Ride for Milt, Then Write For Milt. DA Jackie Lacey Needs To Hear From You!

On Wednesday I participated in a protest ride to demand justice for Milt Olin, a cyclist who was struck and killed by an LA County Deputy. District Attorney Jackie Lacey was presented with a case recommending prosecution of Deputy Wood, yet she declined to prosecute. Milt was killed while riding in a bike lane on a clear day with perfect visibility. Deputy Wood was texting at the time of the accident, acting in violation of department policy. 

Deputy Wood killed Milt on Mulholland Highway, a place I ride regularly for leisure and exercise, along with hundreds of other cyclists. As some of you may know, I was the victim of a hit and run driver, so this issue is very close to my heart. I was overwhelmed with emotions as I arrived at the memorial yesterday, mostly anger and sadness. Simply put, the DA's decision not to prosecute Deputy Wood is a total miscarriage of justice that must be corrected.

I want to urge you all to write a brief letter to DA Jackie Lacey requesting that she reconsider filing charges against Deputy Wood. 

You can contact DA Lacey via email: webmail@da.lacounty.gov

Snail Mail:

District Attorney's Office


County of Los Angeles


210 West Temple Street, Suite 18000


Los Angeles, CA 90012-3210

Or Telephone: (213) 974-3512

And even Twitter!: @LADAOffice







My mom wrote a moving letter to DA Lacey, which I believe sums up the issue perfectly.

District Attorney's Office
County of Los Angeles
210 West Temple Street, Suite 18000
Los Angeles, CA 90012-3210
Telephone: (213) 974-3512 

September 4, 2014 

RE: Your decision to not prosecute Deputy Wood NEEDS TO BE RECONSIDERED 

Honorable Jackie Lacey 

I am writing as a physician, a biker, member of a family of five devoted bikers. and the mother of my youngest’s son who was almost killed by a hit & run while riding a bike on a clear day just like the day Mr Milt Olin was killed by Deputy Wood. I am urging you to reconsider your decision NOT to prosecute the Deputy. All of us have to be held responsible for our failures in judgement and for violating laws. 

It is an outrage to NOT file charges against Deputy Wood on a legal technicality based on an ill conceived exemption. Modern technologies are posing hazards that require special skills and no professional person should be exempted from the consequences of their poor judgement. 

While filing charges will not bring back Mr Olin still this was a senseless killing that could & should have been avoided. It is particularly offensive that the killing happened by a professional dedicated to SERVE & PROTECT. 

I hope you reconsider
Respectfully Yours, 

Maria T. Lymberis, MD
Distinguished Life Fellow American Psychiatric Association
Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Honorary
UCLA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

You can also head over to LACBC's site to see another sample letter:

http://la-bike.org/milt-olin

The ride was organized by the LA County Bike Coalition, Yield to Life and the Ghost Bike Foundation.

http://la-bike.org/

http://yieldtolife.org/

https://www.facebook.com/ghostbikefoundation

The family of Milt started a foundation dedicated to eliminating cycling related deaths and injuries:

http://miltolinfoundation.org/

Here's some of the press the event generated:

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-vigil-milton-olin-20140903-story.html

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Cyclists-to-Demand-Charges-Vs-Deputy-Who-Fatally-Struck-Prominent-Lawyer-273822971.html

http://ktla.com/2014/09/03/cyclists-to-host-vigil-for-ex-napster-exec-struck-killed-by-deputy/

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/09/03/hundreds-hold-bike-vigil-calling-for-action-in-bicyclist-milt-olins-death/

http://www.dailynews.com/general-news/20140903/cyclists-hold-ride-vigil-urging-da-to-prosecute-deputy-in-fatal-calabasas-collision?source=topstoriesrot

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/deputy-fatally-struck-cycling-ex-napster-exec-won-face-charges-article-1.1927064

Ride for Justice for Milt Olin Wednesday September 3, 2014

Tomorrow I'm riding in support of Milt Olin, who was killed by a Los Angeles Deputy who was too busy texting legally to avoid driving into Milt as he rode in the bike lane on Mullholland. Then the District Attorney decided there was no crime worth prosecuting. So long as our society sanctions the legal slaughter of cyclists, you'll find me riding for justice. Join me.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014 - 4:00pm - 9:00pm
Milt Olin, on the right, with his two sons.Yesterday we learned that the L.A. County District Attorney's Office would not be pressing charges against the sheriff's deputy who struck and killed Milt Olin in Calabasas last December. The sheriff's deputy was typing on his mobile computer in his patrol car when he struck Olin at 48 miles per hour. Olin, a prominent entertainment attorney and former executive for Napster, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, Yield to Life, and Ghost Bike Foundation will host a ride and vigil for Milt Olin to call on the D.A. to revisit the investigation and consider pressing charges.

