Changing the Mechanics: How Bikes are Transforming the Way L.A. Moves

Wednesday night's Center Scene program at the California Endowment was an interesting and hopeful discussion about how our city may change. 

Manal Aboelata, Program Director at the Prevention Institute led the panel.  She is an advocate for public health and the elimination of health disparities. 

Dick Jackson, PhD, UCLA Public Health, opened by saying that Americans have gained 25 lbs. in the last 25 years and week need to create more health environments.  He said the formula is simple:  Cheap Food is bad Food; Good Food is more expensive.  He said there are price supports for bad food.  The incidents of diabetes is going up increasing health care costs and lowering quality of lives. 

He also said that we need to design cities for healthy activity like walking and biking.  However, the petrochemical companies don't want this.  He challenged us to get win-win-win solutions. He said we need to focus on walking and biking to improve health.  He doesn't own a car but finds it challenging to get around L.A. on a bike and buses.

Allison Mannos, community specialist at L.A. Alliance for a New Economy said that the low income minority families are the most affected.  They are surrounded by liquor stores to by food rather than supermarkets with health alternatives.  They often can't drive...accidental environmentalists.

Eric Bruins, L.A. County Bicycle Coalition, has been advocating for the small amount of money set aside for bike lanes and paths as a result of Measure R.  They are planning for 40 miles of new bike routes per year.  He and others said that the planning for this was not moving ahead until the Mayor fell off his bike.  He said we need to normalize biking.  The greater density of bicyclist the more drivers will become aware and considerate of bikers.  He referred to cities like Amsterdam.

The panel also encouraged more bike education in schools, reaching out to businesses and institutions to make them more bike friendly.

Eric said that they are hoping to put bike lanes on Venice Blvd so that one could ride from near downtown to the beach.  They are also looking at Sepulveda.  He encouraged people to attend neighborhood councils and advocate for bicycle access.

Information was shared on CicLAvia on Sunday October 7th Where streets will be blocked off for safe, fun, car-free spaces for walking, bicycling, skating, jogging, and seeing the city in a whole new way.  Check out www.ciclavia.org.  The closed streets will be 7th from near MacArthur Park to Spring to N. Broadway to Boyle Heights, to Expo Park.  Sounds fun.  Time to get the bicycle dusted off and put air in the tires.