Leave Your Bikes at Home: No Riding on the 405 During Carmageddon

There's no sex in the champagne room, and the LAPD would like you to know that there will also be no bike rides allowed on the 405 during Carmageddon, reports L.A. Now.

The blog notes that the good people of L.A. have so far requested permission to hold a block party on the Santa Monica Blvd. ramp, spray paint promotional graffiti on a bridge abutment, and take a joyride on their bikes over the rolling hills of the interstate during this weekend's closure.

All ideas have been nixed for safety concerns, and those who try to skirt the rules can expect to feel the wrath of the long arm of the law:

...anyone who thinks it would be fun to have a impromtu block party worthy of a beer commercial or zip their bike or skateboard down the freeway should expect "a swift and certain police response," [said LAPD Cmdr. Andy Smith].

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By Jessica Pauline Ogilvie in News on July 14, 2011 9:40 AM

Comments [rss]

Zezzyy

ha! and nothing happened...and they opened early!! carmageddon my patoot!

LAPIXIEGIRL

Ha ha, looks like it was already done... etnies has this as one of their t-shirts and it's a legit pic!

LAPIXIEGIRL

ha ha, looks like it was done.

Dak Ultimak

How can something that was never going to happen become illegal?

ShakinBoots

It only becomes illegal (and brings negative attention) when a few idiots (some in every crowd) go and do something stupid, trying to look all badass for their friends. The people who do this know who they are. They make all cyclists look bad.

Will Campbell

Well No plans to ride the 405 but I'll be following through on plans for a 46-mile bike ride that'll include the Sepulveda Pass Saturday morning. Cops can't make that illegal, but I won't be surprised if a few bored ones stationed there with no obligation to cover real crimes try to make it seem illegal.

ShakinBoots

Are you riding in the bike vs plane race? THAT'S the kind of thing I'm talking about; Bikes racing jetblue is a POSITIVE way to bring attention to cycling. I'm all over this.

So far "carmageddon" looks like a non-event with many cars staying off the road. Even the bike haters will have to admit fewer cars on the road is a great thing. This is also a positive on the side of public transpo and bikes.

The police must have heard the news of the race by now. Talk about bad PR for them if they try to interfere with it. EVERYONE's watching this one.

Ezra Horne

I am flying with @ohaijoe:twitter on @jetblue:twitter against the @wolfpackhustle:twitter to see who can get to Long Beach Lighthouse faster! Check the details on Joe's blog: http://www.bikecommutenews.com...

ShakinBoots

If this weekend ends up being as gridlocked as some expect, we don't need law enforcment wasting resources ticketing or arresting irresponsible cyclists.

I'm a cyclist. Yeah it would be fun to ride on an empty 405 but doing it illegally and potentially causing MORE gridlock or inconvenience and possible harm to people only works to bring down the image of ALL cyclists.

We're not all scofflaw, pound on your car assholes. Some of us are trying to PROMOTE CYCLING IN A POSITIVE AND PRODUCTIVE WAY. This weekend is a perfect opportunity to do that! Don't fuck it up by being asshole lawbreakers and enforcing the negative attitude so many non-cyclists already have.

People DON'T leave your bikes at home but DO leave them off the 405.