You may have read my most recent two posts (here and here) on commuting by bike (maybe combining it with bus, and subway as well, which is what I do most times – there are excellent express bus routes through the city: the Metro Rapid system). I’m not the only person cycling in this city. For more on cycling in LA there is a host of resources. There’s the Los Angeles County Bike Coalition for example, the Bike Kitchen, the Midnight Ridazzz, and many more activities and associations. There are maps of cycle routes and cycle lanes on the LACBC site too, as well as recreational bike paths.
Here’s a recent Los Angeles Times profile, written by John Balzar1, of Monica Howe who is a major mover and shaker in the local bike and biking awareness scene. (I borrowed the photo, above right, from the article. It was taken by Al Seib.)
It’s very nice to read about people who are super-enthusiastic about the same issue. It is an uphill struggle, but I think I see more cyclists on the roads these days.
One thing that is mentioned a lot in the article and in other discussions of this sort is the safety issue. For what its worth, in my opinion the danger risks are often overstated, or perhaps not properly represented. While there are accidents due to careless drivers not paying attention, etc., I have to say that there’s not enough mention in these discussions of the far too many cyclists who are doing stupid things. I can’t help but wonder how many of those stupid acts contribute to the number of accidents that people count in the stats. Yes, we need to get motorists more used to us on the roads, but we need to get them used to us following the rules of the road. This includes signalling what we are about to do before we do it, stopping at stop signs, and waiting until traffic lights are green, even if we think nothing is coming. In short, we should behave as though we are in a car, and not as a jaywalking pedestrian from the countryside running after a squirrel. There will still be motorists who are idiots, but if cyclists are perceived by motorists as unpredictable idiots too -as a result of some spectacularly erratic, bad or aggressive behaviour- then we’ll simply lose the battle overall, since motorists will not be sympathetic to us as fellow road users – vunerable ones.
And then you have to be defensive – why are there so many cyclists out there without lights (bright ones front and rear) or helmets, I wonder? And to head off the possibility of mistakes on the part of the motorist a bit more, I try to make eye-contact as much as a I can, making sure that the person who is about to turn their car into my lane or across my path has actually seen me. Even when driving I don’t assume that a motorist is going to do what they seem to be about to do until I get more confirmation, and I certainly don’t do that on a bike. You have to be attentive to what’s going on all the time (I still am amazed how many times have I seen cyclists wearing headphones), and can’t treat your ride in traffic as a time to mentally balance your bank accounts, solve a mathematical problem, or ponder the details of the Iraq War. Wait until you get to your destination, or at least a quieter street.
I’m not living in a fantasy-land here. I realize that there is a chance that I might get hit by a car one day. In hundreds of journeys, it can happen, of course. It just takes one careless driver, even if you are being careful yourself. But the same is true for crossing the road, or even driving your car. But I think that people overstate the safety issue too much, and it scares people away from doing even a half mile journey on their bike, on a side street. It gives people the excuse to use their car for another unnecessary journey. Most neighbourhood roads are very safe to ride a bike on, and in some cases you can get yourself to the subway or the bus stop using your bike, and then take it onto the train or bus, finishing your journey with another neighbourhood ride. If unhappy with the roads initially, or if there is a particular stretch of road that you consider too busy for your tastes, find another route (there are so very many roads going roughly the same way), or even just hop onto the sidewalk for a stretch. Contrary to popular belief, there is nothing wrong or illegal about this (at least in LA). It is discouraged only when it is disruptive to the pedestrians. This is seldom a problem in LA, for obvious reasons, and if you do see a pedestrian, don’t surprise or run them down. Instead, slow down and let them know you’re coming, and thank them for letting you pass.
Please get your bike out, pump up the tyres, check the brakes, (or take it to the Bike Kitchen to get help) and use it from time to time. You don’t have to replace your entire commute with it. Just cut out some of those unneccessary car journeys… Or just use it to see your neighbourhood with new eyes from time to time, and get a bit of exercise at the same time.
(See some of my posts, below, about cycling, and public transport. The ones entitled “commuting” are about cycling from (roughly) my neighbourhood into work at USC, and what I saw along the way. I’ll be doing more of these.)
