From The California Department of Transportation…Bicycle Commuting & Safety

What has two wheels, improves mobility and air quality, reduces traffic congestion and parking demand, saves energy, and promotes healthy living through enjoyable exercise? Sound too good to be true? Planners, engineers, policymakers, and cyclists recognize these as benefits of bicycle commuting.

Equipping Your Bicycle for Commuting

1. Make sure the bicycle is properly sized and adjusted.
2. Use a white headlamp and a red rear reflector for night riding.
3. A rack over the rear wheel is convenient for carrying items such as books, a briefcase, or clothing.
4. Carry a basic tool kit, tire patch kit and tire pump for those unexpected roadside repairs.

Bicycle Safety Guidelines

• Wear a bicycle helmet. It is the law for persons under 18 years of age.
• Ride with the traffic flow.
• Ride in a straight line.
• Ride to the right if you are moving slower than other traffic, unless you are turning left, passing another bicycle or vehicle, or avoiding hazards.
• Stop at stop signs and red lights.
• Use a light, reflectors and reflective clothing during darkness.
• Wear bright clothing during the daytime.
• Ride to the right if you are moving slower that other traffic, unless you are turning left, passing another bicycle or vehicle, or avoiding hazards.
• Keep a safe distance from parked cars.
• Use proper hand signals when turning, stopping or changing lanes.
• Use extra caution when it is raining, and allow extra time to stop.
• Cross railroad tracks at a right angle.
• Walk your bike when using a crosswalk.
• Do not wear headphones on both ears while riding.
• Keep your bike properly maintained so it is safe.
• Do not drink and ride.
• Ride defensively.
• Use hand signals.
• Be alert for road hazards.
• Watch for cars at cross streets and driveways.
• Obey all traffic signals.
• Use lights at night.
• Keep your bike in good condition.
• Ride in the same direction as the flow of traffic. Keep right where practicable to allow vehicles to pass.
• Be aware of parked cars and watch for car doors that may open.
  Give pedestrians the right of way.

Further information about bicycle safety can be found at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

For more information, please contact:

Penny Gray
Bicycle Facilities Unit
Division of Local Assistance, MS-1
California Department of Transportation
P.O. Box 942874
Sacramento, CA 94274-0001

E-Mail - Penny Gray@dot.ca.gov

-Steve Herbert

It’s bike week this week with numerous events planned throughout the week by LA’s own Metro. http://www.metro.net/bikes/bike-week/

Last year I wrote a series of articles here on Shortcuts about riding to work and how to get started. You can search the archives for the series which included videos, but start with this link on how get going riding Thursday on Bike to Work Day: http://blogs.kcrw.com/shortcuts/bike-to-work-i-want-to-but-how-steve-has-the-answers

photo courtesy of pulsd

President Barack Obama is coming to town for a fundraiser

The fundraiser will take place tomorrow tonight at George Clooney’s  house. 
Total Traffic reports that Gorgeous George’s house is “at the end of Iredell Lane, near west of Laurel Canyon and north of Mulholland/Coldwater Canyon in the Studio City area”.

Expect closures and traffic jams on the canyon roads between Hollywood and the Valley. See map below.

It is also floating around that the President might take a helicopter from LAX into the San Fernando Valley, not using any streets on the west side. Now THAT would be fabulous…one can only hope.
President Obama will leave on Friday morning for Reno Nevada. Typically street closures are between 7:30am and 9am – rumor has it he will depart around 10am on Friday morning.

Update 7:13pm

Our friend Steve Gregory from KFI reports Obama has arrived at Clooney’s.  He supposed to be there until about 10pm, at which time he will head to Beverly Hills.

• Laurel Canyon will remain open during the function
• Residential streets will be sealed except for residents with ID
• Rolling closures will resume as he heads to Beverly Hills

Update 7:05pm

Obama spotted coming up over the hill on Laurel Cyn… almost to Clooney’s…

Update 7:00pm

Huge thanks to everyone at Total Traffic!

Sounds like Obama might be coming from Burbank Airport.
We’re hearing of closures along Laurel Canyon at several locations, including Magnolia and Laurel Cyn and Sherman Way and Laurel Canyon.

Update 6:37pm

Reports came in of Marine 1 over Westwood and then just reported over the 101 freeway.

Update 6:29pm

Obama landed at LAX and is getting on Marine 1 to head off to the Valley, according to CBSLA.  There will be rolling closures on Laurel Canyon while the president is in transit.  They are TOWING cars off Laurel Canyon so don’t PARK THERE to see the president.

Laurel Canyon WILL BE OPEN during the event, just the smaller residential streets and hiking trails will be closed.
thanx to the great people at total traffic!

UPDATE 6:21pm

Though all the action is supposed to be in Studio City and the canyons roads, the west side has not caught much of a break. Every freeway is a mess…or most are. ;-(

The President landing any minute, and total traffic is reporting that

• Coldwater Canyon traffic northbound is now heavy from Sunset to Ventura.
• Ventura Blvd is heavy between Coldwater and Colfax.

