Blood In protest, Photo by Gary Kavanagh

“The drivers that hit us and run are driving in your neighborhoods, past your kid’s school, your mother’s church, and your house” – that was the message from cyclists to citizens at a protest on Tuesday.  The protest was sparked by a light sentence handed down by Judge Elden S. Fox last Tuesday in a case of felony hit and run.

Seven months ago Celine Mahdavi clobbered cyclist Louis Deliz so hard his teeth were left in her car.  Mahdavi drove away, leaving Deliz to die in the street.  Deliz was rushed to Cedar Sinai where his life was saved by modern medicine.  He spent 8 days in a medically induced coma, 11 days in the ICU and 49 days total hospitalized.  Today Deliz suffers from debilitating physical injuries and suffers panic attacks and seizures.

For felony hit and run, Judge Fox sentenced Mahdavi to 90 days community service, 3 years probation, and ordered her to pay full restitution to Deliz.  Mahdavi will serve no jail time for nearly killing Deliz, and her 90 days of community service amounts to 720 hours, much less than 1176 hours Deliz spent in a hospital bed.

When Mahdavi was breathalyzed several hours after the hit and run, she blew a .05, in violation of California’s zero tolerance law.  Judge Fox therefore included alcohol counseling as part of her sentence, and stipulated that even when Mahdavi turns 21, as part of her probation she is not allowed to drink.

While Fox addressed the drunk part of the drunk driving (2 counts: felony hit and run, violation of CA zero tolerance law for underage drinking), he did nothing to address the driving aspect of the felony count. Mahdavi’s license is currently suspended, but not by the justice system, by the DMV.  If the DMV chooses, Mahdavi could be back on the roads in January.  She’ll be driving to work on your streets, past your kid’s school, you mother’s church, and your house.

Joining her will be Glenn Gritzner, who hit cycling icon “Roadblock” and fled the scene.  Gritzner plead “no contest” to the charge of misdemeanor hit and run, and paid a small fine.  In the style of hit and run, Gritzner didn’t attend the hearing, but sent his attorney on his behalf.  He drives a Jaguar, and he’ll be driving it past your kid’s school, your mother’s church, and your house.

Sounds like cyclists have a problem, doesn’t it?  Sounds like cycling is an unsafe thing and we should probably stick to cars and buses.  Not exactly.

It’s worse for motorists … 38% of ALL collisions in LA are hit and run.  For cyclists the figure is 23%. Our problem is your problem.  Pedestrians get it worst of all – more than 1/3 of all traffic deaths in LA in 2008 are pedestrians.

Tuesday, 60 cyclists stood in front of the Beverly Hills Courthouse, where Judge Fox gave his tepid sentence, and agreed on this: these are our streets, they ought to be a safe, they can be safe, we can make them safe, and we will make them safe.  We are committed to this.

Today the streets are dangerous.  They’re dangerous because we let them become dangerous, we let them stay dangerous.  I allow it, you allow it, we all let this happen.  We allow people like Mahdavi and Gritzner to drive.  We make stupid excuses about needing a license to get to work.  Is it more important that dangerous drivers get to work, or is our safety more important?  We send people for alcohol counseling but we don’t take away their license.  We let people who drive carelessly, who drive recklessly, who don’t care one whit for human life, we let them go out there and do it again.

We are rewarded for it with oppressive, unwelcoming street lives.

These are our streets and this is our fault.  It is our responsibility to do something about it.  We do have the power to take back our streets.  We can insist that we step into a welcoming environment.  We can demand that LA’s streetlife be civilized and enjoyable, safe and secure.  These are our streets, and we control their destiny.

Drivers who hit and run are, simply put, ill.  Their self interest overrides their empathy at the most critical moment, when they have a human obligation to render aid.  You may argue that self interest is paramount, but you would be wrong.  Greater is the instinct, greater in civilization and greater in nature, to attend to suffering.  Drivers who hit and leave, ignoring that instinct, should not be driving.

Bikeside LA, a cyclist advocacy organization, will seek legislation in Sacramento that makes the revocation of hit and run drivers’ licenses mandatory upon conviction.  We hope that activists and community leaders of all stripes will join us in our initiative to put Life Before License – a small step toward restoring life to our streets.  Join us!  If you would like to support, endorse, collaborate or participate in our efforts, email me at alexcthompson@gmail.com.

Die-In at LACM, RIP Jesus Castillo

Last year when Jesus Castillo was killed LA Critical Mass went to the site of his death, joined together around his ghost bike, and held a die-in to honor him, and call attention to the driver’s crime.

A little over a year later we are still plagued by hit and runs.  I humbly suggest that those at the front of Los Angeles Critical Mass, who set it’s direction and pace, take the ride to the Beverly Hills Courthouse, where protesters gathered on Tuesday to decry hit and run.

Here’s a route proposal:

A suggested LACM route - south on Western, west on Venice, north on Crenshaw, west on Olympic, continue west on San Vicente, continue west on Burton Way

I respect the fact that LA Critical Mass has no leaders per se, and I value that the route is set by the collective will.  Let’s all work together and bring the ride to the courthouse, a symbolic site of failed justice, and make ourselves heard!

By the way – this video from Tuesday was just released by filmmaker Rick Darge:

On Tuesday, July 27th, and Friday, July 30th, cyclists will gather at the Beverly Hills Courthouse to protest the tepid sentence handed down by Judge Elden S. Fox for Celine Mahdavi.  Mahdavi hit cyclist Louis Deliz and left him to die in the street on December 1st, 2009; Deliz was hospitalized for 49 days.

Mahdavi pleaded “no contest” to felony hit and run charges and threw herself on the mercy of the court, instead of accepting the plea deal offered by the DA.  Judge Fox gave her 90 days of community service, and 3 years of probation.  Mahdavi will spend less time in community service – 720 hours – than Deliz spent in the hospital – 1176 hours.

Cyclists are calling it the last straw.  Bikeside LA President Alex Thompson said “this sentence is symbolic of the lack of respect cyclists get throughout the justice system.”

Many expressed frustration that Fox made no effort to restrict Mahdavi’s driving privileges, leaving decisions about the status of Mahdavi’s license at the discretion of the DMV.

At both events Bikeside LA will announce a new campaign:  Life before License.  Life before License will specifically address hit and run, seeking state level legislation to change how hit and run is treated by courts.

The Friday protest may be joined by the hundreds of cyclists participating in LA Critical Mass – the ride which recently drew headlines when it clashed with LAPD.  LAPD and riders made peace in June when LAPD facillitated with a large police escort.

Event details:

Tuesday, July 27th, 6:15 pm
Beverly Hills Courthouse
9355 Burton Way
Blood In Press Conference
interviews to follow press conference
open mic available to attendees after press conference

Friday, July 30th, 8:15 pm
Beverly Hills Courthouse
9355 Burton Way
Press Conference
interviews to follow press conference
open mic available to attendees after press conference

That’s what you get for riding bikes Chris.

“When I got to the scene I jumped off and asked why my friend was being detained. I asked twice more and the officer told me to come over and then hand cuffed me and put me against the wall.” – Justin

That’s what you get for mouthing off Justin.

Chris's ticket. Note the "PED". Ignore the $ signs - someone used a scanner running on a software trial.

In the early morning of July 7th two men were cuffed and searched at 8th & Main in Downtown Los Angeles – detained for more than half an hour by the rank and file of LAPD Central Traffic. When all was said and done they were released with tickets for “no front light”, citations issued by Officer Townsend. A “no front light” citation is correctable – if you put a front light on your bike and present it to a officer of the California Highway Patrol, he or she can sign off on it, at which point the fine drops from about $100 to $10. It’s a fix-it ticket!

So why were these two detained for the better part of the hour and released with slap on the wrist tickets? Put another way, why were two officers and a police cruiser preoccupied for half an hour by such a triviality?  Is that an reasonable use of police resources?

Don’t ask that of Officer Townsend. It wasn’t her, but her partner Officer Sanchez who initiated the detention, and insisted on citing Justin and Chris. It was Sanchez who told witnesses that they didn’t have a right to know why he cuffed Justin and Chris, because “they weren’t the ones arrested.” It was Sanchez who allegedly turned off the front light mounted clearly on Justin’s handle bars. It was Sanchez who told Chris that he was ticketing him for running a red light, in contradiction to the citation Chris received.

Sanchez might say that Justin was argumentative – it’s remarkable how often reasonable inquiry is construed as argumentative (and what is cite worthy about argumentative?) by overzealous officers.  Even so, even if Justin was, why did Sanchez cuff Chris before Justin even arrived, particularly when by all accounts Chris was quiet and the picture of compliance?

