Timing His Vigil
I timed it so I would be there at the same hour that an innocent young jogger was mugged a week ago last Thursday evening.
As we have told you before, the local gang known as the Culver City Boyz, based in the Mar Vista Projects, claim territorial rights to parts of the bike path, by self-appointed gang decree.
Gang graffiti marks this half-mile stretch, from Inglewood Boulevard to the 405 Freeway underpass. It is very ugly.
Becoming an Eyewitness
Last Friday morning, I put myself along the bike path to gain a real feel for the situation.
I wanted to see how people engaging in innocent activities — walking, biking, jogging — can be victimized when they suddenly find themselves alone, with a helpless feeling of despair when approached by a gangbanging type.
Typically, gang members do not travel alone. A sea of young punks will surround and then harass women joggers.
A One-Man Stakeout
For more than 12 hours — from 11 in the morning until a half-hour before midnight — I stayed on the bike path, taking few breaks.
I rode my bike up and down the winding cement hills, that reach from Overland to Centinela.
I kept a journal of the day’s activities.
A Gang Gathering
11 p.m. — Saw gang members spray-painting their gang names along the cement walls of the bike path. I kept at a safe distance.
4 p.m. — The 405 underpass is a kind of hangout for gang members occasionally during the daylight hours.
They spend their time there drinking and harassing people traveling the bike path.
In Their Sights
As I rode my bike on the path, all of them stared at me.
I kept my eyes on the path — until I was out of their sight.
I counted a total of 79 people on the path throughout my vigil. Many chose the path as an alternative to dealing with traffic congestion.
They were commuting to work or were performing work-related business.
Family Day
When I returned to the bike path on Saturday, I counted 117 people. Half were families enjoying bike riding.
At one point, a family of 5 — a father and his 4 daughters, all Culver City residents — came down the bike path on their new bicycles.
The girls, probably between the ages of 4 and 7 years old, were all wearing the same outfits. They reminded me of a scene from the children’s book “Madeleine.”
Up and down the bike path they rode, the whole family enjoying the outing.
In Quest of Serenity
Imagine a place that allows you to find peace.
After speaking with daily joggers, bicyclists and ordinary walkers along the bike path, this was the basic reason they gave for enjoying the bike path.
”The bike path allows me to find peace within myself,” a number of them agreed.
I had a question for them:
What about meeting and passing danger while they are on the bike path when they reach the gang zone right under the 405 Freeway?
On Their Own
Most of the persons I interviewed recognized the danger.
They said they rely on their survival skills.
Some were still disappointed and angry that elected officials responsible for Culver City and Marina del Rey responded vaguely to questions about bike path safety at a community meeting of the Del Rey Homeowners and Neighbors Assn. on March 28. That was the night before the latest gang assault on a jogger.
Let Them Test the Path
Residents who felt the strongest about this important issue said they would like to see the elected officials themselves venture onto the bike path as solo joggers.
They want the political people to come face-to-face with danger as they approach the gang zone at sunset.
Dipping Into History
For a final thought regarding the safety of daily users of the bike path, we turn to the wise Moliere (1622-1673).
His words are appropriate after the way one resident was sloughed off at last month’s community meeting when she asked about bike path safety:
“To make oneself understood is good for me. All your fine sayings do not do me any good.”