-cvj
1 Thanks Jeff!
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Ouch
I grew up bicycling on the streets of LA; began bike racing at the age of nine. I was hit by my first car in 1957, when i was ten, and it was clearly my fault. Riding and racing for the next four decades (all without a helmet) i had a few crashes and collisions, but none of those were beyond my own control and responsibility. During my tenures living and riding on the city streets of LA, Sacramento, East Bay (as a prof at CSUH i rode every day up and down that hill clocked one time by a student at 55mph), i experienced fewer risky moments than all the years riding in and around the Sierras. Wearing bright colors, paying constant attention, connecting visually with drivers around you (yes those are trying to turn right in front of you and those exiting from parking lots and side streets whose views are obstructed by parked cars and other traffic), and not allowing others stupidity to cause anger and rage, safe bicycling in cityscapes is easily manageable, as well as hugely good for the planet.
I agree with everything Clifford has said, except the part about bikes not being inherently dangerous, although if something is mumbled about really meaning inhernetly unacceptebly dangerous I wouldn’t protest.
As with any dangerous tool, if you respect it and treat it as such (lights (we love blinky lights), awareness of suroundings (I rely heavily on my ears for what is appraching me from behind so head phones are a bad idea), following traffic laws, no cell phone while biking, ect) then you will be fine, if you don’t your going to get hurt. Such is life.
It’s so refreshing to hear the challenge to the notion that there’s no alternative to the car! It would be wrong of me to claim that I’m an enthusiatic cyclist, but living in Cambridge, the bicycle can not ge ignored! My cycling is mainly restricted to leisure trips in the surrounding countryside rather than trips into the city and I have to admit this is mainly due to lack of confidence in the relentlessly heavy traffic, but having said that we are lucky here in that we are well served with cycle routes and drivers do *have* to be cyclist aware, simply because there is such a high volume of cyclists on the road. I personally get round my fears by carefully planning a journey so I know where the cycle routes are and I just avoid the most dangerous roads. The abundance of cycle routes makes this realistic, and I believe many of them to be in place due to public pressure. Many other places are not so well served.
On the issue of exploring alternatives to the car, the local school here has been running a campaign to try and encourage pupils not travel by car. There are several aims to this. One is the obvious one to simply to avoid the gridlock in the village caused by the school run, but the children are also learning about the environmental costs of using a car unnecessarily, and the health benefits of cycling or walking to school. The message is clearly getting through as my daughter (who is four) gets really quite upset if we do end up taking the car! Another pleasing local initiative started in the new year. Cambridge University has introduced a trial voucher system for employees allowing them to commute on the buses for about half the usual cost.
As far as the inherent unsafeness of cycling compared to risk of heart attack, one must further multiply the cycling numbers by the ratio of the hours spent doing the deed. My heart can attack 24/7, but even at my worst I never rode more than 3 hours per day.
I don’t know about LA, but OC had the best set of bike paths I’ve ever experienced, and as a student I used them extensively. I miss my Gitane, though bikes back then (1982) were quite heavy compared to modern ones.
When I first showed up as a grad student at U. Cal., Irvine, I was paid as a research assistant (I designed electronics for experiments) at about $12,000 per year. It was more money than I’d ever seen in my life. I just couldn’t imainge how someone could spend all that money. Talking with one of the other grad students I found that he was very broke. Turns out that part of the difference was that he owned a car.
I’m not commuting by bike now, even though i’d like to. My chances of a heart attack aren’t 1/77. They’re much higher. I know of only three male relatives over 50 who haven’t had one yet. I hope to become number four.
While living in Boston, i briefly worked for a company that had showers. I had a 9 mile bike commute. Even at the start of the summer, averaging 9 MPH, it was as fast as the subway or driving. By the end of the summer, i was averaging 21 MPH, and it was faster than any other means even including time showering.
While living in Philadelphia, i commuted for two summers. It was 6 miles. I took it slow on the way to work as there were no showers. I took a longer route home and made it into real exercise. While Philadelphia has no bike lanes, they do shut down a ten mile road by the river on Saturday Mornings to vehicles. Philadelphia also has some of the worst road debris i’ve seen anywhere. Despite Kevlar tires with tire liners, flat tires were common. And, i got very good at replacing spokes and truing wheels. Feh.
In Detroit it seems hopeless. Employers have no showers, and/or the commute is 45 miles.
I’ve only had one bicycle accident. I borrowed a touring bike (drop handlebars) with an oversized frame. I couldn’t see traffic, and had difficulty braking. A car i’d passed twice caught up to me and made a right turn into me. I actually ran into the car. I wasn’t hurt. Nor was the car or bike. The driver stopped and got out. She started speaking Spanish at me. Yelling really. But she changed her tune when i started speaking Spanish back. It was an uphill struggle to appear human to her. I think it actually shocked her. It turned out she really was fluent in English – but just didn’t want to talk to me.
