One million trees minus one

It had to happen, they said, the sewer lines were clogged.
It had to happen, they said, the sidewalk was busted and people got hurt.
They promise to plant another one, and I believe them.

Los Angeles Critical Mass August 2010

I heard that the LAPD estimates the size of the August 2010 Los Angeles Critical Mass to be around 2500 cyclists! Perhaps someone will count them all in this video below.





























The ride was beyond huge. Fun, exciting and boisterous. The police valiantly tried their best to contain and monitor us, which I support now that the size has mushroomed into the thousands. Overall, I think that the LAPD was great, but I did see them tackle a kid who refused to leave AMPM and was trying to make an end run around a phalanx of motorcycle cops. I also saw some young cyclists detained by police near USC, but I wasn't sure what for. There was also a real sense of anarchy and danger, perhaps due to the nearly full moon. Whatever it was, I saw a lot of disturbing behaviour mostly by young male cyclists with aggression problems. A girl got knocked off her bike by a male rider who took off leaving her friends to care for her. She was keeled over in pain. I found the LAPD commander's SUV nearby and she called an ambulance immediately. I saw a rider repeatedly slam his hand on cars as he was passing them, almost getting run over by a van driver he pissed off, who happened to be a cyclist himself. I heard cyclists yelling needlessly at motorists and pedestrians. The problem seems to be mostly with young men who use the ride as an excuse to behave like total idiots. I blame myself for not taking a more active role in calling out and condemning that type of behaviour. I will say that I still see more smiles than frowns on motorists that are inconvenienced by our monthly event, but as I rode home alone on the streets I couldn't stop thinking if any drivers that were harassed by some of the jerks on the ride might mistake me for one of them. It only takes a few bad apples to spoil the public's perception of us.

No matter where I am, all I see is bikes

New York, Chicago, Sun Valley. I've been working and relaxing all over this country recently, and I constantly found myself comparing the way these places handle urban design as it applies to cyclists and pedestrians, and what lessons Los Angeles could learn from them.

NEW YORK



Wow, this town is going full retard for bikes!



Everywhere you look, there are green bike lanes carefully carved out of pre-existing car lanes (are you listening @mobilitymaven?) and sprinkled with amazing patio spaces for people to dine and relax behind giant planters overflowing with flowers...in the street!



For all the talk about how crazy New York traffic is, I found cyclists, pedestrians and drivers were able to co-exist rather peacefully.



The streets seemed to be in much better condition than Los Angeles, where I sometimes prefer the comfort and safety of a full suspension mountain bike when navigating the million potholes of the city.



They also have trees that provide shade while managing not to tear apart the sidewalks, imagine that!



And the police don't seem to need gas guzzling Harleys for every situation. They've embraced the concept that radios outrun any vehicle, not that I'm calling these Vespas slow.



Zebra stripe crosswalks are safer and smarter than the average crosswalk. Does LADOT need to spend a year studying that?



CHICAGO



Here's a city like L.A. that has a river running thru it.



However, instead of turning it into a large hidden concrete open sewer known only to trivia buffs, homeless fishermen and a few daring kayakers...



there are wonderful parks along it's banks, with runners, walkers and cyclists enjoying the meandering waterway that defines the geography of the city.









Everything is so green and beautiful, and there are parks with public art that inspire and cool the people!







SUN VALLEY



What can I say, this place is paradise!



A bike path runs along the river taking you anywhere you want to go, while keeping cyclists seperated from car lanes. In town, the speed limit is 20 mph, a speed designed for people and civic vitality, not to maximize the number of cars per minute. Some of the best mountain bike trails are right in town.



Or you can head into the back country if you so desire.





If you're lucky, you'll end up at a remote hot spring!



If hikers, horses can cyclists can learn to share these trails, why can't Angelenos in Griffith Park do the same? Oh wait, because someone decided for us that we're not allowed to share. Too bad, these trails are appealing to all sorts of users...







See you on the streets! Los Angeles Critical Mass is this friday!

Sun Valley Morning

Happy to be in Sun Valley for the Writers' Conference and staying with the gracious hostess Margo! Her home is amazing and moose bathe in her pond.

A city worthy of a bike ride

Here's everything an L.A. cyclist like myself dreams of having in his own home town. New York seems to have become an oasis for urban cycling, at least when it's 78 degrees out and sunny.

Behold!
a beautiful day
clean air
smooth pavement
grand architecture
green & lush landscaping
dedicated safe lanes of travel for cyclists side by side with motorized vehicles and pedestrians

I still haven't been able to ride myself around this town, but I did get catch a ride tonight on the way to dinner with the Nelson brothers!

Hello New York

I hope to ride you while I'm here!

Part of me will miss this guy...

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Sen. Ted Stevens
www.thedailyshow.com
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Fare You Well Senator Ted Stevens.