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Cyclists rise up for their rights--and their dignity
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Public hearing at Van Nuys City Hall, Van Nuys, CA.
A group of cyclists called the Bike Writers Collective gathered at Van Nuys City Hall on the morning of May 1st to voice their concern over a recent incident involving an LAPD officer, three cyclists, and a hit-and-run Hummer, as well as to protest what they view as gross inaction on the part of the Los Angeles city council.
“We’re here to demand that police begin protecting cyclists instead of ticketing them only,” one attendee said to the council. “And that they don’t allow hit-and-run drivers to go and continue driving on our streets.”
The incident occurred at the intersection of Los Angeles Street and 7th Street in the early morning of April 24th. A black Hummer hit from behind one cyclist while two others avoided impact. According to an eyewitness report the driver verbally threatened the cyclists with gun violence should they report the incident to the police. The driver then proceeded to flee the scene before an LAPD patrol officer stopped the vehicle.
“The next thing I know I’m getting struck by a Hummer, on the floor, not knowing exactly what’s happening…the biggest shock I had was that they arrested him and let him go,” says Andres Tena as he addressed the council. A photo of the impact can be found here.
The eyewitness report seems to corroborate this. It cannot be verified if the driver was given a citation because the LAPD refused to comment on the incident, saying that they do not comment on incidents unless their public relations office issues a press release first. Eyewitnesses, however, maintain that the driver did not receive a ticket.
The victim says he is now seeing a chiropractor and may be developing more complications as a result of the impact.
A group of cyclists have filed a complaint with the Inspector General and requested a formal investigation into the incident.
Another witness tells the council “there’s a lot of aggression from motorists towards cyclists.” She tells them that bicyclists have a “legal right to be on the road.” She is referring to a section in the California Vehicle Code, which the group also cites in its Cyclists’ Bill of Rights.
“I can’t prevent someone from being aggressive on the road but I would definitely like the support of the city and our law enforcement,” she added.
Cyclists attending the public hearing echoed her request for support from the city, voicing their frustration by calling city council “unresponsive” to their needs. The Bicycle Master Plan was repeatedly mentioned as a prime example of the council’s inaction addressing cycling issues.
The plan is a large-scale infrastructure project that will enable safer cycling routes throughout Los Angeles and create a more cohesive cycling environment. There is currently a significant shortage of connected routes, making safe cycling difficult for thousands of biking enthusiasts.
Members of the council apologized and said that it was important to address cycling issues, adding that it was unfortunate that past resolutions got mired in bureaucratic red tape.
“We’re transportation solutions, we’re not transportation problems,” says Stephen Box, a long-time bicycling activist who co-authored the Cyclists’ Bill of Rights and has worked with city government on cycling issues in Los Angeles. “We would like to see safety on the streets a priority and we’re here to partner with you. We’re looking for strong words like ‘commitment’ and we’re looking for strong actions.”
The public hearing concluded with council members Janice Hahn, Bill Rosendahl, Ed Reyes and Tom LaBonge issuing a motion which directs the LAPD to “report on bicycle incidents and conflicts between bicyclists and motorists, as well as efforts to increase police officer training related to bicycling activities and applicable regulations and laws.”
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Update: Special thanks to Urban Velo for picking up this article!
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