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Seriously? New DTLA Bike Lanes Won't Be Green...Because They're Ruining Filming!
Photo of the Spring Street lanes in need of a paint job by Esotouric Tours via Twitter
Whether Los Angeles can "be bike-friendly and film-friendly at the same time," is the crux of an opinion piece published in today's Times about the effect the new boldly green bike lanes on Spring Street in Downtown have affected the film and TV biz.
Turns out, because of those green stripes on the street that give cyclists a safe space in which to ride, filming is feeling forced over to another block, most often Main Street.
Only the problem is about one pace behind them, and on two wheels: Bike lanes are slated to go up next on...you guessed it...Main Street.
The LAT piece points out that Spring was, until those pesky bike lanes were painted on last November, the "most filmed stretch of street in town." As the writer opines, even an amateur filmmaker would know that green is pretty easy to take out in post. So why the fuss?
Meanwhile, on Main Street, says the LADOT Bike Blog: "Crews have already installed most of the new striping and signage for the bike lanes. Installation is expected to be complete by this coming weekend - crews will be adding additional lane markings and conducting minor touch up work."
Those bike lanes, though, aren't going to be "bike lane green" (there's no mandate on bike lane colors, exactly, but if they are to be green, there is a "bike lane green" we have to use). From the LAT: "The Department of Transportation now promises to make its Main Street bike lane green-free." Yep. The City's Department of Transportation bowed to the bucks and the pressure from the film community to make our next DTLA bike lanes NOT green. Progress, or...?
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