When: Wednesday, September 3

Schedule of events:

4:00 p.m. Meet at crash site (around 22532 Mulholland Hwy, Calabasas, CA 91302)
4:15 p.m. Moment of silence
4:30 p.m. Start ride
6:30 p.m. Leave from the L.A. Zoo parking lot (5333 Zoo Dr, Griffith Park, CA 90027). Other riders can meet up here.
7:30-8:00 p.m. Arrive at District Attorney's office (210 W Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012)
8:00 p.m. Candlelight vigil
The public is invited to join us at the beginning, ride with us, join us for the vigil, or meet us at any point along the way (exact route to be determined).
The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, Yield to Life, and Ghost Bike Foundation will host a ride and vigil for Milt Olin to call on the D.A. to revisit the investigation and consider pressing charges.
When: Wednesday, September 3
Schedule of events:
4:00 p.m. Meet at crash site (around 22532 Mulholland Hwy, Calabasas, CA 91302)4:15 p.m. Moment of silence4:30 p.m. Start ride6:30 p.m. Leave from the L.A. Zoo parking lot (5333 Zoo Dr, Griffith Park, CA 90027). Other riders can meet up here.7:30-8:00 p.m. Arrive at District Attorney's office (210 W Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012)8:00 p.m. Candlelight vigilThe public is invited to join us at the beginning, ride with us, join us for the vigil, or meet us at any point along the way (exact route to be determined).

For more info visit LACBC website: http://la-bike.org/milt-olin

My Brand New Old 1984 Volkswagen Westfalia

I'm the proud owner of a 1984 Volkswagen Westfalia. It has the original 1.9l wasserboxer engine, with a little over 200,000 miles. It's all original, except for a recent repaint. It needs a lot of work including major repairs to the air conditioner which is currently being performed at Tony's in Eagle Rock.

So far, the car has passed the all important smile test:

So now the discussion is moving into what modifications I'd like to make. There's lots of directions I could go. It seems now that I own one, I'm seeing Westys everywhere!

The list of modifications is growing rapidly, and includes:

• Engine Swap. VW TDI or Subaru?
• Extra Battery with Solar Panel Charger on Roof
• 15 inch wheels
• Upgraded brakes
• South African Headlights
• Tow Hitch with bike rack
• Tinted windows
• New pop up tent
• New skylight
• New interior

What am I missing? What mods have you done to your Westfalia?

And speaking of new interior, here's a fabric swatch Heather showed me for inspiration. What do you think about this fabric? I kind of dig it! Can I find this pattern or one similar that's suitable for automotive use? Where would I look?

Dangerous Sidewalks of Los Angeles | Fountain and Fairfax | Is this sidewalk safe?

For years I've walked along this sidewalk and marveled at how unsafe and unwelcoming it is for pedestrians to navigate, especially with speeding motorists driving in excess of 45mph inches from you.


I decided to call my local councilmember, Tom Labonge to see what can be done about this. After leaving a message and waiting a few days, I never heard back, so I called again and was put in touch with Rick Alatorre, Tom's Chief of Staff. Rick said he would send someone out to look at the sidewalk and would report back to me. Rick called me back a few days later and said there's not much of a problem at the location, which seemed shocking. So he said I could take some photos and send them to him and he would be happy to take another look.


As you can see in the photos, at some points you have less than 20 inches of space to move along the sidewalk. I decided to look up what a normal sidewalk width ought to be.


According to Accessible Sidewalks and Street Crossings - an informational guide, published by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration

The pedestrian zone is the area of the sidewalk corridor that is specifically reserved for pedestrian travel. This area should be free of all obstacles, protruding objects, and any vertical obstructions hazardous to pedestrians, particularly for individuals with vision impairments. The pedestrian zone should be at least 1.8 m-3.0 m (6-10 ft) wide or greater to meet the desired level of service in areas with higher pedestrian volumes. This allows pedestrians to walk side by side or for pedestrians going in the opposite direction to pass each other. The pedestrian zone should never be less than 1.2 m (4 ft), which is the minimum width required for people using a guide dog, crutches, and walkers. Wheelchair users need about 1.5 m (5 ft) to turn around and 1.8 m (6 ft) to pass other wheelchairs.

It would appear that the north sidewalk on Fountain Ave shown in these photos falls well short of the minimum standards, this sidewalk doesn't even provide half the minimum recommended width for a safe and accessible sidewalk.

I hope Rick and his staff will take another look and hatch a plan to remedy this pronto.

