At 10:30 on this sun-splashed morning, a fleet of two dozen dedicated — not to be confused with sporting — bicyclists drew up in front of Lin Howe School, heralding, they hope, a new era in around-town traveling.
It was not necessarily intended this way, but the team was mature. If this non-imbibing crowd had decided to stop for a beer, none of the cyclists was in danger of being carded. Last time that happened was during the Johnson administration.
Not by accident did the cyclists pause in Culver City, as one of the heroes of the ride later pointed out.
At about the one-third mark of their three-hour journey, they were greeted at Lin Howe School by a welcoming party that included City Councilman Andy Weissman and Meghan Sahli-Wells, Culver City’s most recognizable cyclist.
In the words of Ms. Sahli-Wells of the Culver City Bicycle Coalition, the community’s champion bicycling activist: “The goal of the ride from Playa del Rey to downtown Los Angeles is to draw attention to bicycling as a viable means of sustainable transportation.”
At the helm of the helmeted brigade was perhaps the best advertising tool in town.
Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding is the Public Health Director for Los Angeles County, and UCLA professor of Health Services and Pediatrics. It would, however, consume most of the 16-mile jaunt to cover the full range of his portfolio of titles and duties.
No jonathan-come-lately, Dr. Fielding explained at the outset why he was participating. “We have two huge problems in Los Angeles County,” he said.
“One is overweight and obesity, and the other is terrible air pollution. Using bikes more, encouraging bike planning, walking and mass transit are really good ways to deal with both problems. I view this as a way to help control chronic disease but also to enrich people’s lives when you are riding around among the beautiful scenery on the 340 days of the year we enjoy crisp weather like this. Why wouldn’t we want to be out on bikes?”
How can these bicyclists influence the unconverted to sign up?
“I think we already are,” said Dr. Fielding. “We have supported the L.A. Bike Coalition in terms of planning. We have supported Culver City, which just passed a new bike plan.
“It is relatively inexpensive compared to almost every other transit effort.
“A very small percentage of what we invest in roads, in paving roads, in new roads, could really make a huge difference in creating more bikeability in Los Angeles.
“No. 1, we are trying to let people know it’s a great idea to bike. No. 2, we need to encourage more planning for bike lanes, more dedicated bike lanes. Even when you have a right hand lane that doesn’t have quite enough room, you can have a shared lane.
“We have to think, and it has to be at the top of our minds. We also have to encourage people. And we need to remember to be courteous to bicyclists. People on bikes should not be considered targets or nuisances. They need to be thought of as our neighbors who are trying to be good to themselves and to the environment.”
Is any city in the County close to having a desirable number of bike lanes?
“No,” said Dr. Fielding. “Culver City, though, is going to be at the head of the pack. Glendale is another one.
“Our County Board of Supervisors has been very supportive of what we are doing. Mark Ridley-Thomas has been strongly supportive of this kind of effort, both for reasons of the environment and public health.”
Dr. Fielding, who is 68 years old, has been bicycling around Los Angeles — with a strong accent on the beach — for 30 years. Several times a week, he takes a 20-mile fling. “It’s great,” he says. “You stop to see friends on the way, shoot the breeze and have something to eat. The trouble is, there aren’t enough places to do it.”
Asserting that progress has been slow, Dr. Fielding said that “government needs to invest, the way Culver City did. It’s a very easy decision to invest in what’s going to help people exercise, to maintain their weight and improve their sense of physical and mental well-being. At the same time, this also would reduce air pollution, which causes 2,000 to 3,000 excess deaths every year in Los Angeles County. ”
Jim Lamm, the longtime face of the Ballona Creek Renaissance, was in the front row of the riders.
He has been biking longer than he can remember, “but since 1998 for a purpose, when I became President of the Ballona Creek Renaissance. And of course, Ballona Creek has the one Class 1 bike path on the Westside.”
Mr. Lamm said that “really good progress” has been made in carving new bike lanes. “But it still is waiting to happen for a large part. But the Culver City Bicycle Coalition and the whole Master Bicycle Plan process has set the stage. Culver City, the Ballona Creek Renaissance and others are going after grants that will make it happen.
“There is a lot of momentum now, even in these tough times.”
How does Mr. Lamm know he is making progress?
“I was on my way down to Playa del Rey this morning to meet up with these folks, and I was wearing my Ballona Creek renaissance tee-shirt,” he said. “A bicyclist passed me by, and he said, ‘Thank you for all you are doing to make Ballona Creek such a beautiful place.’ Wow. That was neat.”
As for the next priority, Mr. Lamm said that “it’s a combination of things — fully connecting the Creek and the community. A lot of people see the Creek as an after thought, if they are even aware of it. I would like to extend it into the community where people are doing more things to make the community walkable, likable, getting out of their cars, reducing congestion and air pollution, doing better things in their yards to conserve water and reduce the impact on the creek.”
Mr. Lamm said that his wife Cathi is the main rider in the family, “nearly every day.”
As to whether she is influencing others to join her, Mrs. Lamm said: “Some friends are impressed that I am riding so much at my age.”
And what would that number be, a reporter asked while backpedaling. “Sixty-seven,” she said without backpedaling.
Congratulations
Just before the troupers headed for Venice Boulevard and the last 10 miles downtown, Dr. Fielding addressed the assembled.
Saluting City Hall’s recent adoption of a bicycling strategy, Dr. Fielding said that “this is a great win for everybody in Culver City. We (at the Dept. of Health) were glad to support it materially as well.
“What Culver City has accomplished will be a beacon for all other 88 cities in Los Angeles County. It is great to see you in the forefront.”
Councilman Weissman, standing next to Dr. Fielding, spoke next:
“Few things in political life are no-brainers,” he said. “But the Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan for the City Council was something we had supported from the beginning. I am happy to see it come to fruition, and I look forward to all the funding necessary to fully implement the plan throughout the County.”
