We're conducting research on how to improve cycling infrastructure in Los Angeles.

My drop box was a whopping.5 miles. how far is the ride to your drop box?

“The first step cities need to take to create complete, connected high-comfort bike networks is to create a Low-Stress Bike Map. This is not a bike master plan of all the future awesomeness we’re going to build. This is a map that illuminates the ways to comfortably go places today. It includes existing trails, protected bike lanes, and bike boulevards. And then we fill the gaps with other existing assets in the right-of-way: quiet neighborhood streets, park trails, sidewalks, and desire paths.  [This is also known as] the “Best Available Network.” … This stands in stark contrast to the status quo approach of a 25-year bike master plan. The map of a Best Available Network exists for the same reason that maps originally existed – not to show some hypothetical future state, but to show people how to navigate the world as it currently stands.” (https://bikestreets.com/book/the-best-available-network)

Benefits of a low-stress bike map:

• Highlighting the low-stress network encourages potential riders, especially the 60% of the population in the “interested but concerned” cohort. It shows that there are already safe, pleasant, low-stress routes to the places people want to go.
• Having a specific low-stress network is more effective for advocacy. When advocates ask the city for improvements, they can easily show the bigger picture: "This single intersection upgrade connects two 3-mile low-stress neighborhood corridors.” It clarifies seemingly isolated or arbitrary requests as high-impact, low-cost, low-controversy fixes.

With that in mind, I made this example map of a Westside low-stress bike network. It pulls routes from several resources, including https://www.safebikeroutes.com/la. Some subjective design decisions: It prioritizes legibility over comprehensiveness. And it uses somewhat-subjective LTS classifications, instead of infrastructure-based classifications. Overall, I think the coverage is pretty good, and better than most people (especially non-riders) would expect.

safestreetsmap.com/cycling

I made this map with the idea of knowing how to get around the city in the safest way possible

What's on it:

- Every reported bike crash in California since 2021 (about 58k, 973 fatal), from the state's crash records. Tap one to see what the police report says happened

- Climbs with grades, profiles and GPX downloads

- Group rides for the next couple weeks, with the forecast

- Train and metro lines, with links to each agency's bike rules

- Shops, repair stations, water, restrooms

I posted here recently about living in LA with just an e-bike, and I'm getting closer to buying one. There's one thing I'm still worried about though: parking it when I'm out.

My apartment has gated parking, CCTV, and on-site staff, so I'm not too concerned about storing it at home.

But what do you guys do when you're out and need to leave your bike somewhere?

I'm talking about everything from stepping inside a building for just 1–3 minutes to pick something up or run a quick errand, to sitting down at a restaurant for 30–60 minutes.

I live near Little Tokyo and the Arts District, and I see enough bike theft around DTLA that I'm pretty hesitant to leave a new e-bike outside, even with a good lock.

When I lived in North Carolina, I used one of those orange Kryptonite locks for my previous e-bike. I'm definitely willing to invest in good security gear again, whether that's a high-quality U-lock, a second lock, or something else. I know no lock is completely theft-proof though, especially around here.

Do you lock your bike every single time, even if you're only going inside for a minute or two? Do you look for certain types of bike racks or parking spots? Only go to places where you can keep an eye on your bike? Ever ask restaurants or cafes if you can bring it inside?

I'm also curious whether anyone has had a bike stolen despite using expensive locks, and what you'd do differently.

I'd love to hear how people who ride around DTLA, Little Tokyo, and the Arts District handle this in everyday life, especially the really short stops. I don't want to buy an e-bike and then be too worried to stop anywhere with it lol.

Rode from the Atlantic/District start down to Long Beach yesterday (10/18). Path has been been cleaned up, and for now the homeless encampments have been (largely) removed. I'm sure they'll be back, but for once it was refreshing not to have to ride through gauntlets of sketchiness every quarter mile.

3rd or 4th ride on my brand new Panaracer Gravelking SS+ 700x35c. Had a piece of glass wedged inside the gash. Thankfully, didn't need a boot and puncture in my butyl tube was a pinprick. And happened at the end of my ride at Ballona Creek.

Seriously, our streets are so crappy. I seem to get a flat every 6 to 8 rides or so.

Seems to still be holding pressure overnight. Fairly new tires.

With Metro’s One Car Challenge having kicked off a couple weeks ago, if you’re participating, how’s it going for you?

I’ve been doing it for two weeks, and barely managed to avoid using my car last night.

It makes me mad that so many people running for West Hollywood City Council are using irrational bike hate to get votes.

Someone died on a bike on Fountain, around the block from me, last year. Blake Ackerman was killed in a hit and run in July 2025. And a lot of these candidates don’t really care.

BTW Fountain is a mess with or with our bike lanes. It constantly shifts from 1 to 2 lanes, sidewalks are insane narrow at time. It was never meant to be a freeway and shortcut the way it's turned into. And it's a single lane once you pass La Brea all the way to silver lake.

The Fountain project (a 2 mile stretch in weho) already passed. It includes bike lanes and wider sidewalks, and the city has about $4.9 million in state grant money from the State to help pay for it. It’s set. But I’m afraid that if enough anti-bike people get in, it’s doomed, even if that means giving the money back.

And they’re singling out the bike lane. Wider sidewalks, all the other stuff, that’s fine. Just not a bike lane.

