Bike activists — long aggrieved over the city’s failure to make the streets safe for cyclists — swarmed around Van Nuys City Hall a week ago and then spent 90 minutes demanding an investigation into a recent night-time incident downtown dubbed The Hummer vs. The Cyclists.
The Hummer driver hit a cyclist, left the scene and then ran over
the bikes of the cyclists who were trying to get his license
information, according to the angry cyclists, who wanted to know why the LAPD accepted his side of the story and let him go without citation.
It is one of a long string of incidents which have fueled tension between the cops and the cyclists. Just a week earlier, a cyclist was killed by a hit-and-run driver who was caught
within hours, found to be driving on a suspended license, and yet released quickly on bail.
“Many of the cyclists who spoke (to the council) referred to these incidents as part of
a larger gestalt of contempt for cyclists,” cyclist and activist Stephen Box wrote in his City Watch LA article. “They called on the City Council to address behavior that ranges from motorists who endanger
the lives of cyclists to police officers who harass cyclists.”
The council called for a report on the incident from the LAPD and a status update of a broader effort to implement the Cyclists’ Bill of Rights and long-delayed efforts to make the streets biker-friendly as almost ever major city in America has done.
What they got was Deputy Chief Kirk Albanese who projects an image of the old LAPD better than anyone still left on the force.
As you can see in the video above, Albanese put it bluntly that you either take the LAPD’s word for it because, well, it’s the LAPD and they never get anything or make mistakes or abuse people’s rights except, of course, for the Rampart Scandal and federal court consent decree that have cost that are among the biggest reasons the city has a $530 million budget deficit.
Albanese’s take in the video below on cyclists’ rights on the road may help you to understand why the bikers are so angry.
These bikers are a bunch of crybabies. They are aggressive and hostile on the road as if they own it. They take more then one lane to ride in groups of hundreds at times and they wonder why there are accidents. They blow through RED LIGHTS trying to keep up in their group. Please, stop whining and acting like girls. Los Angeles has the worst traffic conjestion in the nation and these guys want drivers to move over for them to get by. My chiropractor is treating a young athlete who was run down by a biker at USC. This group should educate their own bikers first on traffic safety then outreach to community groups who are the drivers in Los Angeles. Be proactive and stop crying.
Monica:
“ride in groups of hundreds at times”
Are you hallucinating? I’ve lived in Los Angeles for twenty years and never seen that.
Hint: When you turn on the TV and see Tour de France coverage, that race is taking place in Europe. It is a RACE sanctione by the appropriate governments.
When I was younger, I did quite a bit of bicycle riding in Los Angeles, in many instances putting in forty miles a day.
On one occasion, I was almost hit my an imbecile driving in the wrong direction on Olympic Blvd. He then came out of his car and while we were “discussing” the situation heatedly, launched a physical attack while I was wearing a knapsack. (If I was going to start a fight, I sure wouldn’t do so wearing a knapsack.)
Luckily, this lardass was so out of shape, I was able to wrestle him down and disengage without hurting him. At which point, an LAPD officer came upon the scene and threatened to arrest me.
So, I’ve got a sense where bicyclists in Los Angeles are “coming from.”
That said, bicyclists in Los Angeles do themselves no favors with the non-bicyclists by the constant operation of bicycles on sidewalks–which is illegal, as far as I know.
Of course, not all bicyclists are on the sidewalks. I’m sure a high percentage aren’t. But those rogue bicyclists who are constitute a problem for pedestrians and for the general perception of bicyclists.
And I’m sure some of these bicyclists are on the sidewalks because they are scared to be in traffic, at the mercy of often idiot drivers. A justifiable feeling, in many instances.
Its a mess with no easy solutions.
Thank you for your comment Anonymous. I think Monica might be on some medication because when she sees one cyclist do something wrong, she thinks that all cyclists are clones of this particular one and they all act, think, and talk the same.
But Monica, I’m an individual. I ride the streets alone and I ride the streets in groups just like any motorist (in fact this morning the 101 Frwy was packed with cars who blocked all the lanes and slowed down traffic. They must have all been together because they all headed south).
