There was a great opinion piece in the LA Times over the weekend (well great if you are probicycling in the LA area); Sharing the road: Can LA be a cyclist’s town?

The piece by the LA Times Editorial Staff lays out the case for the paper being pro bike. And it is a very strong case that is strongly supported by BIKEable Communities.

But of equal note is the number of comments that are so strongly anti bike….”It will never ever happen. Los Angeles was built for cars.” “But there is something about LA culture..we are a mean, impatient bunch and especially so behind the wheel.” “Insanity!. If you want to commute to work on your bicycle then move to Beijing or Amsterdam. They do it because they can’t afford cars or gasoline.”

As bicyclists and bike advocates we need to work to overcome these attitudes. We need to educate both bicyclists and motorists. As has been demonstrated in Long Beach, when you add good bike infrastructure you not only increase the number of people using bikes on a regular basis (just look at the separated lanes in downtown Long Beach or the green sharrows in Belmont Shore), but you also make it safer. In both of these areas we have seen a reduction in both the number of bike related as well as vehicle related accidents after the infrastructure was put in place.

Please…reach out to other bicyclists and motorists.  Reach out to your local paper.  Help us educate them about not only the benefits of bicycling but also how to make bicycling safer and more enjoyable  for everyone.