For the record, here’s where the candidates stand:

For the bike lane

• Chelsea Byers
• Helen Krieger
• Stephen Post
• Jonathan Cottrell
• Marlon Gobel
• Chiedu Egbuniwe (supports it but wants it delayed until after 2028)

Against the bike lane

• Tanya Tsikanovsky (said she’d undo it if construction starts before she takes office)
• Kyle Brazeal
• Larry Block
• Joel Zaldivar
• Kody Christiansen
• John Duran
• Kevin Ligon

Three seats are open. Knock LA, LA Forward, DSA-LA, and Working Families are have their recs you can go check it out.

There is no way for a bike trailer to get through without someone being able-bodied enough to lift it up over the giant curb to go around the gate. Wheelchairs, strollers, cargo bikes, you name it, they're all blocked unless someone can lift them over the curb.

Someone who presented themselves as being with Arroyo Seco Stables said the city controls it, but I can't for the life of me get ahold of anyone in South Pasadena. Would Los Angeles (County? Rec and Parks?) help with this at all?

I can take my kid off my cargo bike and lift the damn thing up and go around it, but it makes my blood boil every time I have to do it. And not everyone is capable of doing so. It violates ADA laws for access to multi-use paths, and it's just damn ableist.

I’m wondering if anyone has ever done a ride starting at Griffith Observatory to Mount Wilson Observatory, and then ending at Palomar observatory?

I think I’m more concerned with the route from Mount Wilson to Palomar as I’m not that familiar with that part of LA. It looks to be about 150 mile ride with 15,000 feet of climbing from what I’ve mapped out.

Does anyone have a specific route they’ve taken from Wilson to Palomar?

I guess I learned my lesson not to lock up here. Posting on the off chance someone sees it pop up somewhere.

Please be aware of this individual. I came across this post, and as someone who sometimes does group
rides and knows people in the racing scene, I’m concerned about the potential safety implications. I’m sharing this so others can stay informed and make their own decisions. Copied and shared from @lafemmeride on Instagram. Please read and stay safe.

We are addressing the confusion among male community members who have reached out suggesting our position is open to dialogue or negotiation. Our collective statement as femme cyclists is unmistakably clear:

NEU YORK AKA STEVEN MERGENTHALER IS NOT WELCOME IN CYCLING SPACES. OUR SAFETY IS NOT UP FOR NEGOTIATION. WE STAND WITH SURVIVORS.

Neu York was convicted of a violent incident involving his pregnant girlfriend. He threw her from a fifth-floor window. She survived, her baby didn’t. The severity of this violence cannot be minimized when discussing his return to cycling spaces. Our boundaries are not up for negotiation.

Survivors have spoken about feeling dismissed, unsupported, and pressured to move on while his return is entertained. We must ask ourselves: Whose voices are being heard, and whose are being ignored?

Serving a sentence does not automatically change behavior. It does not restore trust nor guarantee acceptance back into our community. No one is entitled to spaces where women have established boundaries to protect their safety.

This is bigger than one person’s return to cycling. It is about the community we choose to build and who we are willing to protect and enable.

We call on race organizers, clubs, teams, and sponsors to take meaningful action: listen to and center survivors, take safety concerns seriously, and establish and enforce clear accountability policies.

Silence is not solidarity. Inaction is not accountability.

We are not asking for another debate about whether survivors deserve support. We expect our community to demonstrate that support through action, not empty statements or pressure to move on.

SOLIDARITY IN THE PELOTON.
Ride together. Stand together. Hold the line.
NO ONE RIDES ALONE

Anyone gone today and can report? Was gonna go tomorrow morning but I’m concerned with the wind situation and there were some bad sand traps earlier this week/last weekend. Might just do do the river otherwise

Hey all! I'm still pretty new to cycling in LA and had a scary moment this morning. Wanted to ask the people who ride here more than I do.

I typically do my riding in the morning along the LA River bikepath. I was riding this morning around 6am, just north of Spoke bicycle cafe. It was dark, and I was alone and only five minutes into my ride. I notice a dark shape rise from just pass the railing. A second later I I look to my left and realize it's a coyote. It ran alongside me probably for about a minute or a little longer. I yelled at it and tried to be loud. It would drift off a bit and then bob back in close again. It didn’t look aggressive, almost playful or curious, but obviously wasn’t going to take that for granted. I stayed on the bike the whole time because I didn’t want to stop and become an easy target. It eventually peeled off and I rode for another five until I got to a bridge with more light for me to regulate my nervous system.

A few questions for you:

• Do you run into coyotes often on the paths, especially near the river or early/late in the day? I've did this bike path around the same time about 4 or 5 times and never ran into one.
• Has anyone been followed like this? What did you do, and did it work? I know by riding and moving quickly I probably triggered its instinct for prey but the thought of dismounting my bike to deal with it seemed daunting.
• Do you carry anything (air horn, whistle, etc.), and is it worth it? Thinking about getting a whistle or something.
• Are there stretches or times of day you avoid? I'd love to continue to rise in the morning as I find it super relaxing and to ride before work need to get up that early anyway.
• Is it worth reporting to anyone? Should I contact animal control?

Thanks in advance, and stay safe out there!

Hey friends, peace. I'm new to the West Coast, and I'd love to join in on casual group rides in my area. I can borrow my friend's cruiser, and I'm down for chill no-drop social rides while I get back into biking and build my endurance. I also can't drive my bike to a starting point, so I'm wondering if there are folks meeting for weekly group rides in my area. (Mar Vista just N of Venice). I'm down for women only rides too, or just good people. I come from the east coast, and in my experience, bikers are generally the coolest. Glad to be here, thanks for any recs. Much peace and love.