in the evening, it went well, if not long, and the cyclists were encouraged by the response of some of the BAC members and by some of the actions at the meeting.

Brad House, CD15 rep, led to charge to protect the rights of cyclists by urging the committee to take a stand on DWP prohibitions against cyclists during the annual Griffith Park Light Festival. The Sierra Club, The Los Feliz Improvement Association, the Oaks Homeowners Association, the Hollywood United Neighborhood Council, the Atwater Neighborhood Council and the Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council have all lobbied hard for two years urging the DWP and Rec & Parks and Councilmember LaBonge to make the Festival a ped, cyclists, equestrian event. But, instead of restricting automobiles, the DWP has consistently restricted cyclists.

Josef Bray-Ali, founder of the Bike Oven in NELA, presented a proposal to change the definition of traffic so that we count people, not single occupant vehicles and that we further evaluate the performance of streets using a livability index that takes into consideration factors such as noise, pollution, economic impact and quality of life as we evaluate the corridors that cut through our neighborhoods.

The meeting concluded with the presentation of the Bicyclist Bill of Rights, a document that lays down some simple and fundamental standards that are the very foundation of basic rights for cyclists.

As Enci told the Committee members, "I was born in a Communist country with limited freedoms and rights. When I moved the United States of America, I set foot on this ground and I immediately took possession of basic rights and freedoms. Why is it that when I climb on a bicycle I become a 2nd class citizen and get treated as if I have no rights? Those days end now and I'm claiming my rights!"

"See you on the Streets!"