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Today, Councilman Tom LaBonge announced that he has asked City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo for a legal opinion on including cyclists to ride at the Griffith Park holiday light festival that had once been open only to automobile traffic. Public pressure to allow cyclists on all days that cars use the road has been building up for some time now.
“I’d like to include bikes along with automobiles, but my first priority is to protect the safety of all who attend,” the Councilmember’s letter, dated on Monday, said. A few days before the letter, Tom LaBonge, a bicycle fan himself who is holding community rides around the city, told LAist over the phone that the festival was originally designed as a car event, but that he "would like to try to get cyclists through there."
A letter dated July 1st from LAist Contributor and local activist Stephen Box laid out legal documentation demonstrating that not allowing cyclists access to the festival on the same nights as cars was illegal. The California Vehicle Code allows local agencies to prohibit cyclists from sidewalks and freeways only, but no such code gives permission to cities to discriminate bicycles or motorcycles from roads where cars are allowed.
LaBonge's next open-to-the-public ride will tour downtown on Wednesday, August 6, starting at 6:15 p.m. The 10-mile ride will leave City Hall and will include a mid-way stop for ice cream.
Photo by numberstumper via Flickr
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I can't say that I am outraged. Cause I've seen the Festival of Lights and was more impressed with local homeowners displays.
BUT...
One good route to get some additional pressure, is to email to the sponsors of the festival. Let them know they are sponsoring a festival that has some controversy.
The Festival Sponsors
(These are the ones that are not tied to the city)
http://www.mwhglobal.com/
http://www.starbucks.com/
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/index
http://www.mimiscafe.com/
There is also AAA but we all know the hate the AAA has for cyclists
I tell you, that LaBonge is good guy who has a bum rap with people expecting some forked-tongue politician. He's an honest guy who understands the people he represents. He waits until you've shown him that you have support for your ideas, and then he makes his move.
I never would have a imagined an L.A. City Councilman hosting Critical Mass style rides through the city - but LaBonge has made it happen.
The man is a hero. So too, are the bike advocates who have worked their butts off to get the conversation to this point. I have a feeling that we're changing the way electoral politics happens in this fair city - and bikes can no longer be ignored!