4SBB – Live the Dream
In this time of thanksgiving and celebration I have somehow began to reflect upon the last three years of what could arguably be called my “bike-phase.”
In my mind, 4SBB is symbolic of a larger desire for a more bike friendly Los Angeles. Ultimately though, the fact that I can and do bike around this town is proof enough that your dreams do not have to wait to be realized by others.
4SBB represents the fact that I can, simply by deciding to, step out of the dominant paradigm of car culture and liberate myself from the frustrations of traffic that define Los Angeles.
I have, however, also realized something of a less positive and fanciful nature: There is real aggression out on the streets of Los Angeles. The fears and dangers of riding a bicycle in Los Angeles are all very real.
As such it is incumbent upon people who care enough about public policy to push for the changes we need in order to feel more safe on the streets.
Perhaps then, I should clearly define my birthday wishes for this December, 2008:
- A pony
- A massive shift in awareness in Los Angeles resulting in a profound respect for the safety of cyclists who brave the mean streets of LA.
- Fix all those potholes on 4th Street, add some traffic calmers, sharrows and a slew of lovely atmospheric bikeway signage and voila – A bicycle boulevard.
Big ticket items, yes. But hey, Live the Dream!
Tags: 4SBB, Add new tag, bike
December 10, 2008 at 5:28 am |
If I remember correctly weren’t you working with Carolyn in LaBonge’s office to get some of those potholes fixed? Whatever happened to that?
December 10, 2008 at 5:46 am |
Nikki helped by “calling in the order” to the B.O.S.S. (Bureau of Street Services) but as I understand it, the request just ends up in some terribly long list.
I’ve called in, as have a few others to report those gnarly potholes.
To report storm-related emergencies such as trees down, landslides, potholes, and road erosion, please call (213) 473-8410 or (800) 996-2489.
Probably in a slow moving bureaucracy like the one we’ve got here in LA, we would need to tell hundreds of people to call in about 4SBB potholes every day for three solid months….. and then get the Mayor to have his “Pothole Photo-Op of the Month” on that stretch of 4th street between Arden and Rossmore…
Or, DIY Pothole repair?