On my own bike, i’m in command. I know what everyone’s doing and what they will be doing. I can wear headphones and listen to A Brief History of Time and still be safe. These things improve safety by keeping me awake. Your mileage may vary.
Hi Michael,
Thanks!!
“the major accident class for experienced commuters is failure of a left-turning car to yield.”
I completely agree. That’s the one I watch most too…. and try to make eye-contact, or if not sure at a huge intersection, I just get off the bike and cross on foot. Takes me an extra minute, may have saved my life. Also, at night I have one of those bright flashing multiple-LED lights as my headlight… makes it very easy to see me and judge where I am.
I also was disturbed by the tone of the LA Times article. It probably put off more people from cycling than it encouraged because it played up that “danger” aspect too much. Makes us all sound like thrill seekers or extreme sports enthusiasts, rather than regular people just like the reader is. Nothing could be further from the truth. I go out of my way to avoid dangerous sports and thrill rides. I just want to get out of my car, that’s all.
Cheers!
-cvj
Great post. I biked to work for 11 years, 5 of them in LA, and had no car for some of those years in LA. It worked great.
I agree 100% with the tone of your post. I think you have to ride like a vehicle, obeying the laws, if you expect auto drivers to treat you like a vehicle and honor your right-of-way. Additionally, you have to be more careful about judging driver’s intentions, and ride very deliberately, leaving no doubt with hand signals and body language (eg lane placement).
If you’ve read Forrester’s book “Effective Cycling”, you’ll know where this is coming from, and that there is a long debate between those who want, e.g., bike paths for commuters thru parks, versus those who want “Share the road” signs on city streets. I’m more of a “share the road” person.
**
One thing I always had trouble with as a bike commuter is anger at “misbehaving” auto drivers. Many times I was too quick to flip the bird at a driver who cut me off or stopped in my path. I think the main cause was tension and fear about being “powerless” (that is, crushable by a car) — classic yapping chihuahua syndrome.
I was disappointed in the tone of the LA Times article, because it did have some of that fearful mentality — perhaps it was just the quotes chosen.
Anyway, as I matured as a cyclist, this fear/anger gradually went away. I don’t have the same frustration level any more, and my rides are much more pleasant as a result.
**
In all those years of commuting, and several extended bike tours (eg, cross-USA in 1987) I never had a collision with a car. Most bike accident statistics are pretty much worthless to commuters in judging their risks, because the accident statistics are biased by the dominance of children. IIRC, the major accident class for experienced commuters is failure of a left-turning car to yield. So that’s the one I watch especially. Of course, depending on your route, YMMV (so to speak).
Will:-
Thanks for commenting. It is *so* important for people to hear from experienced people who know the roads even better than I do. It’s very reassuring and encouranging. I hope maybe some others who’ve surfed in via LAObserved or elsewhere may share a bit too….
This is *exactly* my attitude. The status quo gets changed by just doing it, and some people might join in based on the example. This is the word of mouth aspect I was talking about. People see and hear what I do and they ask me questions at work, or just randomly on the street. Next thing I hear is that colleagues are asking me about bus routes…. or they are finding that maybe part of their week they might use mass transit to try it for a while. And I get lots of questions about the bike, and its convenience, which is good too….(although I’m not expecting everyone to suddenly get folding bikes because people really find it hard to do something so unusual…. it’s mostly afraid of just looking different, but that’s another story.)
And as for personal responsibility… Yes, I very much agree! I am at the stage now where I feel like I have really failed if I use the car unneccessarily – for a single short-to-medium trip I could have done on the bike or on foot. So I try to find the extra time and plan my day a bit better so as to not have to jump into the car to run that errand. It just feels *wrong* now….. this might be a bit extreme for some, but I’m just saying… When I do use the car I like it to be a trip that gets a lot of errands done, and/or maybe involve longer distances, heavy or awkward loads, giving people a ride, or just highly contrained time.
My typical week, in the routine of the semester, has me not touching the car at all until the weekend. This is not going to work for everyone – I chose to live in a part of the city that allows me to use the many public transport options in combination with my bike, or that gives me access to lots of local things within walking or quick biking distance. Different people have different situations, and I recognise that – but so many people just *assume* that there is no alternative to the car. They tell me where they live and where they want to get to and I give them a list of bus routes… They tell me that the bus stop is several blocks away or worse. The idea of walking to the stop is strangely prohibitive to people… the car has spoiled us so much…. and if it is really far to the stop… or takes too long then this is a *perfect* situation for using a short bikeride to fill in the gaps….