I stop at red lights because lots of motorists don’t and I don’t want to be run over (this morning I encountered several drivers who almost got into accidents with other drivers running red lights).
When I see the staggering statistics that annually we have over 40,000 car related deaths, I don’t think it’s fair to say that cyclists are aggressive, Monica. How many bike related deaths, where a cyclist hit the motorist and the motorist got injured or died, can you give me? I would love to hear it!
Yes, cyclists can hurt pedestrians and I’m sorry about your friends injury (and that’s a good reason why cyclists don’t belong on the sidewalk but on the streets) but I would say that you are really missing the point of this whole incident if you call cyclists cry babies.
The LAPD should protect the people. Protecting means looking out for the weak. And the weak on our streets are peds, cyclists and those in wheel chairs. Not a hummer driver who has a bike underneath its wheels.
I pointed out one incident however, anyone who knows the group of cyclists who go on rides and have seen them know its not just a couple. I’ve met many of them and in fact after one such ride they stated there were HUNDREDS of them. Did you forget about the incident in Hollywood when the news reported there were 1,000 cyclists who stormed the station. How do you think they got there on flat bed trucks? No, they rode their bikes and how do you think the streets were with that many bikers? The positive proactive approach would be to hook up with Der Wierner Schwizel corporation who are having a bike safety campaign now airingon TV. It would be great for LA bikers to get on board to spread the word on this issue.
Nice job, Enci. You claim that Monica must be on some kind of medication and then you turn around and make an apples to oranges argument on car related deaths compared to cyclist related deaths? Weird.
Dear Monica:
Here’s a suggestion: why don’t YOU educate other DRIVERS on traffic safety? Why don’t YOU ask people to stop DRIVING in huge groups of THOUSANDS of cars and causing gridlock? How about some outreach to your fellow road-rager?
I’m pretty sure you’re not going to do that, most likely because you think that YOU are entitled to all existing roadways as a CAR DRIVER, and expect the LADOT and other city agencies to provide you with drivable automobile infrastructure as well as the support of the LAPD to help mitigate the dangerous behavior of other drivers.
This is also what I expect as a CYCLIST on city roads, and that is a right guaranteed to me by the current California Vehicle Code.
How about YOU get proactive, if you feel that cyclists are such a nuisance, and get the law changed so that cyclists are restricted to sidewalks, or are banned from the streets altogether?
Again, I’m pretty sure you’re not going to do that.
More well-constructed viewpoints from hysterical cyclists…
7:58, What did you expect from people who spin their wheels all day?
HA HA HA!
8:20, it is YOU who are hysterical!
Albanese is old school.
Bratton just made him Deputy Chief of South Bureau. What was he thinking? There is very quick growing discontent for him with many of the community members.
Even most coppers don’t care for this guy.
Seems pretty clear to me — whenever cyclists say “all drivers are ____” or drivers say “all cyclists are ____” we get problems.
We have all seen cyclists who run red lights, make illegal turns, dart in and out of traffic, ride on sidewalks, etc. And of course we all know drivers who do the same (well, except the sidewalks part, maybe).
Better if drivers and cyclists show a little compassion and understanding. After all, many cyclists also drive at times. And many drivers at least rode a bike in their youth. So there is a basis for mutual understanding and with that understanding better things will come.
Now in this particular case who can say what really happened? As far as I can tell there were 3 witnesses in buildings, 15 cyclists, some number of people in the H3, and the police. But I’m guessing *all* of them behaved in a way that, in retrospect, could have demonstrated a little more compassion for the others. Each rung of this ladder of escalation could have been avoided had the previous rung been defused.
So now each day, when we head out in whatever vehicle we use, take a deep breath and think: Am I showing due respect for the others on the road? Can I be even more considerate than I am right now? And then act. I think that would be great.
What’s curious about all this commentary is how it ignores one critical point. At least it seems to me to be critical. It is the part where the police officer describes the bicycles running into the motor vehicle. I repeat: the bicycles ran into the motor vehicle. I understand that it is possible, or at least conceivable, to come up with a scenario in which the motor vehicle is at fault; for example, the case where two cyclists were seriously injured on a steep canyon road when the angry doctor cut in front of them. But the officer did not describe any such scenario. There is also testimony that a substantial number of angry cyclists swarmed the driver, to the extent that he was in fear for his safety.
