Bikeside LA

Jeremy Grant, who writes This Is Not A Bike Blog, took the Bike Plan Challenge I issued to write the introduction to LA’s Best Bike Plan, the bike plan authored by cyclists, for cyclists.  I loved this paragraph: The Best Bicycle Plan is a proactive vision that will offer success for the whole community; a [...]

David Pura took my challenge to write the introduction to LA’s Best Bike Plan, the bike plan written for cyclists, by cyclists: Bicyclists can, and will, ride on every city street; California law allows as much. Bicyclists, pedestrians, social vehicles and private vehicles will equally share the privileges and responsibilities of the public realm; these [...]

WIN!  Jane Blumenfeld, who I recently criticized, wrote activists today to tell us the public comment period has been reinstated and extended to January 8th: City staff will take comments on the draft Bicycle Plan (which can be read on line at labikeplan.org) until January 8th, 2010. YEEEHAWWW!  Thank you Jane for doing the right [...]

“If you read the actual list of facilities and add up all the miles, then you’d be aware that the plan only calls for *28 new miles* of bike lanes.” – Joe Linton. Just 28 miles.

(updated to include proper spelling and title for Jane Blumenfeld, hat tip Joe Linton) The Planning Department has been misleading people, telling people that their comments will be considered in the LA Bike Plan after the public comment period has passed.  Even better, the Planning Department refused to extend the deadline, but the recipient of [...]

Saturday we’re having Bike Working Group III, for the die hard bike wonks and the lonely souls who didn’t leave town (RSVP on Facebook.)  We’ll be continuing work on LA’s Best Bike Plan, the bike plan created for cyclists, by cyclists.  We’ll start work at 1pm, at the Hollywood Adventist Church (1711 N. Van Ness [...]

Enter the bike plan writing challenge!  We challenge anyone and everyone to write an introduction to LA’s Best Bike Plan, which begins with the sentence “Every street is a street that cyclists will ride.”  500 words or less!  Submit your composition to alexcthompson@gmail.com. I’ll post the submissions in batches as I receive them, and I’ll [...]

Apparently road rage felon Christopher Thompson has accumulated a stack of letters attesting to his good character, seeking a lenient sentence for his violence in Mandeville Canyon. The prosecutor, District Attorney Mary Stone, is seeking letters giving the counterpoint to that – attesting to the seriousness of his crimes and the personal effect such crimes [...]

My peeps have a saying: STILL GOT IT.  We say it when impressive HULK like action makes it clear that we still got it.  Still got that mojo that makes one an outstanding person. The League of American Bicyclists still don’t get it, and they STILL DON’T GOT IT.  The League’s reputation was completely tarnished [...]

(originally printed on City Watch on Monday.  Sign up for City Watch here.) Bill Rosendahl, LA City Council Transportation Committee Chair, can be a great champion of any cause, but lately he is missed by cyclists and transportation advocates.  And so, if I may begin this public comment with my “ask”, I ask Bill to [...]