Between the beautiful weather and the terrible traffic in Los Angeles, setting off to work or run errands on your bike should be far more enjoyable and widespread than it is. However, many people are hesitant to trade their car for a bicycle, thanks to the considerable risks riders face in this city.
Biking in Los Angeles presents several challenges for riders, but improved infrastructure could make significant progress in making this a more bicycle-friendly place.
Following other cities’ lead
Other cities around California are far more invested in protecting cyclists. Places like San Francisco and Berkeley have invested in a range of safety measures, including developing easy ways to report hazards and improving road conditions.
Santa Monica is also moving forward with plans to make cyclists safer. Recently, officials amended their Bike Action Plan to increase the number of miles of protected lanes over the next five years.
Los Angeles could dramatically improve rider safety by following the lead of these other cities. Improving the infrastructure by creating more protected lanes and addressing poor road conditions could make this a far better place to navigate by bicycle.
Unfortunately, the city has made little progress when it comes to approving and completing initiatives to keep bicyclists safe.
Riders remain at risk
Without large-scale infrastructure changes, riders can be in danger of an accident caused by:
- Potholes or other roadway hazards
- Dangerous intersections
- Sharing roads with cars without a protected bike lane
- Distracted motorists
- Speeding drivers
Other cities have reduced or eliminated these risk factors successfully. Unfortunately, Los Angeles still has a ways to go in terms of making the changes necessary to protect riders.
Because of this, it is crucial for riders to identify negligent, reckless parties that cause serious bicycling accidents and hold them accountable. Doing so allows cyclists to pursue the damages they deserve while also calling attention to the ongoing problems riders face every day.