On the other hand, it’s Townsend who could use a refresher on California law. In both citations Townsend wrote “PED” in the vehicle information field, indicating that the recipients were not motorists, but pedestrians. As you might know, pedestrians are not required to have front headlights. So you could question why Townsend wrote citations which apply to cyclists to pedestrians. The citations are, to borrow a phrase of Stephen Box, self contradicting!

Justin's ticket. Note the "PED". Ignore the $ signs - someone used a scanner running on a software trial.

This happens again and again. It happened to Paul ages ago in Hollywood.  It happened to me, and three others last March.  It happened and then some at LA Critical Mass in May.  It happens countless times when we don’t know or hear about it.  And I mean “countless”; LAPD does not record handcuffings, so we have no sense for how often they occur, or who gets cuffed.

Every person who is cuffed by LAPD becomes a detractor for life of the department. If they’re cuffed for thirty minutes and released with a petty fix-it ticket, that’s an detractor for life who has a convincing story to tell their peers. If they’re cuffed for thirty minutes and released with a petty fix-it ticket which involves potential police misconduct – Officer Sanchez turning off Justin’s light – that’s a detractor life with a convincing story, one that might eventually be told to a jury.

This is all alarming. It all detracts from real police work. And all of it convinces me that it is past time for LAPD to address when cuffing is appropriate.

However, anyone who was paying attention knows that those funds would have been $1.95 million, not $3.27 million, if it weren’t for the efforts and scrutiny of one Bikeside board member – Stephen M Box.

When the “10% for bikes and peds” motion came before LA City Council Transportation Committee it was Stephen Box that noted that LADOT had calculated 10% incorrectly, first in City Watch and then in public comment:

The 10% commitment had advocates celebrating but a check of the math revealed a small $7.3 million problem, the LADOT had calculated the 10% on net funds yielding $10.8 million over the next 5 years instead of on gross which would yield $18.1 million.

LADOT used the net return, instead of the gross return, reducing the 10% commitment.  Box mentioned this to the committee, and the Chief Legislative Analyst [CLA] (who some say is more powerful than the councilmembers themselves) agreed:

as I stood to leave, the City’s Legislative Analyst (CLA) said “You’re right.” I waited but that was it. I asked “So then you’ll fix it?” It was that simple. “Yes.”  Box’s comment led to an increase of 68% in funding ( $18.1 / $10.8 = 1.68 ) from the 10% motion, which amounts to $1.32 million this year, and $7.3 million over 5 years.

It’s all available online – check out the November 18th, 2009 meeting of the Transportation Committee meeting (99 Mb).  Stephen’s comment, and followup from staff, begin at 56:40.

LACBC – be honest with your narrative.  You attribute the success to the efforts of three organizations, but 40% of the money ( [18.1 -10.8] / 18.1 ) can be attributed to Box’s public comment, his City Watch article, and the CLA.  Congratulations to Stephen Box and the CLA for freeing up $1.32 million in additional funds for cyclists and pedestrians for this (fiscal) year, and congratulations to the three org coalition (if indeed LACBC’s narrative is accurate on that point) for the other $1.95 million.

(Edit – some may have trouble following the ball here.  The $18.1 mil figure is for 5 years.  It would have been $10.8 mil but for Box’s efforts.  That’s 5 years.  For this fiscal year, the amounts are $3.27 mil and $1.95.  The “difference due to Box” is $7.3 mil over 5 years or $1.32 mil this year.)

Lindsay Lohan will likely serve 14 days of the 90 day sentence in County jail she began today.  She violated the terms of her probation on DUI charges.

The same day that Lohan turned herself in to the Beverly Hills Courthouse, the case against Celine Mahdavi was scheduled for a pretrial hearing on the 3rd floor.  I know because I walked through the gauntlet of photographers so I could surrender my tools and my camera to security to go upstairs and observe.

Celine Mahdavi hit Louis Deliz so hard that his teeth were embedded in her car, then drove away, Deliz’ body dislodging from her car and landing face down.  He lost most of the lower half of his jaw, all his lower teeth, broke both legs, broke nearly all his fingers, broke his hip, and punctured a lung (if memory serves.)  Just a few days ago, Louis had a massive seizure, and he is still seeing double from it.  To this day he can’t walk right, he can’t talk right, he can’t see right, and he has nightmares and flashbacks.  Mahdavi, 18 at the time, was pulled over a half mile from the accident where she tested positive for alcohol.

A few hours after Lohan began her 90 days in jail, Judge Elden S. Fox sentenced Mahdavi to 90 days of community service – 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, to be done in a 180 day period.  Most likely Mahdavi will be picking up trash with CalTrans or taking part in graffiti removal.

Fox also ordered that Mahdavi should pay full restitution to Deliz, serve 36 months probation, take part in alcohol counseling, participate in the Hospitals and Morgue program.

"She shouldn't drive unless she has a valid driver's license" - Judge Eldon S. Fox to hit and run perpetrator Celine Mahdavi, who permanently disabled Louis Deliz

The prosecution offered Mahdavi a plea of 1 year in jail and 5 years probation.  Instead, Mahdavi’s defense submitted a memorandum of disposition, effectively falling on the mercy of the court, and allowing the judge to sentence Mahdavi without trial.  Fox offered the far lesser sentence, with a variety of self contradictory justification.  Sometimes calling the collision an “accident” – implying that there was no intent without explanation – Fox explained how he considered a 1 year, 6 month, then a 4 month, and finally a 90 day sentence in County jail.  Finally, he explained, he settled on no jail time at all (or 1 day for each count, but 1 day also credited for each count.)

Fox talked tough to Mahdavi saying “I do not believe for one minute that you did not realize you were in a collision for a cyclist” and went on to specify that she should have known that he injured someone.  He explained to Deliz’ family that he found it hard to look at the photographs and evidence.  “My heart goes out to you”, Fox said.

Fox told Mahdavi that she cannot carry any deadly weapons during the 3 years of her probation, listing guns and knives as examples of deadly weapons.  Fox did not list cars as deadly weapons, only ordering that Mahdavi should not drive “unless she has a valid driver’s license.”

Know this cyclists – no one will defend you.  If you are hit it is unlikely the police will care.  If they do care, it is unlikely it will go to court.  If it does go to court, it is unlikely the judge will care.  You are on your own.  If you don’t have a big family like Louis does – one that will step in and step up to take care of you – then you can’t get hit.  You can’t get hit because you won’t get treated fairly.  I know getting hit isn’t under your control, just understand that no one that matters cares about you, and the “justice” system will not take care of you.

There is basically no reason not to hit cyclists and pedestrians – it’s open season.

(edited for correct spelling of “Celine” – thanks commenter Rach Stevo)

(Edit: Celine Mahdavi’s license is currently suspended it is my understanding, as a result of her not responding to inquiries from the DMV re this incident.  Lawyers at the hearing seemed to agree that she will be able to apply for removal of the suspension early next year.  What’s absurd to me is that she would be allowed to obtain a license at all, that her license is suspended and not revoked, and that the judge would leave this decision to the DMV, rather than ordering it suspended.

So, no Mahdavi on the streets (at least legally speaking) now, but possibly early next year.)

Alec & Red show the world how tall bikes solve problems.

Tonight, while executives and lawyers and lobbyists and assistants wined and dined and worked the room, while producers and directors and agents and actors made war and contracts with blackberries and iPhones, while all of them struggled mightily to meet in the middle, two men from two worlds crossed the gap to shake hands and take turns riding a bike in the most surpassing act of diplomacy I have ever witnessed.

Alec the cyclist and Red the officer formed a friendship and affirmed for all that the tone of cyclist & LAPD relations will no longer be one of antagonism or antipathy, nor even one of collaboration and cooperation, but simply a relationship of friendship and support.

Red was among approximately 60 officers mustered tonight for LAPD’s response to LA Critical Mass (LACM). With so many head cracking batons arrayed, cyclist gathering for Critical Mass kept their distance, restrained by memories of yelling, sirens, cuffs and searches. But the atmosphere of doom and gloom was disrupted by the relaxed and smiling demeanor of LAPD. The rumor mill suggested that LAPD had positive intentions toward LACM. It was unnerving . . . it almost felt like things might be OK.

So perhaps that is what prompted Alec to walk with his bizarre tall bike into the throng of cops and ask if anyone wanted to try it. Alec is positively mischievous, in the sense that his mischief leads to positive outcomes. He brings sidewalk chalk to parties and jump ropes to festivals, and he dupes you into having fun. Since I have known him he has relentlessly enabled full grown adults to engage in the fun of child’s play. He is not so much revered in the bike community, as he is loved and cherished by any and all who meet him.