It may very well be that motorists act dangerously around bicycles, and it may also be a fact that the police are unsympathetic. But these are general allegations that don’t seem to have much to do with the case in point.
So does anyone have information as to how the accident actually occurred, and in particular how it came to be that bicycles ran into a large motor vehicle on a city street? This suggests some improper driving by the motorist, but none of the posts here have, as yet, explained the circumstances.
Steve: Hello.
LOOK some are good riders obey, the rules and are courtesous to drivers and pedestrians. Then there are the unlicensed car driver on a bike who wants to be a vehicle some time or a pedestrian other times depending on which flow of traffic keeps them moving. This causes a lot of accidents. They ride on the sidewalk then bumps the curb and join the car traffic or cross traffic. Follow some of those people on the bikes to their car wash jobs and you will find numerous violations and near accidents due to there lack of knowledge and adherance to the rules.
I’m a cyclist, a pedestrian, AND a DRIVER in Los Angeles. The point here is that at the heart of this incident, the Hummer driver was attempting to flee the scene of an accident, which is illegal, regardless of who’s fault the accident is. The point is that by not doing their duty, the LAPD has hurt YOU, regardless of your mode of transportation. By not doing their duty, the LAPD has not only failed to protect a cyclist, but YOU as well. The LAPD has tremendous power, but also a tremendous responsibility to us, this city’s citizens. An injustice to one is an injustice to all. Replace the cyclist with any one else…your sister crossing the street, your boyfriend in a car…and imagine that an accident occurs and one party attempts to flee the scene. What would you have the LAPD do? Would you accept Deputy Chief Kirk Albanese’s report?
Additionally, I feel that many people notice irresponsible cyclists more because they are a minority. But start paying attention and you will notice irresponsible drivers and pedestrians. Just the other day I was in my car and pedestrians crossed in front of me AGAINST THE RED, and when I honked (Because hey, they may not have noticed), they gave me a look like it was my fault. Fortunately I am a considerate driver, so I slowed down for them, but they may not have been so lucky with a driver OR a cyclist with a sense of entitlement and strict adherence to the “right of way” regardless of circumstances.
I would also like people to consider their own reactions in an accident, or even just a near miss, regardless of the mode of transportation involved. You’re probably mostly pumped up because your life was just at stake because someone was inconsiderate or just plain ignorant, and in such a situation, it may be difficult to remain calm. So if a cyclist seems angry out there, just remember that she doesn’t have an airbag.
Just because one person messes up, does it mean that YOUR rights to protection should be denied?
It is possible to share the road. It simply requires a little compromise and consideration. I want you to get home safely just as much as I want to get home safely, because I know that someone loves you very much and would like to see you again.
Thanks for reading.
Y’all are having a ball while the REALLY BIG issues of the day like facing bankruptcy in Los
Angeles and Sacramento need our support.
Go over to City Hall – right now there is a
big meeting taking place and there will be meetings next Moday and Tuesday as well when
the full council will discuss the predicament
our city is in. We need all who can to go to these meetings, or else, call your councilmember.
And be sure to vote on Tuesday – I am voting no on all measures 1a-1f (read the fine print).
Once our city is saved, we can all enjoy our
bikes,right?
As a life long cyclist, bicycle commuter, Los Angeles resident and an LAPD police officer, I say that these mobs of cyclists with Midnite-riddaz are MOSTLY good and law abiding riders, and a bunch of really good and involved citizens! But, they have quite a few degenerate malcontents in the group who act like SAVAGES, and the group DOESN’T police itself very well, if at all! Also this city and the counsel members like this windbag, have done NOTHING to better the transportation infrastructure of Los Angeles. I have been hit 12 times, because people have their head in there rear pocket, and there are ZERO safe bicycle lanes in this city. That creates a very unsafe condition for bike riders and for people who drive cars on the LA roads. Now all of the sudden this counsel member is concerned??? Riiiiiiiiiiiight! Turn off the camera and see how concerned this women is. I will bet the farm that NOTHING will be done to improve the road conditions for cyclists in this city. Just a lot of hot air from windbags like this one. Demonize the Police, instead of admitting that your “Johnny [or Joan) come lately in this matter!”
