The League of American Bicyclists and Andy Clarke: still don't got it.

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 when it gave  Santa Monica a Bronze Bicycle Friendly City Award (and Los Angeles an honorable mention.)  The League ignored angry responses from Santa Monica cyclists, including a petition of over 60 cyclists, that asserted the award was undeserved.  Mention of the bronze is now a sarcastic preface to any news of Santa Monica’s hostility to cyclists.

The League’s president, Andy Clarke, doesn’t pay public opinion any nevermind.  On the League blog he rambles about a recent driving experience in Los Angeles:

By chance, my son and I were in the LA area the week after this happened. As we drove down some of the amazing canyon roads, at the speed limit, we were illegally passed by impatient motorists who crossed the solid yellow center lines on blind corners and as we approached intersections – not just once or twice, but enough times that it became something of a standing joke between us. Except that it isn’t funny when people get hurt.

It certainly is not funny when people get hurt (except 22.3 years later, see South Park.)  It certainly doesn’t help when the nation’s largest bicycle advocacy organization ignores the opinion of local cyclists and gives an award to Santa Monica.  I’m am glad to hear Andy is driving the speed limit – thanks for that.

Apparently after his experience driving in LA, Andy Clarke still doesn’t get it.  Mandeville Canyon is up the street from Santa Monica; many of the motorists who passed him dangerously drive in Santa Monica.   Unsafe driving is the main source of danger for cyclists in Los Angeles and Santa Monica.  Driving unsafely around cyclists is just as frequent in Santa Monica as LA, and for that reason alone, Santa Monica is not a bicycle friendly city.

LAB still doesn’t get it,

and they STILL DON’T GOT IT.

(from the Whitehouse Flickr stream)