Alec’s bike is different story. It is twice as tall as a normal bike, so that when you ride it, you are 9 feet tall. He rides it hundreds of miles weekly from his home in El Segundo to West LA or even Downtown. The problem is – twice as tall means twice the fall. For me, as an uncoordinated clod, all attempts to ride tall bikes have ended in ankle damage. Alec’s invitation to ride was a quiet dare for the tough guys in uniform.

Red stepped up. Red told me later that he used to ride bike patrol . . . 10 years ago. “They called me up and asked me to ride tonight”, he said. Now he drives a cruiser in Sylmar, answering patrol calls. “This (riding LACM) is way better” he told me with a grin, book ending that moderately serious remark with wise cracks. Simply put, this is a guy who likes to ride.

Alec gave Red some tips and instructions on riding his tall bike, and then Red jumped on that thing and rode it around the plaza, to the hoots and hollers and laughs and cheers of bike patrol and critical mass riders. Then Captain Blake and LACM icons Roadblock and Bike Bike Dan, gave tips and instructions to the crowd on riding LACM safely, and we all jumped on our bikes, and hooted and hollered and laughed and cheered as LAPD and LACM rode together through the mean streets of LA. LACM barreled through LA, safely, respectfully, as one mass, with only a smattering of incidents – to be expected when 600 people ride a cumulative 12,000 miles – and a good time was had by all.

Red rides tall

LAPD and cyclists, Alec and Red took different paths to reach this moment. Alec is the artist who changes hearts and minds by riding a bizarro bike all over creation. Red is out there responding to tense situations – domestic abuse and car accidents – with confidence and a disarming sense of humor. Cyclists, throughout LA, struggle for recognition and respect, while LAPD is working hard to better engage the community and improve its reputation with citizens. All four of them took courageous steps today with the best of intentions – Alec stepped into a ring of 60 armed men and women, Red jumped on a contraption that guaranteed injury, cyclists and LAPD reached out to former antagonists and found new common ground. Somehow, they all came together at one place, at one time, and it’s all a little weird.

In Hamlet, Bill Shakespeare wrote of death as the undiscovered country:

The undiscovered country from whose bourn
No traveler returns, puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?

We prefer the present and the known, even in the ways that they are bad, because we know them; we fear the undiscovered because, even if it might be better, it is unknown.

I feel a little uneasy with what happened tonight – it’s hard for me to believe that such a positive relationship can persist. But today I believe that I witnessed the death of antagonism between two great powers in Los Angeles, the two gutsiest powers in LA’s streets – cyclists and LAPD. I look forward to, with courage and clear purpose, exploring this new and undiscovered country of friendship and support.

(A special recognition is due to Chief Charlie Beck and newly minted US citizen Stephen M Box, the two big men who cut such an intimidating presence to us smaller folk, for standing toe to toe, eye to eye, and with courage and a handshake, forging a new relationship that led to the growing rapport between LAPD and cyclists today.)

Sgt David Krumer of LAPD, liason to the cycling community

Stephen M Box interviews Commander Villegas, who is directs LAPD's end of the Cyclist LAPD Task Force

Big Bike Dan

Glenn Bailey, Chairman of the Los Angeles Bicycle Advisory Committee

Roadblock makes announcements to the crowd about the ride

Joe Borfo in his fish costume - he rode the whole ride in it.

Jennifer Beatty steals my style with the star sunglasses

This is what happens when a cat walks through a spider web. What? "That's not bike related" you say? I beg to differ - this is my blog and I do what I want! Cats are an important aspect of biking.

In his post “Who’s the man behind the curtain of L.A. bicycling?” Ted Rogers shifts the blame for LADOT’s cycling failures off Michelle Mowery and onto a new target, John Fisher, Assistant General Manager of Operations at LADOT.  He targets Fisher in part because he believes that Fisher is 2nd in Command at LADOT, and therefore in a position to stop the production of bike facilities.   In doing so he insults Rita Robinson, the General Manager at DOT, alleging that she can’t manage her department.

Rogers, an LACBC board member, risks making two new powerful enemies for cyclists, and yet his post is not factually correct.  In this post I will look at his belief that John Fisher is 2nd in Command, and show that it’s not correct.  In another post I will look at the other failures of fact in Rogers’ post.

As Rogers spins it, John Fisher is the man behind the curtain.  Rita Robinson runs DOT, the buck stops with her, but Rogers dismisses her on the basis that Robinson does not have a background in engineering.  Rogers implies that, without a degree in engineering, Robinson cannot manage engineers.  Therefore, if the failures are ones of engineering, the responsibility must fall on  Fisher, since Fisher is 2nd in command to Rita Robinson and an engineer.

One problem with that, among others, is that there is no 2nd in command at DOT.  There are three sorts of 2nd in command: the true 2nd in command, the almost 2nd in command, and the de facto 2nd in command.  Fisher (and likely none of the Assistant General Managers at LADOT) does not fit the description of any of these 2nd in commands.

The True 2nd in Command:

The true 2nd in command is a person who is immediately below the boss, and has all the same powers as the boss, except that the boss can tell them what to do.  As a Trekkie, the best example I can think of for this is Captain Picard and Commander Riker from Star Trek.  Captain Picard has the ultimate decision making power on the Enterprise, and god’s gift to women Cmd Riker has it too.  The only difference is, Riker has to defer to Picard – and does so readily cause he’s such a good guy.  However, when Picard is away, Riker runs the show.

There aren’t too many true 2nds left in government, but when they do exist, they look like this in the org chart:

This is what an org chart looks like for an organization with a 2nd in Command

First the boss, then the 2nd, then everyone else.

Now, compare that with the LADOT org chart:

Offices and Assistant General Managers reporting directly to General Manager Robinson at LADOT

All of the Offices and Assistant General Managers circled in red report directly to Robinson.  With multiple employees reporting directly to Robinson, no one fits the definition of a true 2nd in command.

Did I just use a Star Trek analogy?  *wince*  We better move on!

The Almost 2nd in Command

The almost 2nd in command is an employee who is immediately beneath the boss, but there are others who also report directly to the boss.  However, this employee controls the vast majority of the resources or employees in the department, so that in all but a few instances they are in the next highest power position.

A good example of this is LAPD.  Apart from the Police Commission, which oversees all police activity, and the Office of the Inspector General, Chief Beck sits atop the entirety of LAPD (LAPD org chart, pdf).  Assistant Chief Paysinger reports directly to Beck.  There are many staff who report directly to Beck – Chief of Staff, Director of the Office of Special Operations, The Special Assistant for Constitutional Policing, etc etc – and not to Paysinger, so Paysinger is not a true 2nd.

However, of all the staff who report directly to Beck, Paysinger controls most of the resources.  He runs the Office of Operations, which houses the vast majority of the 9960 total sworn officers in LAPD.  Almost everything that LAPD does runs through Operations, which means that almost everything that LAPD does falls in Paysinger’s office.  Effectively, Paysinger is almost 2nd in command to Beck.

Is there an almost 2nd in command at LADOT?  No, there isn’t.  Rogers puts Fisher forward as 2nd in command, but Fisher’s Office of Operations at LADOT only houses 500 of LADOT’s 2000 employees.  Controlling 25% of the department’s resources can’t be construed as controlling the department.

What about one of the other Assistant General Managers who controls a different office at LADOT?  Well, if Fisher controls 25% of the department’s resources, that means the most in other Assistant General Manager can control is 75%, and that can’t be construed as being almost 2nd in command.

There’s no almost 2nd in command at LADOT.

De Facto 2nd in Command

The final possibility is that somebody reporting to the General Manager is not a true 2nd in command, and isn’t an almost 2nd in command, but dominates the department politically.  They may not have the hard power to order around other people in the department, but because they have immense political power, they’re effectively a 2nd in command.  De facto, they are the second in the command.

Joe Linton alleged that Fisher is the de facto 2nd in command at DOT:

Fisher, as the head of Transportation Operations, is tied for the #2 slot. Given his seniority and the relative power between him and the other AGMs (whose roles are more administrative, and less directly responsible for LA’s streets), it’s clear to me that Fisher is #2.

It’s a more subjective argument, because there’s no org chart of political power.  In my opinion it’s not the case.

Amir Sedadi is the Assistant General Manager of the Office of Parking Management and Regulation at LADOT, better known as Parking.  Like Fisher, Sedadi reports directly to Robinson.  Typically, Operations is a powerful in a department.  However, at LADOT the Office of Parking operates all of the city’s public parking structures, all of the cities parking meters, and issues all of the parking tickets.  That means two things; first, that much of what would normally fall in Operations actually falls in Sedadi’s department, weakening the power of Operations.