For the record, I am NO fan of Deputy Chief Kirk Albanese! But, this city counsel member is a complete dolt and the contempt in her constant interruptions was palpable! Seriously, how could she be so obtuse? Asking why you would take the eye witness account of an “independent witness,” who happens to be 25 feet way, over an enraged mob? Is like insinuating, you take the side of the gang members who are from the same gang as the shooter, and happened to be in the same car as the drive by took place from, instead of the “independent witnesses” who happened to see the crime! She is a complete incompetent. But then I am sure she was posturing up for the camera, like the inept political hack that she, evidently is. Next time you ask a question, Ms. whatever your name is, SHUT UP and let the other person answer. It’s just the respectful and adult thing to do. We know your there, and don’t need you opening your pie hole after every point. And these people wonder why we think they are morons. Look no further than the mirror madam.
These traffic officers are the best at what they do, and rest assure that if there was a crime committed by the hummer driver, they would have been charged. Evidence and facts are pesky things that get in the way when you say one thing happened and the evidence proves the complete opposite. Everybody watches CSI, until the evidence doesn’t support their bias version of events. BUMP!
Much is being made of the fact that the driver left the scene, but the police officer who was reporting to the city council made clear that this was after he was intimidated by a large number of hostile cyclists and that he drove a short distance in order to avoid further confrontation, while reporting the incident to the police and cooperating with them in the investigation. In other words, the facts as reported by the police investigators (and in light of independent witnesses) do not support an allegation that the driver committed a crime or did anything reckless or unreasonable. The fact that he drove over bicycles that were left in front of the vehicle was considered to be an accident due to the circumstances.
In other words, I am reading a lot of conjecture and accusation based on long experience, but not really based on the facts at issue in this particular case.
I repeat: Can somebody explain the situation which resulted in cyclists running into a motor vehicle? Did the driver do anything to provoke this, or was it just an unfortunate result of a crowded situation? I remain open minded on this, but have not as yet heard or read anything to explain what really went on at that scene.
Yo Edward. Sounds to me like you need to pull your head out of your back pocket. Every question the council woman had was valid. Your saying all 3 witness were 25 feet away when inside a building looking out a window at 2 in the morning? I call bull s**t. Also, these SAVAGES you refer to, you might want to put that mirror you suggest for the counsel woman in front of some of your buddies at the department. Your reputation preceeds you. I have read many reports of this evening and physics does not support the LAPD story. The bike was damaged from behind and he flew forward, which his injuries were consistent with. Doesn’t sound like the result of a side swipe.
Thanks, Brent. You just convinced me to trust the judgment of LAPD over idiot cyclists like you.
Brent is a typical bed wetter! Sounds like the savage comment struck a nerve with ole Brent. Actually I hold the eye witness accounts of 3 people who were not drunk malcontents like Brent, much higher than the anti-everything crowd. Don’t act like a savage and you won’t get run over by a Humvee! For the most part. If a gang of violent rable rousers like you and your crowd circled my car and threatend me and my family with violence, scaring them you would get center punched by the front grill of my car! And accourding to Chief Bratton, a car is not a dangerous weapon, and you should be able to get out of the way! So get to steppin Brenton, and ride your tricycle off the santa monica pier. NERD!
Brent is a typical bed wetter! Sounds like the savage comment struck a nerve with ole Brent. Actually I hold the eye witness accounts of 3 people who were not drunk malcontents like Brent, much higher than the anti-everything crowd. Don’t act like a savage and you won’t get run over by a Humvee! For the most part. If a gang of violent rable rousers like you and your crowd circled my car and threatend me and my family with violence, scaring them you would get center punched by the front grill of my car! And accourding to Chief Bratton, a car is not a dangerous weapon, and you should be able to get out of the way! So get to steppin Brenton, and ride your tricycle off the santa monica pier. NERD!
