Biking for Street Consideration

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES —

Today is Bike to Work day, with activities and give-aways set up around town for commuters to get some bike-love on their way into work. The pit-stop at the Hollywood & Western subway station was a little different, not just hosting free bike tune-ups but also acting as the starting point for a ride to City Hall. There the riders delivered a fifty foot long petition to the Mayor’s office, asking for “complete streets.”

I took a few hours away from the office to go join the ride, which was put together by Illuminate LA. Roughly sixty people made their way from Hollywood to Downtown, escorted by LAPD bike patrol officers.

At City Hall the group heard from Douglas Failing, Director of Caltrans’ District 7. He talked about how important bikes were to LA’s transportation picture and then signed the petition.

Also on the ride was Zach Behrens of LAist, who’ll be posting a report as soon as he can make his way all the way back to Sherman Oaks.

I took a bunch of photos, which you can find in this set.

Update (4pm): Zach’s photo essay is up.