Anyway, I’m rambling.
Thanks Will! Stay safe, and maybe I’ll see you out there on the streets soon.
(Your blog MetroBlogging LA is excellent, by the way!)
-cvj
nc:- “So I couldn’t cycle if I wanted to. The new trains in use in this part aren’t welcoming of bikes.”
What you need to do is write a letter to the train company and ask them to make such provision. Get your friends to do it too. If there are enough people doing that, they’ll consider changing their policy.
Or -Welcome to the folding bike revolution! Unchain yourself from the good will of the rail operators… You get around these restrictions the way I and hundreds of others do. Get a folding bike. You cover it after folding, and they can’t tell wehther it is a bike or a large bag. Have a look around you in London, you’ll see Bromptons everywhere….. folders are on the rise, and Bromptons are apparently the single most common manufacturer (or close to it) in London now…. all of this canged in the last few years…. By word of mouth alone.
On the danger perception you mention (crazy london cabbies and the like):- bear in mind that it is a perception mostly. I recall thinking the same thing here in LA before I just got on a bike and found that a lot of the perceived fear came from what people were saying about it (out of ignorance mostly, or unfortunate experiences such as Andy mentioned above) and also how it looks from the point of view of a pedestrian or of a motorist. Once you are on your bike, and if you take care to be vigilant (using some of the ideas I talked about in the psot) you will rapidly see that it is just not that terrifyingly dangerous.
Please try it for a week before just writing it off.
-cvj
I should add that living in Denmark, cycling is a vastly different experience. Virtually all roads have segregated cycle paths even in the centre of cities and the very large numbers of cyclists means that motorists cannot ignore them (nor are they especially agressive towards them). Looking out for cyclists (who have priority at junctions) is simply something you get used to. You can completely traverse Copenhagen and at no time have to share the road with cars.
There’s a nice link here to a report by the Danish Road Directorate with a *lot* of facts and statistics including accident risks.
http://www.cities-for-cyclists.org/dokumenter/cyccon.pdf
Of course one of the reasons that everyone cycles in Denmark is that tax rates are so high and cars cost 3x as much as in the US (there is over 200% duty and tax on a new car) so many have to cycle (or use public transport) whether they like it or not.
BTW, bicycles aren’t permitted on the A12, the main road from Colchester to London. There are no cycle lanes. So I couldn’t cycle if I wanted to. The new trains in use in this part aren’t welcoming of bikes. You used to be able to put them in the guard’s section, but there isn’t one anymore. Maybe a bike can be rented somewhere near the London station but I’d be scared cycling with so many crazy London cabbies, white delivery vans motorcyclists and everything. A bit too dangerous.
The only time I cycle is on holiday. I rent a bike (usually directly from the hotel reception, if it’s in Spain or the Canaries) for the week or two and cycle to the towns, beaches, attractions, whatever. It’s just the stress of finding car parks, finding the change for the ticket, traffic jams, getting lost in a car, getting petrol… But generally, despite all the problems, there’s no practical alternative to a car where I live, especially in bad weather, if I want to be on time for business appointments
First off, thank you Professor Johnson for your efforts to spread the word about bike commuting. I found your blog via a link from L.A. Observed.
I am disturbed by commenter Andy’s opinion but won’t waste time trying to disuade it or allay his extrapolated fears. Instead I’ll just counter his blanket assessment of the state of aggression towards cyclists on the streets with my own personal experiences. As a cycling advocate who’s logged an average of 1,000-plus urban L.A. miles a year since 2000 — including 1,800 this past year and a resolution to do 2,000 for 2007 — I can honestly say I do not see the anger that Andy’s so adamant about.
I’m not sporting a pair of rose-colored Oakleys here, bikers suffer injury or death all to regularly and to a certain degree I agree in principle with him that city cycling is an “unsafe activity,” but then I also must note that Andy’s walks to and from work also carry with them a certain level of risk. And from the almost 9,000 miles I’ve logged all around Los Angeles this past seven years I have encountered road rage far more often from the cab of my truck than I have in the saddles of my bicycles.
That’s not to say I haven’t suffered countless episodes of drivers’ absolute indifference or disregard for my safety or my right to share the road, but I don’t let that stop me from doing something I love and I ride in a heightened state of awareness according to my credo that I’m only as safe as the worst driver I encounter.
