Consider bicycling in a city such as LA. This is vastly different from bicycling in a small-town college environment with avid, environmentally-focused youth at every corner. It is different from “Greener” cities where bicycling is part of the city’s identity.<\/p>\n
It is not only a matter of fighting city hall for better bike lanes. It is a matter of doing with the circumstance one has. Thus, some strong, intelligent bicyclists with a passion to create safer routes simply from what they have got together and formed LA Bike Trains. To increase the safety of bicyclists within such an unfriendly city such as LA, increasing visibility is necessary. As others gas up their cars time after time, perhaps they form a blind spot, perhaps there is an attitude that some people matter more. But there is another way to live in the world and be in transit. Thank you LA trains for taking on the mean streets of LA with a kinder human vision actively encouraged.<\/p>\n Take on the mean streets of LA alone?<\/p>\n “Now you don’t have to,” Dennis Romero of the LA Weekly<\/em> writes<\/a>. “LA Bike Trains just launched and the folks there let us know that they have five routes where you can roll with a gang of cyclists, Midnight Ridazz-style, except not at midnight. There’s safety in numbers”<\/p>\n A rep for the group put it simply to the Weekly:<\/p>\n “We organize group rides to help people commute by bike together along regular routes.”<\/p>\n The organization states that it uses guides who know the streets and who can help get you to work safely.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n From the LA Bike Trains website<\/a>:<\/p>\n Need to get to work\u00a0in Los Angeles? Wish your commute was super fun instead of a drag?<\/p>\n We provide a rolling party along select routes run by Conductors \u2013 experienced urban cyclists \u2013 to harness the safety of riding in a group while kicking it up a notch by making the ride a fun social experience. And it\u2019s totally free!<\/p>\n All you need to do is submit your email, cell phone number and the route that you\u2019re interested in. If you don\u2019t see a route that works for you \u2013 suggest one! & if you\u2019re interested in leading a Bike Train as a Conductor \u2013 let us know.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n One does not find (yet) in US cities the practicality and life-changing safety of 4 bicycle lights at an intersection (as found in some European cities). This light doesn’t just make the intersection safer, it reminds drivers there is a bike beside them waiting to go or turn.<\/p>\n Another resolution to this visibility concern is a long group of bikes which will stand out to drivers. Whereas one may not see a lone biker, a group of bikers might prompt some better vision for the LA motorist.<\/p>\n As far as bike-safe trails far from roads, I sometimes wonder, “Is this trail safe for a young person alone? Is this trail protected from theft or worse? Does this trail need patrol? Would patrol make this safer?” Joining with a bike train — whether street or trail — someone (or a group of people) has your back. This is reassuring.<\/p>\n The automobile driver’s blind spot is just that. I know some bike-friendly folks who really get annoyed with automobiles. Think of Julie Delpy’s father in After Sunset<\/em>, which shows her urbanite father habitually keying cars when he goes for a walk. He does not use or appreciate gas guzzling autos, and I have met several people a bit like him. I wonder sometimes at this aggressive behavior. Does it create images of all of us bike-friendly folks as Olympians with angry issues? There is some truth that our sadness might churn to anger as we consider oil wars that kill children, as just one of the horrible side effects of gasoline addiction. Be it grief, anger, or longing to be outside, yes, we are back to our bikes in spite of any safety concerns we may have. But safer bicycling is always appreciated. If you’re in LA, consider joining LA Bike Trains to help with that.<\/p>\n![\"http:\/\/labiketrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/nona-e1367376218159.jpg\"](\"http:\/\/labiketrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/nona-e1367376218159.jpg\")
![\"LA](\"http:\/\/bikocity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/LA-Bike-Trains-800x318.png\")
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