Second, it means that Sedadi’s office generates revenue.  In the last fiscal year, Sedadi’s office generated $134 million in parking fines, and $84 million in parking use taxes (City of LA Budget, p. 375.)  A government entity that spends money, like Operations, is at a disadvantage to one which generates money, like Sedadi’s Parking.  Entities that spend money are always fighting for scraps to maintain their budget.  Entities that generate money are power brokers.  Particularly now, where two years in a row the City has nearly on gone bankrupt.

Interestingly, an anonymous source says that Fisher is rarely seen with Robinson in City Hall.  The same source says Sedadi is frequently seen with Robinson.

On the whole, Sedadi, not Fisher, appears most likely to be 2nd in command.  However, it can’t be ignored that Fisher has a great deal of power, as do other office and bureau heads at DOT.  It’s my guess that there is no de facto second in command at LADOT; LADOT looks to me like a balanced department politically.  Certainly though, it is not Fisher.

Wrap:

Some might argue that there are other reasons why Fisher is the problem.  For instance, any bikeway facility design must ultimately pass through Operations, before passing to the Bureau of Street Services – a separate department which is in charge of implementation -  which does the actual striping and surfacing.  Someone might argue that Operations is refusing to approve bikeways designs that are submitted to it.  It’s an allegation that raises more questions:  could responsibility lie with the Bikeways Section for not designing bikeways?  Or with the Bureau of Street Services for not striping approved facilities?  These are possibilities that don’t get serious attention in Rogers’ post – the possibility isn’t even mentioned.

Regardless, Rogers’ allegation that Fisher is 2nd in command doesn’t hold water, which calls  the whole post into question.

Rogers wrote:

So is John Fisher the one responsible for the department’s overwhelming focus on automotive throughput and the massive failure to implement the 1996 bike plan — let alone virtually anything else to support bicycling in Los Angeles, including the woefully watered-down first draft of the new bike plan intended to replace it?

The jury’s still out.

But it doesn’t look good.

Using the language of judges and juries, Rogers passes judgment on Fisher.  He asks the reader a leading question, then scolds the reader for rushing to judgment, writing “the jury’s still out”.  Finally, he informs the reader that it doesn’t look good, confirming the readers earlier suspicions, but now with the higher tone of withholding judgment.  Rogers condemns Fisher while leaving himself an out: “I didn’t actually say Fisher is responsible, I just asked the question.”

I object.  Commit to the opinion or don’t ask the leading question.  Otherwise, drop the leading tone, and just write that you don’t know.

In Rogers’ own style:

Did Ted Rogers write a post attacking a powerful bureaucrat as responsible for the City of LA’s cycling failures, without doing solid research?

The jury’s still out.

But it doesn’t look good.

If you’re looking for a job in bike activism and education, C.I.C.L.E. is hiring a Managing Director.  Under the direction of the Steering Committee, the Managing Director will oversee all fundraising, programming, events, and advocacy efforts of C.I.C.L.E.

C.I.C.L.E. gave me my start in mainstream activism.  Mandi Trimas wanted to create a system of bike mentors who could walk nervous newbies through the beginning trials of bike commuting.  I joined up with Mandi and C.I.C.L.E. promoted our efforts through their website.  The effort eventually died, but I always appreciated that C.I.C.L.E. were willing to support untested activists on a new project.

If you’re looking for a job in bike activism, C.I.C.L.E. would be a great place to start.  Download the job description here.

It’s a draft plan because the citizens of LA have a right and a duty to take part in an open and transparent revision process.  While the email below emphasizes that the drafting process has been inclusive, with one exception the public has not seen any updates to the draft proposed bike plan since December – seven months.  We have been assured by City Planning officials that the draft will undergo more revisions.  Good.  The public hasn’t had sufficient opportunity to take part in the drafting process thus far, so it will be nice to get a chance to get our hands dirty.

Second, it’s a proposal plan because the citizens of LA have no obligation to consent to replace the current plan with the draft proposed plan.  I’m not saying we should or should not adopt the draft proposed plan (I haven’t read it yet), but it is important to recognize that we have the power to refuse.  If the draft proposed plan is not a substantial improvement over the current plan it would be logical to refuse.  If the drafters of the plan revise in bad faith, a protest refusal is reasonable.  If the draft proposed plan is great, if it is revised in good faith, then I will be exhilarated to support its approval.

So in the spirit of good process, here is the original email, with a few words I added in bold:

To all Interested Parties:

The City of Los Angeles is pleased to release the draft proposed 2010 Los Angeles Bicycle Plan. The 2010 draft proposed Bicycle Plan is a comprehensive update of the current Bicycle Plan first adopted in 1996 and re-adopted by the City Council in 2002 and 2007. The 2010 draft proposed Bicycle Plan (2010 Plan), a component of the Transportation Element, (an element of the City*s General Plan), is part of the City*s commitment to transform Los Angeles from an auto-centric City to a City with a multi-modal transportation system. The 2010 draft proposed Plan designates 1,633 miles of bikeway facilities and proposes two new bicycle networks (Citywide and Neighborhood). Additionally, the 2010 draft proposed Bicycle Plan includes a Technical Design Handbook that will assist both City staff and residents in selecting and designing facilities for future bikeways that are safe and consistent with current standards and guidelines.

The 2010 draft proposed Los Angeles Bicycle Plan is a result of extensive fieldwork, numbers public workshops (only nine), and suggestions from thousands of public comments received from September 2009 draft proposed Bicycle Plan.  The draft proposed Bicycle Plan is a joint effort between the Department of City Planning an Department of Transportation.

The complete document and maps will be available on the project website [www.labikeplan.org] by end of the day June 18th with printed copies available for public review at the City*s Central Library and eight regional libraries and the Department of City Planning*s Downtown and Van Nuys Public Counters by June 30th, 2010.

A series of workshops/public hearing will be held between September 7-18, 2010 to take public testimony and comment.

Please see the attached flyer for additional facts on the 2010 Bicycle Plan and information regarding the public hearing process.

Jordann Turner
Los Angeles Department of City Planning
2010 Bicycle Plan-Project Manager
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 721
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: 213.978.1379 | Fax: 213.978.4656

I’m outside the Beverly Hills Municipal Courthouse awaiting the arrival of Louis “Birdman” Deliz. The air is crisp and full of the murmur of morning gridlock along Burton Way. Louis shows up, I give him a handshake and we wait for more people to make the scene.

I learned about Louis’ devastating hit and run several months ago and just recently we met at the Bikerowave. Louis was allegedly left hooked by Celine Mahdavi, then age 18, and her Mercedes SUV at the intersection of La Cienega Boulevard and Holloway Drive. She is charged with two felony counts: Felony Hit & Run, and Felony DUI under the age of 21. She got out on a $10,000 bond the next morning. Louis wasn’t so lucky: he spent 11 days in the ICU, 9 days in a coma, and 49 days in the hospital. Louis suffered massive injuries to his face, broke both his hands and his hip is now made out of steel. After a 3 year PRO cycling career riding with strongest and fastest cyclists in the world he had to depend on a machine to keep him alive. Celine Mahdavi might have taken away his physique; but, the “Birdman’s” determination to make her pay the price in court is strong.

We’re now in the wood paneled courtroom and taking up a row of seats to support Louis. To our right is Celine Mahdavi with a few family and friends. She looks sullen until a brief conversation with her defense attorney and she casts a short lived, beaming smile. I wonder, to myself, what is that about? We’ve been waiting a long time since the arraignment in February to get to the next step in the case: the preliminary hearing (March 22 was the initial hearing date that was moved to today, June 11). We just want this case to get started so Louis can move on with his life.

The court is called to order, and after a Pledge of Allegiance, Judge Eldon S. Fox calls Louis’ case. Immediately Celine Mahdavi’s defense attorney states that due to being unable to obtain the evidence of Louis’ damaged bicycle he wants the preliminary hearing to be postponed and moved 30 days. A harsh uproar erupts from our side of the courtroom. The defense attorney states that he does not know where the bike is and has no way to let his expert witness to examine the evidence. Another outcry breaks out from our side of the courtroom.

The fact is Louis’ bike is being held by the Sheriff’s Department. It’s locked away in storage locker somewhere. A sad, lonely, mangled bicycle left in a dark corner of The System.

