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Watch A Cyclist's Nerve-Wracking Commute Without Bike Lanes

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Bike riding through the streets of Los Angeles can be a bit tricky sometimes, especially when there aren't any bike lanes you can use. One guy is giving us a taste of what his daily journey on the streets is like with a first-person video he recorded.

Metro posted the video on their blog, The Source, showing their staff member Jack Moreau's bike ride from Highland Park to their office in downtown L.A. While initially the trip is smooth, things get a little hairy at the 0:53-minute mark when he crosses the Broadway Bridge over the L.A. River. The lanes are tight and cars are zooming really close past him. It makes us sweat a bit just watching it.

While Moreau is entitled to take up an entire lane when there are multiple lanes and there isn't a bike lane or there isn't enough room on the shoulder to safely ride, most of the time he just stays close to the shoulder in the video. Some drivers aren't aware of this law, though (and can be real jerks about it).

"There aren’t any bike lanes along Jack’s route and this is the kind of traffic conditions many cyclists face for some — or all — of their commute," The Source says.

Metro points out that local cities or the Los Angeles County for unincorporated areas are the ones in charge of building more bike lanes.

They're building awareness about cycling issues during Bike Week in Los Angeles, which is taking place right now. Throughout the week, there are events and festivities planned that are meant to educate and encourage folks on biking. Here's a map of some free stuff.

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