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The times they are a changin'
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Most of you will probably not be aware, but Long Beach is currently working hard on their "Bicycle Initiative". Their goal? To become the "most bicycle friendly city in America". Big words, and an even bigger commitment. Read about it in the Press Telegram

 

Russ Roca, a photographer and PR guy for Long Beach Cyclists wrote a challenging letter back to the city here.

So, I couldn't deny you my own two cents:

It is a beautiful thing to watch a paradigm shift. And it is plain to see that the World is in the midst of one. How wonderfully exciting it is to watch Long Beach take up the torch and run with it! I saw more people on bikes yesterday than I've ever seen collected together in this city. They were there to celebrate bikes and they were there to support Long Beach.

Russ Roca wrote an amazing letter the other day in response to the Press Telegram. The ideas put forth have been on my mind so much lately. It seems, when change is left to those who have the money, change is always dependent solely on that. MONEY.

Russ, your insights into this problem are enlightening. How is it that the city would rather spend millions (literally millions) of dollars on these improvements when they truly should not be necessary? As you so deftly put it, Bicycles have the right to be on the road.
With that right though, bicycles are also held to every law that vehicles are. A person on a bicycle could in fact get a speeding ticket on a roadway, just like a motorist. Which brings me to my point.



There are those of us who have been riding bikes for years, braving the streets of Long Beach when they were considerably less tolerant of bicycles in the street. They are the commuters. And it is they who have brought about this paradigm shift from the BOTTOM UP if only by being out there on the road, riding their bikes day in and day out and never giving up the fight for their own share of the lane.

So why, I ask, is it they who are singled out and penalized, often for misunderstood (or antiquated) vehicle codes? Now, I don't want to suggest that I don't believe cyclists should have to follow the rules of the road. I am however suggesting that as the officers of the LBPD, those same officers who we as cyclists depend on to keep the roads safe enough to share with speeding traffic, learn the role of the bicycle on the roadway and take into consideration that all cyclists deserve tickets for infractions and all laws protecting them should be enforced. Let's make cyclists and motorists equal.

Even that guy riding his moutainbike dangerously fast on the sidewalk who almost hit you as you came out of Chen's. Even that CSULB student blowing through the stop sign on her beach cruiser on the way to class. How about that guy who parked in the bike lane or that Hummer that's too big to fit in one lane of traffic?

If the city really wants to be bicycle friendly, the city should learn that we're ALL in this together. Everyone from the mom driving the SUV, to the fixed gear riding pipsqueak who doesn't know the rules yet, should be held to the same high standards. And how much would it cost the city to make people aware of those standards? Will it cost as much as a separated bike lane? Come on Long Beach, let's think outside the box.

I love this town, and I know we have it in us to make this change, but we have to understand what it means. The day bicycles and vehicles share the road and all it's responsibilities, is the day Long Beach is a safer, greener, healthier (and way more fun) place to live.

I can't wait.

-grizz

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