LADOT Hates Bicycles and Pedestrians
Thread started by
Roadblock at 08.12.09 - 5:07 pm
that's the REAL enemy. cops are okay in my book and if the LADOT lays down decent bicycle infrastructure everyone else including the cops will become more bicycle / pedestrian friendly.
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Amen. The cops give us a free pass most of the time.
We need better lanes and better laws.
stillline08.12.09 - 5:36 pm
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what ever happened with wheat paste?? i start school in 2 weeks. until then i have all the time in the world! let's due it!
tortuga_veloce responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
08.12.09 - 5:38 pm
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with the exception of hit and run sentencing, the laws are fine. the cops need to learn them and enforce them. as unbelievable as it may sound, i've heard a lot of cops say "just stop riding. this isnt a bike-friendly town." or "move to santa clarita. they have bike lanes out there." well, maybe peoples' perspectives would change if there were more bike lanes and sharrows. maybe if we just focused on that, we wouldnt have to waste any more time trying to get the lapd to follow through with their hollow promises of educating their officers.
personally, im not counting on any change until the price of gas hits $4 again. however, when that day does come, it's important that the change be made in the right direction.
tortuga_veloce responding to a
comment by stillline
08.12.09 - 5:45 pm
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this campaign WILL happen. sorry for lagging.
Roadblock responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
08.12.09 - 6:12 pm
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The laws regarding bicycles are not necessarily all "fine." Haven't a number of people been pushing to have bikes classified as "vehicles" under the law, with the idea that this change would require LADOT and city planners to pay more attention to bikes?
Clearly, a cultural shift needs to happen too, but ink on paper can (sometimes) lead to paint on the ground.
nathansnider responding to a
comment by tortuga_veloce
08.12.09 - 6:29 pm
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There is also a lot of ambiguity in the vehicle code regarding bicycles (for instance: ride as close to the right side of the road as "practicable", CVC 21202) that allows for bad interpretations by individual officers who don't understand how to cycle safely.
I agree that it's about time bicycles should be legally recognized as vehicles; it's ridiculous that bicycle riders have "all the rights and responsibilities of vehicle drivers" (CVC 21200), but a bicycle is considered a "device".
If that's not a condescending law, I don't know what is.
angle responding to a
comment by nathansnider
08.12.09 - 7:49 pm
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it was completely awesome. PORTLAND. I love you.
Roadblock responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
08.12.09 - 7:55 pm
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@ Tortuga veloce
Who are these cops you speak of telling you not to ride your bicycle? How do these interactions happen?
I've spoken with at least 5 officers, some from LA and some from Culver City about the rules of riding on the road. Although they were a little hazy on the sidewalk laws, they all knew that bicycles should ride on the street like a car. And none of them told me I should get a car and stop riding my bicycle. How does that conversation happen?
On another note, I spoke with anLADOT person from the West Valley today and he just didn't seem to understand the idea of alternative transit options. "If there is too much traffic we
need to increase it from 2 lanes to three lanes." "If there is too much traffic on a street you shouldn't ride your bicycle on it." (Those aren't exact quotes, just paraphrases)
gregb08.13.09 - 1:40 am
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Ridazz Roulette!
sharrows!