To our dismay the prosecuting attorney accepts the defense attorney’s request and amends it with 15 additional days. 45 days until the preliminary hearing, which we expected to take place today, is just too long to wait again. Our row bursts with anger and upset. After some back and forth about schedules, vacations, and furlough days the Judge sets the preliminary hearing date for July 20, 2010. The attorneys agree and the defendant, Celine Mahdavi gives her consent.

I think I catch a smirk flash across Ms. Mahdavi’s face as she turns to exit the court. It quickly morphs back into a look of dread as we watch her return to the security of her friends and family on the far side of the courtroom. 45 more days until her next court date. 45 more days we wait till justice can take it’s course.

Want to help Louis “Birdman” Deliz and show that his hit and run has hurt the whole bicycling community? Write a statement of how it has affected you and show up to the Beverly Hills Municipal Court on July 20, 2010 to read it. Write a letter to the District Attorney stating your concerns about the case and it’s delay in bringing Celine Mahdavi to justice:

[Celine Mahdavi (Case #SA073459) – Victim – Louis Deliz]

Steven Katz, Esq.
Deputy District Attorney
Beverly Hills Area Office
9355 Burton Way, Room 400
Beverly Hills CA 90210

It’s bullshit.  Rogers gets it wrong from the intro to the conclusion.  The bulk of the article is speculative commentary based on blog comments by Ramon Martinez, LACBC sharrows program lead, Joe Linton, LACBC co-founder, and Josef Bray-Ali, Bike Oven founder.  The article gets critical facts wrong – for example, Rogers alleges Fisher is 2nd in command at DOT, when there is no 2nd in command at DOT – and steers readers to damning conclusions with leading questions in a failure of journalistic ethics.

This follows hot on the heels of Rogers criticizing the Bike Kitchen based on another blogger’s negative review – an article in which he provides plenty of commentary based on no direct experience.  In another recent series of articles Rogers summarizes the LA Critical Mass incident and aftermath, but again phones it in from his apartment, not bothering to make the trip to the public meetings he reports on.

I began reading Rogers’ blog when he had only a handful of readers, but lately I’ve found the content to be off the mark.  In the Bike Kitchen article, he writes “I wasn’t there either night, so I can’t comment on what really happened.”  The entire article is a comment on what happened!  In the same article he asks “are we discouraging the people we need to encourage?”  We?  Rogers has never volunteered for a bike repair collective, nor has he, I believe, been to one as a customer.  He’s not part of the “we”.   In his article on Fisher, he dares the reader to spot Bikeways in the organization chart, then doesn’t bother to show where it is (the Bureau of Capital Programming), and fails to show the reader where Fisher is on the org chart.  Rogers, who has a car and sometimes drives, wrote about the May 28th Critical Mass beatdown “as I write this, cyclists are confronting representatives of the LAPD at tonight’s meeting of the Bike Advisory Committee.”  Close your computer, put the keys in the ignition, and make the trip; go to the meeting.

I’ll be publishing four articles in the next few days criticizing Rogers’ analysis.  In the first article I will analyze DOT to show that Bikeways is not Fisher’s area of responsibility, and dispute the notion that Fisher is a good strategic target.  The second article will be about Fisher’s position on biking, based on my recent conversation with him.  In the third article I will discuss Rogers’ reporting on events he played no part in, such as the negative review of the Bike Kitchen and the Los Angeles Critical Mass incident.  In the fourth article I’ll discuss how LACBC board members and employees amplified the well intentioned opinions of Josef Bray-Ali, manufacturing a false consensus on Fisher.

I called John Fisher and got his comments on the Rogers piece, and I’ve been to a bajillion public meetings involving DOT.  I co-founded the Bikerowave and I’ve talked with volunteers, customers about Rogers’ piece on the Bike Kitchen.  I was not on the May 28th Los Angeles Critical Mass, but I met Chief Beck at the Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting while I assisted cyclists in filling out comment cards, I went to the press conference by Manny Gallegos, I went to the police commission, I arranged multiple interviews of victims by the press, and I was on the phone my whole holiday weekend.  I’m downtown every week.

I was there and Rogers wasn’t.  These are my thoughts on Rogers’ misrepresentations.

(Read more in “Why Org Charts Matter“.)

Critical Mass riders at the BP gas station on Robertson Blvd, protesting the gulf oil spill. (Photo: formalplay on Flickr)

Los Angeles Police Protective League

For Immediate Release

Contact: Eric Rose (805) 624-0572 or Paul Haney (626) 755-4759

Hollywood bike incident statement

LOS ANGELES, May 29, 2010 Today the Los Angeles Police Department notified the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) of an incident that occurred in Hollywood on May 28, 2010 involving LAPD officers and a few bicyclists who were involved in a protest of British Petroleum. In response to a video tape that has surfaced, the LAPD has launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the facts surrounding the events. In response to the incident, LAPPL President Paul M. Weber released the following statement.

The Police Protective League generally withholds comment on actions by police officers until we know all the facts. We only ask that the community refrain from a rush to judgment. It is always important to remember that home video, shot from a distance, from one angle and in the dark, and not at the beginning of the incident seldom tells the whole story.

About the LAPPL Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents the more than 9,900 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department.

The LAPPL serves to advance the interests of LAPD officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education.

The LAPPL can be found on the Web at www.LAPD.com

Los Angeles Police Protective League
1308 West Eighth Street
Los Angeles, California 90017
phone: (213) 251-4554

On May 28, 2010 around 9:30 PM, LAPD Hollywood Area bike unit officers were patrolling the Entertainment District in Hollywood, at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard, just east
of Highland Avenue, when a group of bicyclists numbering approximately 400 traveled eastbound on Hollywood Boulevard.

As part of enforcement efforts, LAPD Officers were watching for red light violations, and issuing citations. As Officers attempted to detain several bicyclists, a reported use of force was captured on video.

“In response to what we learned, we immediately launched a full-scale investigation to determine the facts surrounding the events,” said LAPD Assistant Chief Earl Pay singer. “The Departments Professional Standards Bureau has taken the lead in the inquiry and the Police Commission’s Inspector General has also been made fully aware of the matter.”

Since November 2009, the LAPD Office of Operations has worked closely with representatives of the biking community to improve relations, make the streets safer for bicyclists and discuss and identify issues involving bicyclists that are problematic for the motoring public.

“Our Department takes seriously its obligations and commitment to all members of the community. The Chief of Police and I pledged our strong support to work closely with the bike community and that promise has not wavered. It’s our hope that the relationship we’ve developed with the biking community over the past months will be strengthened even more as we continue to work together to find solutions to difficult circumstances such as these.”

LAPD Internal Affairs Group is investigating this reported use of force incident.

Already know what happened and want to do something about it? Click here to skip to the end of the article to find out what next steps you can take.

Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood

Friday May 28, 2010 Los Angeles Critical Mass took to the crowded streets with hundreds of riders demonstrating their right and freedom to ride. After a full calendar of Bike Week events, endorsements, and excitement the close to Bike Month ended with the harsh reality that cyclists must persist with the fight for equal protection on the streets. You would think after a public service announcement by Chief Beck, progress with operations notices supporting cyclists and a new cyclist’s rights education module the LAPD would take a moment before going back to their old ways of harassing cyclists.

You would think, right?

As Critical Mass was making it’s way east along Hollywood Blvd. (near Highland Ave.) to end the ride they were met with a contingent of LAPD Officers armed with batons kicking and tackling cyclists off their bikes. Officers drove squad cars into the crowd of riders. Some cyclists were even stopped in their tracks and flung from their bike with a baton stuck in the spokes (a la Breaking Away). These cyclists were then brutalized, handcuffed and then cited for small infractions such as no lights or not obeying traffic laws. From the video above you can see that cyclists were taking the lane legally, riding slowly; it seems as if they were simply targeted for being last to ride up on the scene of a poorly defined ‘incident’. At no point was the mass of riders identified as an illegal assembly or addressed with a formal dispersal order. In fact: officers employed the use of force to effect dispersal (which is against LAPD policy and illegal). The events are chronicled on the internet as many riders use Twitter:

While all this was going on a cyclist decided to stop and take a video of the events as they unfolded. He was then tackled by a few police officers, given conflicting orders to comply and then detained: all while officers smirked at their own dirty deeds. The attack aimed to stifle our basic rights to a free press which can provide oversight over the brutality expressed by the Los Angeles Police Department. It was a dark night in LA Critical Mass history. It was a direct assault that demonstrates that the LAPD will take violent measures to operate free and clear of the constraints of public scrutiny. Furthermore, the events captured on this video are violation of the First Amendment, the Fourth Amendment, the Fourteenth Amendment, the California Constitution, and California state law.