ACTION ALERT! Hyperion Bridge Needs Your Help! Your Voice Creates Walkable Livable Streets in Los Angeles!

PLEASE Send this email NOW to ensure that Cyclists, Pedestrians and Drivers can all utilize the Hyperion Bridge of the future.

TO:
tom.labonge@lacity.org,
mayor.garcetti@lacity.org,
councilmember.ofarrell@lacity.org,
deborah.weintraub@lacity.org,
ladot@lacity.org

BCC:
roadblock@midnightridazz.com

SUBJECT:
Hyperion Bridge OPTION 3

Customize this letter:

Dear All,

My name is __________. I am a cyclist, pedestrian and driver and I am writing to ask that the historic Hyperion Bridge PLEASE retain BOTH sidewalks, and that it please include buffered bike lanes on both sides of the bridge so that pedestrians and cyclists for generations to come may finally enjoy SAFE convenient access to the LA River bike path, Red Car park (including Councilmember O'Farrell's hard fought bike pedestrian bridge) and all of the amenities of the forth coming Alt 20 plan which invests a billion dollars into the river making it a hugely attractive place for Angelenos to travel to. As of now there are no safe ways to get to and from the river from Silver Lake Echo Park Los Feliz Hollywood KTown and beyond. Creating a livable Hyperion bridge connection will finally accomplish this worthy goal.

I recognize that option 3 will reduce one travel lane heading downhill into Atwater. This will slow the chronic and dangerous speeding on the bridge to a manageable level and the good news is that the traffic studies commissioned by the Bureau of Engineering even under the worst case scenario, show that traffic will actually improve slightly. THIS IS A WIN WIN for Los Angeles.

With option 3, the Hyperion Bridge, and all of its historic features, belvederes and pedestrian amenities will survive and be enhanced for generations to come.

THANK YOU

SIGNED ______________

Ciclavia 2012 art exhibition: Some Assembly Required

Some Assembly Required looks like a fun activity to take in during next week's Ciclavia. I'll be bringing out the Shopping Cart Rickshaw once again to bring mirth and merriment to 2 wheeled Angelenos.



CicLAvia Bike Ride with Chad and the Rickshaw thru Downtown L.A. from Alex de Cordoba on Vimeo.

Inspired by Ciclovía, the original, weekly street closure event in Bogotá, Colombia, CicLAvia opens LA streets to pedestrians and bicyclists, creating a temporary web of public space on which residents of Los Angeles can walk, bike, socialize, celebrate and learn more about their own city. On 4/15/12, 10 miles of roadways will temporarily close to car traffic and open for recreational purposes. From Boyle Heights to Downtown, MacArthur Park to East Hollywood, El Pueblo/Olvera Street, and South LA, CicLAvia encourages Angelenos to not only make active use of their streets, but to rediscover the roadways and neighborhoods that too often go unnoticed in a car. Help open LA’s streets… take part in the fourth CicLAvia on April 15, 2012.

Checkpoint

 

 3 weeks ago, I was nearly killed by a hit and run driver while riding my bike in Echo Park. As an avid bicyclist, I've wondered what could be done to make the streets safer for cycling in Los Angeles. This morning, I found the answer.

 

As I was driving to work, I saw an angry man holding a nearly illegible sign waving furiously at the cars passing by. Up on the next block, I saw what he was angry about: a police checkpoint. It turns out, he was warning unlicensed drivers that the police were checking every driver to make sure they had a drivers license. 

I was shocked how many people he had to warn. In just 4 hours, the Culver City Police had taken 100 unlicensed drivers off the road. Their cars were impounded and they were free to walk away.

Here was one such driver. Was he unlicensed or was his license suspended for a DUI? Either way, it was illegal for him to be driving.

Driving is a privilege. More importantly, it's a potentially deadly activity requiring skill and training. If you cannot prove you are trained to operate deadly machinery, you have no business putting people in danger. If you have been suspended from driving and continue to drive, you're a menace to public safety and deserve to be stopped.

An estimated 2 million California drivers are unlicensed. Either they never got a drivers license or their license has been suspended. More than half of all people driving with a suspended license were convicted of a DUI.

Half of all hit-and-run collisions involve unlicensed drivers. Unlicensed drivers are four times more likely than licensed drivers to be involved in a fatal accident.

If you support safe streets and would like to end the menace of hit and runs that kill cyclists and pedestrians, take a moment to thank the Culver City Police Department for catching 100+ unlicensed drivers this morning. Call CCPD Traffic Division at 310-253-6251 and let Lt. Ron Iizuka know how much you support checkpoints to catch unlicensed drivers. Better yet, ask the police in your neighborhood to implement similar checkpoints. I have yet to see a more effective way to reduce the danger posed by hit and run drivers.

