DWP Holiday Light Festival: Bike-Free or Car-Free?

carexhaust.jpgThe DWP has much to be proud of, not the least of which is the prestigious EcoMoron Award it picked up last year in recognition of its commitment to an auto-centric and bike-free Griffith Park Holiday Festival of Lights.

Tonight, cyclists ride to the Griffith Park Ranger Station to join the Sierra Club, local Neighborhood Councils, Homeowner Associations, Community groups and Equestrians in asking the DWP to lift the ban on bikes and to instead close the Festival to cars, providing pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians the opportunity to enjoy the largest urban wilderness in the country, all without having to sit in idling cars, stuck in gridlock.

festivaloflights.jpgLast year, cyclists protested the bike-ban by donning Holiday lights, declaring "We ARE the Festival," and riding through the gridlock to the entertainment and joy of the car-bound children who howled and hooted encouragement.

The DWP Festival of Lights is put on with the cooperation of Councilman Tom LaBonge, the LADOT and the Department of Rec & Parks, none of whom seem willing to challenge the sacred cow that is the Festival of Lights.

Perhaps this will be the year that our leadership sets an example and demonstrates that the best way to enjoy the great outdoors is to go for a walk, hop on a bike or ride a horse.

Related Coverage

-Tom LaBonge - The Grinch Who Stole Our Green Christmas!

-Tom LaBonge - LA's Artful Dodger!


Photo courtesy by rossangeles

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Comments (5) [rss]

What a farce the DWP light festival is.
It's an obscene misuse of our power fees by a bunch of thievin', overtime stealin' DWP crooks.
Bike-free? Car-free? I say make it light free and abolish this abomination.

where will all the cars park?

A Rec & Parks inventory of parking spaces indicates that there are 3150 spaces at the Zoo with another 296 at the Autry.

Park the car, go for a walk. Better yet, leave the car at home, ride your bike!

I think one legitimate concern they might bring up for keeping cars involved are handicap and elderly who could not endure it as a walking or riding event.

That said, there are many creative solutions to that problem that are car free or at least eco-friendly. Electric truck hay rides, horse carriages, bicycle taxis, etc, etc, etc.

Even here, the DWP errs in favor of excess. The current shuttle plan consists of using the large "tour" buses that used to run to the Observatory.

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