It doesn’t just stop there…

There was great difficulty in contacting the Hollywood Precinct to report a crime had occurred. Stephen Box called and spoke to the Watch Commander who would not take a telephonic report or complaint, would not initiate an investigation over the phone and then hung up on him four times. One does not have to be a victim or a witness to report a crime or something suspicious is going on. The LAPD has a defined responsibility to take a telephonic report — most especially when it involves a crime committed by some of their own officers. LAPD depends heavily on citizen assistance in reporting crimes and provides a diverse list of phone numbers on their website to contact. Plainly stated: you do not need to report a crime in person. This is yet another criminal method LAPD is using to operate without the public’s oversight.

How can be sure these gross civil injustices will be addressed by the LAPD, LA City Council and the Public at Large?

1. EMAIL: If you are a witness or a victim of the police brutality that went down on the night of Friday, May 28, 2010 at LACM you should contact Alex Thompson, President of Bikeside LA via email: alexcthompson@gmail.com or anyone else you may know from BikesideLA.org

2. WEB: If you are a witness or a victim please submit a confidential incident report to LABikeMap.Com. You can file the report as a ‘harassment’ or ‘collision’.

3. IN PERSON: If you are a witness, a victim, or just generally concerned with LAPD’s infringement on cyclist’s rights please attend and give public comment at the LA City Council’s Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting taking place this Tuesday, June 1, 2010, 7pm at Hollywood Neighborhood City Hall, 6501 Fountain Ave., Los Angeles, CA

Bikeside LA will be at the Bicycle Advisory Committee presenting the Backbone Bikeway Network which just so happens to include this section of Hollywood Blvd where the police brutality took place. The Backbone is committed to connecting the community and it’s services to provide for and protect cyclist rights to the road. Education, as a component of the Backbone, is tasked to enhance the LAPD’s knowledge base and interaction with cyclists across the many communities within the City of Los Angeles. If you show up to support the many cyclists that were viciously attacked please also offer your support for the Backbone Bikeway Network as a method of improving our relationship with the Los Angeles Police Department.

After all, we want to be known as the CITY WITH A BACKBONE — not broken backbones!

This two hour session attracted many folks from Caltrans, SCAG (Southern California Association of Governments), California Highway Patrol, LAPD, Burbank PD as well as Metro. Unfortunately there was no sight of LADOT, who would have really benefited from this presentation.

Cyclists on the street know the roads and the issues better than bureaucrats sitting in an office.

The LA Bike Map, created with data from the LAPD, has more impact when presented by a cyclist, who has experienced those incidents that he is addressing and that he is researching. Alex Thompson did a wonderful job and his presentation drew a lot of comments and questions resulting in some nice brainstorming going on in the room.

Hit & Run incidents are always more shocking when one knows the victim. Having had Louis Bianco at the Bikeside SPEAKS! presentation on Saturday left people upset and at the same time fired up to change our streets.

It was no different today, when Sara presented her data about the various incidents that occurred in the past few years. Sara talked about Roadblock, Ed Magos, Jen Diamond and Jesus Castillo among the many other victims of hit and runs and Sara brought her vulnerability to the table, because she knows the people she talked about.

After our presentation, Sgt. Krumer showed the LAPD officers training video and CHP’s Officer Vince Ramirez and Burbank PD Motor Officer Justin Meadows made themselves available in a panel discussion about law enforcement and how each entity deals with cyclists on the streets.

Questions were raised and discusses about how we can educate the motoring public, about law enforcement around Freeway ramps and about jurisdictions. Metro vs. Cyclist incidents were again brought up and Sgt. Krumer repeated that LAPD will handle those incidents because the crime occurred on the street and they are responsible to cover those incidents. Krumer said that just like with any collision on the street, there needs to be the same informational exchange between cyclists and Metro driver and LAPD will help us handle those situations.

It was a great meeting with robust discussions, great crowd and great energy. Bikeside had 6 people representing, including Stephen Box, Jeremy Grant, Max Berson and DJ Wheels.

Check out our photos on facebook and don’t forget to follow us on twitter for up-to-the-minute updates.

We sit in our rooms, at our cubicles, on our balconies and we write about the happenings going on in LA’s Cycling Community. Whether it’s an update to an event or about a meeting in DTLA where any change seems impossible, LA’s many versatile cycling advocacy groups blog and blog opinions. When we’re done, we wait for comments and prepare to defend or initiate a strike against one another. Though we see the journey differently, we all want the same victory. So, when I met with my fellow Bikesiders and we talked about crawling out of our blogger caves and facing the public voices in person, I was amazed to find the hard questions of the internet discussed directly and intelligently in the open forum: Bikeside SPEAKS!

On May 22, in the heart of the Westside, fifty plus people gathered at Bikerowave to hear about Bikeside’s quest for change, what each advocate has been up to, what they’ve learned and how you can get involved to make LA a safer, cyclist friendly city!

Mihai Peteu Discusses LA Bike MAP at Bikeside SPEAKS!

Steve Mattson introduced the venue, Bikerowave, the DIY bike shop, and its historic move from a tiny alley in Santa Monica to the flourishing neighborhood of Mar Vista. Where the hours have been elongated and the stands are rarely vacant. Where the little engine that could has become the driving engine to which many cyclists can get behind and grow from, even call home.

Ron Durgin spoke about Sustainable Streets. A program that teaches the citizens of LA how to become car-free. Ron sees no excuse for the use of a car that a bike cannot provide. And Enci Box with the LA Greensters. The only mobile movie production company that transports equipment from location to location in the LA area by bicycle. Yes! All that heavy dolly track and grip equipment, they make it happen!

Mihai Peteu introduced the LA Bike Map. A DIY interactive map that tracks and studies hit and runs, collisions, harassment, bike theft, etc. in the LA area, found on this website: http://www.bikesidela.org/category/campaigns/la-bike-map/

I even had a chance to bring everyone’s attention to the growing epidemic of hit and runs in LA. Focusing on Brandon Chau’s hit from behind while waiting at a red light in Beverly Hills, Don aka Roadblock’s horrifying late night hit from a speeding Jaguar in East LA and Louis aka Birdman’s midnight brush with death that left him in the ICU for 11 days followed by 49 days in the hospital. Louis was there to give an update on his recovery process and the pending trial for the girl who hit him. I had a chance to ask him if she had stayed instead of fleeing the scene, would it have made a difference in how he felt toward her. And I, along with the rest of the room, felt our hearts being tugged as we watched him struggle with his answer, “Yes, I would have remorse for what she is going through now if she had stayed.”

Alex Thompson introduced his fellow Bikesiders and engaged the audience in questions during the wrap-up of each presentation. And Stephen Box won the room over with his LA Cycling Trivia contests and Comedic banter to keep the punchy, rhythmic flow of the event entertaining. There was even a pizza eating contest and prizes handed out.

Bill Rosendahl answers the audience's hard questions on change

The event brought Bill Rosendahl and Marcy Winograd to face a firing squad of questions: “When is the change coming?” – “What are your ideas?” – “We get it’s a slow process, but what are you doing about it right now?” And of course, they made promises and pushed agendas to win the audience in their favor. None-the-less, their being at the event did what the Cyclists’ Bill of Rights has been doing across LA, opening the door for conversation. And I’m certain Bikeside will follow-up on both politicians’ ideas for change in the LA cycling community.

As the final speaker took the floor, Jeremy Grant, his inspirational speech on the Backbone Bikeway Network, gave the audience a silver lining in the dark cloud that looms over the advocacy for change within LA’s political system. His presentation expressed ill-fated times when change was needed in our country but resolution and hope seemed impossible. He brought down the house, the audience on the edge of their seats. Next slide. Next slide! Next SLIDE!

Bikeside Speaks was a success! As the doors opened, many of the audience members stayed and talked with each of us. Bringing up personal stories, questions they didn’t have a chance to ask, and even interest to help further Bikeside’s long battles in the war ahead.

And as we head back to our rooms, cubicles and balconies to talk silently and loudly through the internets, I look back on the experience with a smile. We did something better than just telling and reporting, we showed. We each gave a human to human experience, an example of what it is like to ride a bike in LA. Instead of meeting our questions within the confined space of our laptop computers, like traveling from East LA to West LA in a car, we broke the walls of communication and said hello, face to face, like traveling on a bicycle and talking with the stranger riding his bicycle while stopped at a red light.

Keep blogging and trolling. Like all publicity is good publicity, the fight found in comments keeps the conversation going, bringing awareness to the lurkers who find themselves face to face with advocates at events like Bikeside Speaks who then become inspired to help with the journey for change. And thank you, because even though it takes one person to inspire, it takes an army to Make It Happen!

