Comments on: David Byrne Comes to Los Angeles, Plays Second Fiddle to a Bureaucrat

By: solanasaurus

solanasaurus — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:35:20 +0000

We should just get violent gang members to paint the stripes then. Now that would be good public policy.

By: Matthew Fleischer

Matthew Fleischer — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:16:02 +0000

Actually, L.A.’s buses and trains let you load bikes too. Building a massive network of bike lanes would probably enhance the efficacy of our public transit tenfold. One of the reasons more people don’t use the bus network is because transfers in this city are a disaster. But if you could bus one segment of a trip and safely bike the next we’d be in way better shape.

I would love to see bikers paint some lanes for themselves. It would take some serious balls though. Unfortunately city officials in L.A. now treat graffiti on par with gang violence — literally. Painting lines would probably get you a couple of years in jail.

By: solanasaurus

solanasaurus — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:10:22 +0000

Awesome post. I love what NYC and Brooklyn have done with white paint on streets.

Of course we also have effective public transportation that allows you to load bikes on to trains when you need to go farther.

A winning combination.

Maybe the bike lobby should just paint the new bike lanes themselves, freeing up valuable bureaucrat time to improve the public trans.

By: delmar

delmar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:27:01 +0000

Walkable and bike-friendly cities are the new status symbol for the educated, talented, and wealthy. The city is going to lose influence if it doesn’t adapt.

By: Matthew Fleischer

Matthew Fleischer — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:36:30 +0000

I completely agree — hating L.A. is a default setting for people who have never been here. But take them to Broadway around lunchtime, a la Bryne, and they automatically seem to change their mind. That said, L.A. doesn’t do itself any favors by being a provincial, political backwater. It would be hard for people to have auto-L.A. hate if our city government actually did something grand to improve the city — say by building the most extensive network of bike lanes in the country. Automatic national news, automatic good PR, automatic perception-changer completely worth its weight in tourist dollars.

By: Matthew Fleischer

Matthew Fleischer — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:31:32 +0000

Before I moved to L.A. I lived in New Orleans and never had a car. I didn’t have a car for 6 months when I first came here because I figured I’d be able to get around by cycling. That proved true at night, but no way during the day. It felt like a suicide mission every time I tried.

By: Matthew Fleischer

Matthew Fleischer — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:28:35 +0000

Thanks for the tip.

By: dawg

dawg — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:07:39 +0000

Councilmember who’s a closet cycling supporter= Rosendahl.

There’s no $ in the bicycle lobby, so why would any of ‘em listen?

By: Sara Libby

Sara Libby — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:05:38 +0000

I don’t bike at all, but it doesn’t surprise me that Byrne, or anyone else, would conclude that downtown is great once they actually VISIT it. I feel like people criticize L.A. like it’s a natural human reflex, whether they’re in any way familiar with the city or not. I find that whenever I show people around from out of town, they’re always surprised at how much they enjoy it.

By: Thomas Medlicott

Thomas Medlicott — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:10:51 +0000

Drove into LA from Redlands last night. Exited Santa Monica Freeway at La Cienaga, drove north to Bev. Blvd. where we parked on a side street and went to dinner and a show at the Largo. It would be challenging for any cyclist to navigate La Cienaga. So many cars with only a driver and zero passengers. Checkout our own Redlands Bicycle Classic next spring. Even though this event brings prestige and revenue to our town people bitch at the inconvenience. I’d love to ride in LA, but not without designated lanes. Tom Medlicott