Andy’s proposal that car-free commute windows be legislated made me laugh. What doesn’t is that defeatist attitude he apologizes for. I find that mindset “inherently unsafe.”
Personally I’m not out on my bike to change the status quo. I do it because it’s enjoyable and because I have to take personal responsibilty for the world I live in. If while pedaling somewhere some four-wheelers see me riding and a lightbulb goes off that says to them that they can do that, good for them.
Ride safe and ride on Professor.
“You cannot change the status quo with your bicycle.”
On the contrary!!! Check out the paper “Safety in numbers: more walkers and bicyclists, safer walking and bicycling” (P L Jacobsen). Jacobsen found that as the number of bikers and walkers on the roads increases, the probability of any given biker or walker being in an accident falls. I don’t think he proves causation, but his work is very suggestive. Also, check out this article.
CVJ, I am glad you are one of the pioneers who travel LA without a car. I once commuted to classes in Long Beach, and ride MTA whenever possible. Transit and bike can take you more pace in LA than most people realise. It is a great way to stay in shape too.
Andy,
I’m sorry to hear about that. But I still disagree with you. If you read the news, you’ll also hear about experienced motorists and pedestrians involved in horrible accidents. Many of them die. It is sad, sure. Does that mean that we should just stop those activities as well? in fact, there are quite a few stories of people never leaving their homes and bad things happen to them. So what are we to do?
There are lots of local journeys on the bike that can be made which are no more dangerous than walking the same route. Why can people not do those at the very least? And there are far more journeys that thousands of cyclists take every day all over California. There is risk involved, but there is risk involved in getting into your car and getting on the 405 too.
I can help to change the status quo with my bicycle, actually. It is already changing, because lots of individuals are making new choices. And word of mouth is a powerful thing. The little changes begin to happen, and gather momentum and then the legislators see what’s happening and they listen (if only to save their political skins), helping to produce big changes that would never have happened were it not for the little changes. Your argument that no one person can make a difference is akin to claiming that no one person’s vote can make a difference to an election. It all starts with the individual citizens. I see more people cycling. I see more people on the bus going to work and to school. The city responded with increased frequency on some bus routes, more cycle lanes, double-sized express buses, and more express bus routes. There is increased urgency to get the subway extended. I’ve done posts on all of this. I can give you links if you like. This is all due in no small part to people voting with their feet, making new choices and not accepting the status quo.
Now I must dash… I’m jumping into my Hummer to nip to the shops to buy a pint of milk… Later.
-cvj
Dear Professor Johnson,
Please don’t shoot the messenger. I apologize if I was too dismissive about your suggestions. But honestly I’ve had my bicycle run over (with me still on it) and been on the pavement because of automobile operator hostility and so have many cyclists. If you read the USCF (now USA Cycling) news you’ll read about dead bicycle riders every month. And these are experienced riders and often times they are in California.
You cannot change the status quo with your bicycle. Your duly elected city council member might be able to change the status quo but will be unwilling because of the cost to his or her political career.
Again I apologize for being so defeatist. I feel as strongly as you do about reducing automobile usage. I walk to work everyday without exception. It would be faster if I could ride my bicycle but I find it too scary anymore.
Your buddy,
Andy
I disagree 100% – It is NOT an inherently unsafe activity. We are certainly not talking abotu racing bicycles here! Just riding along at s sensible pace. Also, there is no climate of driver hostility towards cyclists. Most drivers are fine with cyclists when they are using the road responsibly. Furthermore, a huge number of cycling trips can be made in your own neighbourhood without encountering more than a few cars. That can be the cycle ride to the bus stop that seemed too far away to walk. It can therefore make a huge contribution to reducing unneccessary car use overall. And please read all the other suggestions I made in the post.
I simply don’t agree with your rather defeatist and (with all due respect) highly ill-informed argument for the status quo.
-cvj
I’ve been involved in a few bicycle accidents back when I used to race bicycles. It is an inherently unsafe activity and I don’t recommend it to anyone in the current climate of driver hostility towards cyclists. Cities must legislate automobile free times for cyclists to safely use city streets. That will never happen, and greenhouse gases from automobiles will continue to heat the planet.
In the US, your annual risk (if over 35) of dying of a heart attack is about 1/77. Your annual risk of being killed cycling is about 1/130000. Of course this takes into account that not many Americans cycle, but even so the risk is nearly 1700 times smaller.
If risk of cycling is bothering you, then your time is much better spent on reducing the risk of heart attack e.g better diet or taking up some exercise…such as cycling.