Jeremy Grant and Alex Thompson wrapping up the event

In case you were wondering, Bikeside Speaks is a free pizza opportunity, aka an event, where 7 Bikesiders (and affiliates) will talk about 7 projects, for 7 minutes each, with 7 minutes of Q&A.  It’s this Saturday, at 5pm, at Bikerowave (12255 Venice Blvd.)  Here’s the lineup:

• Mihai Peteu: Winning with Data – Crowdsourcing & LA Bike Map
• Sara Bond: Personalizing Hit & Run
• Jeremy Grant: Connecting LA with the Backbone Bikeway Network
• Enci Box: Moving LA with The Greensters
• Stephen Box: Changing the world with Cyclists’ Rights
• Ron Durgin: Every street is a People Street – Sustainable Streets
• and a special presentation on Bikerowave, and it’s incredible progress as a bike co-op.

And of course Marcy & Bill.  See you there!

Do you people honestly believe that people “hate” cyclist? [sic] That is the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard. It’s like saying I hate runners. Freaking ridiculous and idiotic to the utmost.

Readers – what’s your experience?  Do people actually hate cyclists?

Ten minutes earlier ‘Mouse’ and I are walking south.  We hear skidding tires, and we turn around to see two things.  We see an SUV rocking back, as if it had just braked hard.  We see a car careening toward a pole.

It slams into the pole.

Mouse and I start walking, then start running toward the wreck.  The SUV eases forward, as if evaluating, then guns it, turning left down Venice Blvd, leaving.  “Chase it down” the bikeless Mouse says to me, but in the space between setting my bike down and mounting it, I realize there’s no way I’m catching him, not at 3am with no traffic and no lights in sight.

A green cab takes off after the SUV.

We run up on the car.  It’s wrapped part way around the pole, and the airbags make it impossible to see inside.  Out of nowhere, a young man, and then a young woman pop out from the car.  “Are you alright?”  “Are you ok?”  “Yes.”  “Are you alright?”  “Yes, I think so.”  We ask again, but they seem ok.

Mouse is on the phone with dispatch.  What a great guy – he’s on top of it.  “Alex, they want to talk to you.”

“Hello?”  “Do you need paramedics?”  “No.  No, I think they’re ok.  It was a hit and run, are you sending police?”  The girl says her arms hurt.  I look at the mangled car.  “I was wrong.  Send rescue, send paramedics.”  “Ok sir, we’re sending paramedics.”  “Send rescue . . .”

We all stand around, talking, and I notice a car run over some debris in the intersection.  It’s way out in the intersection, like the collision threw it.  I go and pick it up.  It’s a license plate.

____________________

I wrote a post a while back, when LAPD told us that 23% of bike involved collisions are hit and run.  The way I wrote it, the way it was received, it was like “how obscene is this?”  You get hit riding a bike, 1 in 4 chance you’re left for dead.  1 in fucking 4.  Disgusting.

We are not special.  38% of all collisions in LA are hit and run.  Motorists are MORE likely to be victims of hit and run.  More likely.

Does this make anyone mad?  Does this make anybody else furious and embarassed for the human race?

This isn’t a cycling issue.  It’s an LA issue.  It’s an issue everywhere there are roads.

____________________

She’s fine, but she’s animated, fretting about her car.  She just nearly died and she’s so upset about her car.  It doesn’t make sense to me.  Why would you think about that?

Shock.

Mouse and I try to get her to sit down.

The driver of the green cab returns.  We all go over and he tells us how he got some numbers off the plate.  “It’s a Ford SUV.”  We talk about how old it is, how it’s shaped.  I wonder how we will get her to sit down again?  “Not like an Escalade” I say, “but high and narrow.”  “Like an Explorer” he says.  Silver.

He’s working, so he’s got to go.  We take down his info and he leaves

The firemen, show up next, and then the cops show up a second later.  They examine the victims.  While Mouse and I talk with the cops, a fireman sits her down.  He puts the blood pressure cuff on her arm, and then I guess her adrenaline wears off, and she starts to cry.

Mouse and I are talking with the investigators about the accident, and while we’re talking, illustrating the collision with our hands, we’re toeing the license plate on the ground.  I noticed that the plate on the ground doesn’t match the plate on car, but I don’t put it together.  The cop – he does.

The plate is from the SUV.  It doesn’t match, because it’s not from the car.  And like the cabbie said, it begins in 6, and there’s a 75.

We didn’t see the two cars make contact.  How would the plate come off if they didn’t make contact?  All me and Mouse saw was the SUV stopped, and the car careening into the pole.  I just assumed that the SUV participated in the accident, possibly forcing the victims to swerve, but there was no contact . . . except, by the time we turned around, the car was past the SUV.

We all go and look at the side of the car.  The door to the back seat is crumpled in.  The SUV must have hit the side of the car and knocked it’s plate off in the process.  The victims were probably turning left, the impact deflected their turn, directing them into the pole.

They run the plate.  It’s a Ford.  SUV.

____________________

We talk a lot about hit and run.  We talk a lot about hit and run on cyclists.  And cyclists getting hurt.  And the injustices of that.

This issue is so much broader.  As immersed as many of us are in cycling, it’s hard to think that something could be more important.  But the fact is that most victims of hit and run are not cyclists.

It’s happening out there, and it’s happening to everyone – not just cyclists.  Hit and run perps are getting away with it, and you know where they drive once they leave the scene?  They drive in LA neighborhoods where people walk and run.  They drive past churches and swimming pools and farmers markets.  They drive on freeways.  They drive past elementary schools.  They are, very much, among us.

Leaving the scene where someone could be dying, where they may need aid, it’s uncivilized.  It’s sociopathic.  It’s a conscious decision not to take care of a person in desperate need.  It’s inhumane, hell, it’s not ever mammalian.  Mammals take care of their own.

We need to think broadly about it.

____________________

It’s time for me and Mouse to go.  I’m tired, he’s tired, and we’re not doing shit.  I mean, there’s nothing for us to do.

I approach the girl.  “Can I have your number please?”  Between sobs she gives me ten digits, and I read them back to her.  “I’m going to call you tomorrow and we’ll talk about this, ok?”  She nods.  I leave her sobbing, having done nothing to soothe her.

I’m so lame.

Bikeside Speaks is a lightning round of talks on current projects in bike activism, each of them followed by Q&A. We’ll also have several heavy hitters giving talks on their interface with cycling, to be announced! Here’s part of the lineup:

• Winning with Data – Crowdsourcing & LA Bike Map: Mihai Peteu
• Sara Bond: Personalizing Hit & Run
• Jeremy Grant: Connecting LA with the Backbone Bikeway Network
• Enci Box: Moving LA with The Greensters
• Stephen Box: Changing the world with Cyclists’ Rights
• Ron Durgin: Every street is a People Street – Sustainable Streets
• and a special presentation on Bikerowave, and it’s incredible progress as a bike co-op.

I’ll emcee, and I may even give a short talk on the Bike Plan.

This is an easy way to see what Bikeside and our collaborators are up to, and to get involved.  Come out and get engaged!

If you’d like to help out, email me at alexcthompson@gmail.com and we’ll plug you in.

(please note, Bikerowave will be closing earlier than usual in order to accommodate Bikeside.  Stands will be available outside for emergency repairs only.)

Bike Locker Diagram from the National Urban Transit Institute

Bikesider and Bikerowave volunteer Kyle Pfister recently posted the account below (on Bikerowave’s forums) about his terrible experience with UCLA bike lockers.

Before I give you Kyle’s account – some editorializing.  Since I first got involved cycling issues, planners have trotted out lockers as the holy grail of bike parking.  Kyle’s account aptly summarizes why I think bike lockers are way way overrated.  Bike lockers require lots of supervision.  In addition to being expensive, any bike locker system requires regular maintenance, as well as administrative oversight.  Some bike locker systems, like the one at UCLA, use a reservation system which requires additional supervision.  Bike lockers are expensive to buy, tough to maintain, and ask a great deal from the user, relative to bike racks.

There’s no substitute for a cheap, well placed, and properly installed bike rack.  I have one in my living room!  Mihai Peteu managed to get some installed in his UCLA building.  When done right, they do the track.  Done right (and they usually aren’t) bike racks are examples of good design: simple, functional, and nearly self explanatory.

Kyle before:

I’m headed up to UCLA for a lecture tonight and was worried about locking up my bike, did a little searching and found this:

http://bicycleparkingnetwork.com/

I just signed up for this service and reserved a locker for my bike, will report about my experience

How do we get these things everywhere?

