This post’s by Damien Newton of Streetsblog LA, who catches you up on the latest local de-car-ing news:
Bicycles: Bike to Work week saw a series of events in L.A. County, particularly in Downtown Los Angeles and Pasadena. For a photo essay of the events, check out this post at Streetsblog. But Bike Week Pasadena isn’t over yet. For more on tomorrow’s events, visit the C.I.C.L.E. website.
Cabs: Last year the City of Los Angeles decided to experiment with allowing people to hail cabs in certain parts of the city. Earlier this week, the city decided to extend their pilot program for another year.
Speed Limits: Just because you’re car-free doesn’t mean the Highway and Auto lobbies don’t still effect your lives. Earlier this week they joined forces with Ass. Transportation Committee Chair Mike Eng (D-Pasadena) to stall legislation that would stop speed limits from being increased on pedestrian-oriented streets.
High Speed Rail: With bond measures passed and more federal funds becoming available, California High Speed Rail Authority is pushing ahead to finish their studies and identify local projects that could qualify for more federal funds if ready by August 1.
For all the L.A. de-car-ing news that’s fit to blog, visit Damien at Streetsblog LA.
Photo of cyclists touring the future Expo Line on Bike to Work Day by Damien Newton
To celebrate bike to work (school week), my bike got impounded by UCLA parking enforcement for being locked to a rail… A 50 dollar fine and new lock, and now I’ve got my bike back…
Comment by Chris — May 17, 2009 @ 1:23 pm
I’m glad about their trying to maintain the speed limits, but weirdly enough, speed limits don’t even matter on my block. I would say it’s a pedestrian-oriented street–it’s a small neighborhood street, with many driveways that cars back out of, but what do oncoming cars do? SPEED down the street. We actually have a speed bump petition going around.
But seriously, come on people: it’s completely inappropriate and unsafe to go 40mph down a neighborhood street.
Carrick’s last blog post..My good deed for the year: saving sea turtles at the LA River
Comment by Carrick — May 18, 2009 @ 10:15 am
Those petitions are actually great — Really brings the community together for an anti-car cause ;) We don’t have speed bumps — but I did sign a petition to make our streets permit parking only, which’s had a nice positive effect on the ‘hood –
Chris — This is why I don’t lock my bike to rails…. It bugs me when people do that to the rail along the wheelchair ramp at the Santa Monica library, because it really does impede other people’s access / experience of public spaces…. But glad you got your bike back — and are probably a bit more rail-locking averse –
Comment by Siel — May 18, 2009 @ 2:17 pm