Is Los Angeles Ready for Bike Sharing?
Thread started by
trickmilla at 01.28.10 - 11:30 pm
Streetsblog Article: Is LA ready for Bike Sharing?
Reading the LACBCs update tonight I asked myself the same question "is L.A. ready for a Shared Bike program?
Unfortunately, the answer is no.
We are not ready for bike sharing.
I'm 100% down for anything that improves bike accessibly. But not for a program that wastes money and sends them message that investing in bicycle infrastructure is thowing money down a pie (in the sky) hole.
Lets start with the basics!
Consider that this motion was presented along side a bike harassment ordinance.
That the level of ignorance, hostility, and aggression toward cyclists is so universal that a "special" law needs to be drafted so people know its illegal to throw shit at a cyclist proves that L.A. is not quite ready.
How about we start with:
SHARROWS
SIGNAGE
TRANSPIRATION EQUALITY EDUCATION AT THE DMV
SAFE PASSING LAWS
INTERSECTIONS THAT DETECT CYCLISTS
MORE BIKEWAYS
ANTI-HARASSMENT LAWS WITH ENFORCEMENT
REFORMED HIT AND RUN LAWS
INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR CYCLISTS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF HIT AND RUNS
BIKE PARKING
CRACK DOWN ON BIKE THIEVES
Maybe those things aren't quite as sexy as bike sharing, but any one of them will go a lot further toward making the streets safer and more ridable. When we have an infrastructure for bikes, then a robust bike sharing program will make a lot of sense.
Right now, not so much.
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okay, now to play devil's advocate.
I agree hat bicycle infrastructure must be met first for a program like this or it is likely to fail. However, how do we know if this program's effort might not prompt for momentum in the face lift of LA's bicycle future?
North America has been slower to embrace bike sharing systems as compared to Europe. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_sharing_system
If LA becomes first to adopt this before other cities, perhaps that might excite the Major and other key players in really getting the ball rolling on making this city bicycle friendly quickly. Just food for thought.
Joe Borfo01.29.10 - 12:57 am
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Amen brotha. Bike sharing=meh. it's basically a destraction and a time waster for the silly council and LADOT to throw around. It uses up value-able debate time and so forth.
Over a fuckin year ago Michelle Mowery was spewing nonsense about sharrows being slippery and the bike share program. A year later nothing has changed. Same dog and pony show.
Roadblock01.29.10 - 2:59 am
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I agree the idea is misguided in Los Angeles. Its like giving out a drivers license after sitting in car with a potential driver for 10 minutes, and saying "great, you're ready to navigate this heavy piece of machinery because you can make left turns without hitting the curb."
I would also like to LA adopt a Lycra Sharing program, before a Bike Sharing program.
md201.29.10 - 7:35 am
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I hate to be saying this.
I really do prefer All of The Above over This or That.
But at this time ... it just seems like a waste of time, money and political capital.
On the other hand, I'd be all for a bottom up privately funded effort.
Hey, muny make$ the world go round. It'd be great to have some greedy bastard greasing the wheels at city hall because shitty bike infrastructure was cutting into their profit margins.
trickmilla01.29.10 - 8:04 am
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