D on June 11, 2009, at 06:43PM – #2

looks like they read this blog! lol

Seriously, how can it be mandated that people wear helmets or seat belts? is it just insurance companies putting pressure on the legislature?

Jasmijn on June 12, 2009, at 09:44AM – #3

I, for one, am dismayed that operators may no longer be required to wear black shoes, as specified in the earlier column on this subject. Surely operating a pedicab wearing cordovan leather wingtips is a clear signal of the decline of civilization and coming of the Apocalypse...

ubrayj02 on June 12, 2009, at 10:35AM – #4

I was pleasantly surprised to hear a few of the Board of Transportation Commissioners that had read through the proposed Board Order and had some real changes they'd like to see made in how it was drafted. The daftness of the LADOT is a bit surprising as well - is there another agency that is as clueless as these goons? They're like a caricature of a dysfunctional bureaucracy. They hired a consultant to draft a Board Order on their modified ban pedicabs - at what cost? Only to have their order shot down.

Sadly, the focus was on helmets and shoes - and not on the practical matters of licensing pedicab operators, which still looks more like a full EIR and less like a permit to operate a vehicle application. I wonder if they'll be forward thinking enough to create districts within which they'll issue a restricted number of pedicab licenses, create pedicab standing areas on the curb, and ensure that the market isn't flooded with seasonal amateurs who ruin the business for the professionals?

Kate on June 12, 2009, at 11:46AM – #5

Communal helmets?

Is the LADOT going to also provide free head lice screenings and treatment?

Renting bowling shoes is one thing but it seems like the LA Health Dept needs to step in here.

PeddleSome on June 13, 2009, at 04:54PM – #6

If the state can mandate that motorcycle riders and minor bicycle riders must wear helmets, then why should pedicab passengers (or meter maids in scooters) be exempt?

For that matter, while we're going to protect everyone, why not require pedestrians to wear protective gear, since they're most likely to injured in a crosswalk?

Oscar on June 14, 2009, at 01:15PM – #7

I am absolutely opposed to them reversing this rule, EVERYBODY SHOULD WEAR A HELMET, specially because people look funny-cute wearing those things and that would do an interesting photography subject... yaay helmets!...

OK, now all joking aside...as we slow down traffic in this city we create congestion, congestion would cause more harm to the environment that the "good" that the use of bicycles or pedicabs would do.

I believe we should focus more on easing the traffic in the city rather than look for ways to slow it down.

Here's my proposal:

Change ALL the streets to ONE WAY streets, that would surely create pedestrian traffic and will ease the traffic congestion.

THEN:

Turn ONLY one side of the street into metered parking spots and eradicate the red zones (those are completely unnecessary).

THEN:

Turn the other curb into a bicycle/pedicab lane and create a tubular barrier for this lane to protect it from automobile traffic.

THEN:

Eliminate the unnecessary bus routes crossing downtown by creating ONE route per street that crosses the street in both directions from south to north (north to south) and west to east (and viceversa) with conveniently allocated transfer terminals in all four cardinal points of downtown.

This conjectures come from 7 years of living/walking/driving/biking/bus and subway riding/ in downtown LA.

I'm not attached to any of these ideas but they all come from experience, there is a reasoning behind and hopefully it's obvious enough that I don't have to explain.

I know that maybe some people ( Rich?) might hate me for writing these but then again I'm open to listening any arguments and ideas, debating ideas is quite enlightening.

Oscar on June 14, 2009, at 04:03PM – #8

I am absolutely opposed to them reversing this rule, EVERYBODY SHOULD WEAR A HELMET, specially because people look funny-cute wearing those things and that would do an interesting photography subject... yaay helmets!...

OK, now all joking aside...as we slow down traffic in this city we create congestion, congestion would cause more harm to the environment that the "good" that the use of bicycles or pedicabs would do.

I believe we should focus more on easing the traffic in the city rather than look for ways to slow it down.

Here's my proposal:

Change ALL the streets to ONE WAY streets, that would surely create pedestrian traffic and will ease the traffic congestion.

THEN:

Turn ONLY one side of the street into metered parking spots and eradicate the red zones (those are completely unnecessary).

THEN:

Turn the other curb into a bicycle/pedicab lane and create a tubular barrier for this lane to protect it from automobile traffic.

THEN:

Eliminate the unnecessary bus routes crossing downtown by creating ONE route per street that crosses the street in both directions from south to north (north to south) and west to east (and viceversa) with conveniently allocated transfer terminals in all four cardinal points of downtown.

This conjectures come from 7 years of living/walking/driving/biking/bus and subway riding/ in downtown LA.

I'm not attached to any of these ideas but they all come from experience, there is a reasoning behind and hopefully it's obvious enough that I don't have to explain.

I know that maybe some people ( Rich?) might hate me for writing these but then again I'm open to listening any arguments and ideas, debating ideas is quite enlightening.