Kyle after:

YIKES! UCLA bike lockers are not all that I’d hoped for, maybe this is something everyone already knows about, and I’m late to the party, but I don’t know if I’d bother with this again.

1. Web & Phone interface for reserving the lockers is so bare bones, I had no idea what the per hour rate for the locker was prior to reserving it, and was not informed anywhere that when you call to reserve it, it is immediately yours IE don’t call in advance call when you get there.

2. Parking attendants didn’t even know where lockers were, and they were located in a rather out of the way and secluded place on the bottom floor

3. It was clear this was a very underutilized system and that no maintenance or cleaning had taken place since installation

4. When I typed in the combo that was given to me over the phone line, A DIFFERENT LOCKER OPENED UP, NOT THE ONE I RESERVED!!!!!!!!!!! and there was a bike inside! worse yet it appears that that bike had been abandoned, so I called again to get a new combo making sure to type in the correct ID for the locker I wanted and the wrong one opened again.

5. Third time was the charm, went ahead and ran my u-lock through my frame and back wheel just in case, almost didn’t use the locker but I was running late for my lecture so went through with it.

6. Because the wrong door kept opening, when I called to get the combo to get my bike out, it was unclear whether I was starting a new reservation or finishing my old one, I suspect I will be charged for several reservations and for all I know the computer thinks my bike is still in there, good thing a day is only a dollar, and I got the phone number for customer service so I’ll call them later

So while I thought this system would offer me total piece of mind during the lecture I was almost as worried about my bike being stolen as if I had locked it up outside, however at least my bike was out of sight, and someone would have to be a member to get the door to open so I guess theft was unlikely, but because the system didn’t seem to work properly and the interface was so confusing I’d be unlikely to try it again.

Marcy Winograd talks bikes with Alex Thompson, Cameron of FMLY, and Gus

I am proud to announce Bikeside’s endorsement of Marcy Winograd for Congress.  Marcy is going up against Jane Harman for the democratic nomination in the Westside’s 36th Congressional District on June 8th.  Marcy, the challenger, has been fighting an uphill battle against the entrenched pro-war, conservative “Blue Dog Democrat” Harman.  Marcy’s central message, that we must move away from a war economy to a green economy, should resonate with all cyclists.

On April 7th Bikesiders from around the city met with Marcy Winograd, candidate for Congress in California’s 36th District, in the intimate lounge at Bikerowave.  We discussed the issues, Marcy led the group in reading the Cyclists’ Bill of Rights, and endorsed it.   Finally – the group voted to endorse Marcy, and Marcy became the first candidate for federal office endorsed by Bikeside.

I intend to do my best to ensure that a Bikeside endorsement is a meaningful endorsement, so that’s why I ask you to volunteer, if you’re able, for Winograd’s campaign. You can phone bank, or precinct walk, or you can help Bikeside by volunteering to help us make as much noise and generate as much support as possible for Marcy’s candidacy.  Or you can follow Marcy on Twitter, or join her Facebook fan page.  Email me at alexcthompson@gmail.com if you’re interested.

It’s also here that earlier this month congressional candidate Marcy Winograd won the endorsement of Bikeside LA, the new, and at times loud-mouthed, kid on the block when it comes to Los Angeles bike activism.

“They are powerful in that they have grassroots support and they have a mission. They’re not kidding, they don’t compromise and they’re real,” says Winograd, a co-founder of the Los Angeles chapter of Progressive Democrats of America, who’s running against Democrat incumbent Jane Harman for the 36th congressional district seat.

Kim interview both me (here on YouTube) and Don Strauss, an influential Westside bike voice who is on Bikerowave’s Board of Directors.  Don’s interview is beautifully put together, and shows off some of his best material:

Here’s a challenge to anyone who watched the interview of me on Youtube – what key strategic insight did I share that maybe I shouldn’t have?

Go read Kim’s piece!

Venice, California Neighborhood Council Logo

As each cyclists arrived, Alex Thompson prepared them with pointers, significant pieces of information that would help the council identify with us not as a whole with a larger agenda, but as an individual fighting the lone battle for our rights.

As time wore on and we dove deeper into the Neighborhood Council Meeting, we kept each other alert and sound, the energy in the air was of excitement for the fight we knew we would be encountering. Approximately two hours and ten minutes into the meeting, President, Mike Newhouse, called a vote on the Cyclists’ Bill of Rights as long as everyone agreed it would pass. If not, then the bill would go back in the agenda and we would wait it out another forty-five minutes so that the cyclists’ may have the floor for public comment and the board would be able to attest.

It was unanimous! Bill passed! Special thanks to Kristopher Valentine and Linda Lucks for their positivity and help in bringing the bill to the floor. I look forward to working with them this summer as the Venice Neighborhood Council puts forth a Mobility Committee that I will be a part of in the hopes of making Venice streets safer!

And a HUGE Thank you to the cyclists’ who came out and supported the bill! Kristopher said that without all of us being there, the motion would not have been brought to the floor as it was and passed unanimously! This goes to prove that showing up is half the battle.

Election results for Mar Vista Community Council

Bikeside endorsed six candidates for positions in the recent Neighborhood Council elections in West LA.  All six candidates faced challengers, and all six candidates won!  (Incidentally, I also won the Community Director position at Mar Vista Community Council, but I was unopposed, so we didn’t do an endorsement.)

In the most hotly contested race in West LA, Bikeside endorsed Linda Lucks for President of Venice Neighborhood Council, and she won, 719 to 378 over write-in candidate James Hubbard.  Kristopher Valentine, endorsed by Bikeside for an At-Large Community Officer position (top 13 win, in a field of 29), was the 7th highest vote getter with 43 votes, and won a seat.

Bikeside endorsed newcomers Aric Gregson and Xochitl Gonzalez in the West LA Neighborhood Council race for At-Large positions.  Aric and Xochitl earned the 1st and 2nd highest vote totals with 44 and 46 votes respectively; the next highest vote getter earned 26 votes.  Dominate!

Finally, in Mar Vista, Bikeside endorsed two candidates for At-Large seats (top 6 win in a field of 9) who couldn’t lose – Sharon Commins, the popular chair of the Planning and Land Use Committee, and Albert Olson, the current chair of the MVCC.  Albert and Sharon won comfortably with 277 and 304 votes respectively (it took 200) to win.

Unfortunately, we failed to get an endorsement done for avid cyclist John Kutcha, another At-Large candidate for MVCC.  He missed winning.  Next time around we’ll have to get him a seat at the table.

Big ups to all our candidates.  Bikeside was happy to work with you and glad you accepted our endorsement!  Many thanks to all the cyclists who came out and voted!  Now everyone go forth and bike!

There’s still Neighborhood Council elections going on around the city, so if you know a candidate who is bike friendly, and they would like an endorsement, connect us – alexcthompson@gmail.com

Earlier today Glenn Gritzner plead no contest to misdemeanor hit and run, specifically to violating California Vehicle Code 20002(a): leaving the scene of an accident where there was property damage.  Roadblock, a well known and respected leader in the cycling community, was hit by Gritzner’s Jaguar months ago, and left lying in the street. Today, Gritzner’s attorney came to the Metropolitan Courthouse in Downtown LA to plead guilty on his client’s behalf, in a plea bargain worked out with the city attorney.

For his sentence, Gritzner may choose between seven days in county jail, 47 days of community service, or a $510 fine (after fees this amounts to about $2k.)  He also must pay restitution to Roadblock, and he will be booked within the next 6 months.

As part of the plea deal, Gritzner stipulates that there is a factual basis for his plea, a legal admission that there is strong evidence that he committed the crime.  The case now heads to civil court.

“Cyclists have the right to travel safely and free of fear.”

Stephen Box holding the Cyclists' Bill of Rights' spoke card.

The residents of Venice and those that hold the seats that can approve the bill have truly “old” Venetian mindsets. They point the finger without looking at a solution toward a common goal. I ask that if you are free and able to attend, please do so. We need all the numbers and voices of our cycling community to unite as one and provide a clear understanding that we have rights and they must be recognized.

We can’t police all cyclists that ride through Venice nor can we police all the vehicles that race down Venice and Ocean. But quite possibly, we could open a communication with the Council by approving the Cyclists’ Bill of Rights so that we may work together in the future and bring awareness to cyclists and drivers alike so that we may exist in a safer and more friendly environment.

We need to bring the fight to their doorstep! Please join us! Tuesday, April 20th at 8pm at Westminster Elementary School, 1010 Abbott Kinney Blvd., Venice. The more cyclists in the house, the better represented we are, the win for everyone involved! No Rida left behind!