UPDATE 5:52pm

Closures in Studio City & Laurel Canyon starting in 6P hour.

UPDATE 5:00pm

total traffic is reporting…

“The latest rumor we hear is that Obama may be helicoptered to Universal and then driven to Fryman Canyon per @ohilary.  NOT CONFIRMED.

However reader Dan said motorcycle cops were staging in CVS parking lot at Laurel and Ventura. Media vans are along Laruel from Fryman to Ventura.  Protesters are out in Willacre Park near Laurel and Fryman.

Traffic on Laurel Canyon and Coldwater Canyon is actually moving well right now.” (At 5:00pm)

 UPDATE 3:45pm

Alternates: Southbound alternates include Coldwater Canyon Avenue or Cahuenga to Highland. Ventura Boulevard alternates include Moorpark and Riverside. Keep in mind the motorcade’s route has not been released.

UPDATE 1:15pm

Uh oh! A protest is scheduled. Adding to the Obamajam a press conference and rally as close to Clooney’s house as possible – the 3200 block of Iredell Street – off of Laurel Canyon Boulevard & Fryman is planned for 6:00pm.

The message from Bank of Accountability  and  the  Campaign for a Fair Settlement’s message to Mr. Obama …

“Keep Americans in Our Houses, We’ll Keep You in Yours”

The protest is being put together by housing and bank accountability activists, including one of the major coalitions that supported the foreclosure fraud settlement and the announcement of a task force to investigate Wall Street banks.
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Council member Paul Krekorian has released information regarding the street closures.

•  5pm: Street closures begin. Those driving on Laurel Cyn Blvd and connecting streets north of Ventura Blvd should expect delays and road closures between 5pm-8pm.
• Around 6pm: President Obama will arrive at LAX. He will then be transported via motorcade and helicopter to George Clooney’s house.
• 8pm-10pm: Local access south of Ventura Blvd will be sealed off.  Residents with a local ID will be allowed through.
• The President will spend the night in Beverly Hills (most likely the Beverly Hilton).

Map from Google by way of Total Traffic

The Beverly Hills City Council requested a public hearing for the Westside Subway Extension’s route and they got it. The hearing will be held downtown Los Angeles next week on Thursday May 17th with the Metro Board of Directors.
If you can’t attend you can listen on your phone. The phone number is 213-922-6045.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority approved the project’s environmental review despite protests from parents and consultants who said poisonous and flammable gases could rise from disturbed oil wells and permeate the campus, which has about 2,300 students. Metro officials said the subway could be built safely, the city of Beverly Hills and the school district have threatened to sue. The PTA came out with a video that some say is a scare tactic. Tim Buresh, an engineering consultant for the district who appears in the video suggested Friday that parts of it are over the top. He told The LA Times,

“I don’t think having the big explosion [in the video] is as helpful as it could be,” said Buresh the district’s lead engineer on the subway issue. He said that when he agreed to speak for the cameras, he did not know that special effects would be used.

Many parents  feel quite different. Jennifer Terrell-Schwartz is the  co-president of the 1,000-member PTA Council for the Beverly Hills Unified School District said,

“We wanted to get people’s attention,” she said. “Parents are concerned about safety. We feel Metro’s not listening to the concerns.”

Metro told the LA Times…

“It’s unfortunate,” Metro spokesman Rick Jager said. “The facts speak for themselves. When the public is presented with all the facts, they will see that the subway can be built safely.”

Here’s the video…

From  Steve Hymon  at The Source,  Metro’s blog…

“Below is the hearing notice for the public hearing before the Metro Board of Directors requested by the Beverly Hills City Council on the Westside Subway Extension’s route in Beverly Hills and Century City. The hearing will be 1:30 p.m., Thursday, May 17, at Metro headquarters adjacent to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles and is open to the public. Those who can’t be there can also listen to the meeting on the phone by calling 213-922-6045.

Quick background: The Metro Board last week certified the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Report for the Westside Subway Extension, thereby approving the overall study of the project. The Board also selected the route for the project’s first phase from Western Avenue to La Cienega Boulevard but deferred picking a route for the project’s second phase to Century City and the third phase to the Westwood/VA Hospital….”
Read the rest of this story from Metro’s  The Source

Beverly Hills hearing notice

Pre-construction work for the second phase of the Expo Line in the cities of Los Angeles and Santa Monica is on the move, so to speak.

The Culver City aerial station at Venice/Robertson. Work is underway on the transit plaza and parking for the Expo Line. Photo by Steve Hymon/Metro.

Traffic will be affected. Trucks used to haul away debris will occasionally interrupt traffic as they enter and exit the expo right-of-way (ROW); however, flagmen will be used to safely direct drivers to minimize traffic disruptions.

• Access to businesses and residences will be maintained throughout all construction activities.
• Please obey all posted parking restriction signs and construction signs; do not enter the construction work zone

Here’s the construction notice from the Expo Line Construction Authority, the agency building the line that Metro will operate:

Expo Notice