AAA loves to play the villain

I am so proud to be a AAA member because AAA is supporting Senate Bill 910, which will require drivers to give bicyclists more space when passing. Thanks AAA! I knew you would see the light!


Oh, what? AAA is lobbying against Senate Bill 910? Why? More people on bikes, less in cars? Fanatical obsession with private automobiles, higher speed limits and ever widening roadways at the expense of human beings? Via Better World Club:

As was reported by San Francisco based blogger Dan Connelly (at "On Bicycles, And...What Else Is There?") during the week after the Senate Committee's decision, AAA Northern California objected principally to SB 910's provision that motorists be required to slow down when a passing distance of three or more feet could not be achieved.

Paula LaBrie, Legislative Council for AAA Northern California, justified her organization's position by arguing that, "a drastic decrease in speed differentials between the vehicle passing the bicycle and other vehicles on the road," could cause collisions that might jeopardize the safety of a cyclist. 

Paula, while I appreciate your concern for the safety of cyclists, please understand that 18 other states have already passes similar legislation, as well as the City of Los Angeles. You and me should really go on a bike ride sometime. I promise you'll change your mind on this after 10 minutes riding around Los Angeles. But until then LaBrie, we are rivals.

Please join me in supporting the Please sign SB 910 to make our roads safer campaign. It's easy, just go here to make your voice heard:

http://www.citizenspeak.org/campaign/californiabicyclecoalition/please-sign-sb-910-make-our-roads-safer 

Dear Gov. Brown,

I'm writing to urge you to sign Senate Bill 910 so that drivers must give at least three feet of clearance when overtaking a person on a bicycle.

When a passing driver fails to give a bicyclist enough space, the slightest error by the driver or the most minor shift by the bicyclist to avoid trash, broken glass or rough pavement can lead to a collision. This type of collision is the leading cause of adult bicyclist fatalities in California and the U.S.

By requiring drivers to give bicyclists more space when passing, we can minimize a leading cause of deadly collisions and help more people feel comfortable about choosing to ride their bikes. And by making it possible for more people to feel confident about choosing to ride a bicycle, we can begin to achieve some of the state's crucial goals for improving air quality and safeguarding the environment. 

Specifying a minimum passing distance provides a more objective and easily understood measure of what constitutes "safe" and gives law enforcement and the courts a more objective basis for enforcing California's safe passing requirement. Most importantly, it helps emphasize a driver's special responsibility to safeguard more vulnerable road users like bicyclists. It will save lives without imposing any costs on government. 

Please sign SB 910 into law.

Sincerely, 

The Engaged Observer

Concours de Brentwood

I had the opportunity to check out a Concours event this past Labor Day. Here are a few choice vehicles that caught my eye


One of the most beautiful grilles ever on a convertible Alfa Romeo





They don't make em like they used to


Can't stop loving the Delorean, especially this perfect condition example


Mercedes 300SL Gullwing




WWII Willy's MP Jeep


1926 Ford (Model A perhaps?)


1968 AC Cobra 427

All Business in the Cobra's cockpit

Los Angeles Critical Mass August 2011

Now in HD!


Tigger, the newest cause célèbre of Critical Mass


Heather's coconut cake was received with great enthusiasm


"Turn It Up" indeed!


Coolass Mike interviews Matthew Lewis AKA King Future AKA "the fastest black young man out of Compton", perhaps the Major Taylor of the 21st century, fueling up with Heather's cake.


No Shirt, No Helmet, No Problem!


Protected By Lasercats!


It's great to see more recumbent cyclists riding Critical Mass.


Did anyone hear the phrase "Move to the right?" I'd say the LAPD deployment was still excessive, especially motorcycle officers and their obsession with packing the ride as far to the right as possible, creating a dangerous and crowded riding condition for cyclists.


Tête De La Course


Who me?


Sgt David Krumer aka @LAPDBike


One of many young cyclists who hasn't yet solved the equation "Safety ≠ Fashion"






At least she's wearing a helmet, even if it's not properly fitted to her head

Intermission Entertainment

Los Angeles Critical Mass August 2011

Carmageddon: Ground Zero

I woke up today expecting all hell to break loose due to Carmageddon. Then, nothing happened. The streets were empty, people actually listened and stayed away, stayed home and stayed out of their cars. Traffic was non-existent. That made my bike ride up to Mulholland and Sepulveda all the more enjoyable. What I found was equal parts amazing and boring at the same time. A bridge was being demolished and a (very wide) road was closed. Dozens of reporters were hanging out, along with a handful of residents who came to see the spectacle with their own eyes. Want to see what a billion dollars looks like?