Cyclists Keep Up The Good Work!
Three Days Left For Special Eletion.
Don’t Be Fooled By The Wolves Dressed In Sheep Clothing!
Vote NO on Propositions 1A through 1E on May 19, 2009.
Prop. 1A will raise taxes on all Californians and extend these taxes for one to two years, taking another $16 billion from you! The already approved tax increase will cost a typical California family $1,100 annually.
HIGHER SALES TAX! Proposition 1A will extend the sales tax hike for an additional full year. California taxpayers already pay the highest sales tax in the nation. This is a direct attack on all working families, especially low-income residents.
HIGHER CAR TAX! Proposition 1A will extend the DOUBLING of the car tax. This affects every California car owner.
HIGHER STATE INCOME TAX! Proposition 1A will extend an income tax increase for two extra years. Californians already pay the highest income tax rates in the nation. Under Prop. 1A, you’ll pay even more.
REDUCTION OF TAX CREDIT FOR DEPENDENTS! Californians with children will see a reduction in the tax credits for dependents, costing them $200 per child. Prop. 1A will extend this attack on families for an extra two years.
The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association is urging a vote of “NO” on Prop. 1A, which DOUBLES the tax increase!
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
http://www.hjta.org
Bob G,
You ask about the incident and the initial collision.
A group of cyclists riding on the street are approached from behind by the Hummer who honks at them. The initial victim was hit from behind by the operator of the Hummer. The damage to his bike was on his rear wheel. He was thrown forward.
This is the first mistake made by Deputy Chief Albanese as he gave his verbal report to the Council, sans the actual report (a compilation of three reports, initially logged as two reports and finally releases a single report with a single report number)
The second mistake Deputy Chief Albanese made was when he said that the statements of all witnesses were taken. I have forwarded the contact info another witness to the incident to the LAPD who was not on the ride or in the Hummer. He identified himself to the Officers at the scene but was told, “We already know what happened.”
The third mistake Deputy Chief made was when he referred to the responding division as both Central Traffic and South Traffic. A small mistake, but nonetheless, a mistake.
As you accept the veracity of the Deputy chief’s verbal report, please keep in mind, he wasn’t there, he is not responding to all of the complaints of how that incident was handled and he’s doing it without the benefit of the actual report. He’s also denying the CC the opportunity of reviewing the actual report by not bringing it with him. He’s good!
He may be very good at what he does, unfortunately that does not consist of giving an accurate report of the entire incident. It also does not include responding specifically to the original instructions of the CC motion that directed a report on the incident and a report on the education and training of the LAPD on the rights of cyclists.
I hope this is of some help. I would love to see the CC look into the incident and I would love to see the LAPD actually respond to the original CC instructions.
Stephen
Great, now a pimp from Howard Jarvis shows up — I guess we can assume that fewer taxes will mean more bike lanes — and then Stephen shows up with his eyewitness account of the incident AND his legal opinion/oversight of proper LAPD procedures. We are truly blessed.
Stephen:
Thanks for the clarification. As you point out, that is not what the officer said at the City Council meeting according to the video posted here.
As a long time bicycler in my younger days with a few fairly long rides to my credit, I have traditionally been on the side of the cycler and in favor of protecting cyclers from dangerous drivers. My more recent experiences in San Pedro suggest that the situation is more complex than I previously considered. In particular, large numbers of bicycles going up Pacific Ave block motor vehicle traffic, which includes me. Even when bicyclers are going 15 mph (a pretty good clip for a bicycle), that is slow enough to be blocking traffic in terms of cars. My experience is that the swarm of bicycles doesn’t move to the right, even though we have a well defined (and pretty wide) bike lane on the side of the street. I can deal with bicycles in the bike lane and on streets without bike lanes, even if that requires me to slow down and wait for a decent place to pass (something I end up doing frequently). But if the swarm doesn’t follow its own responsibilities under the law by riding to the right and allowing cars to use the middle lane, then they should be cited. I’m not surprised that a lot of motorists feel that the bicyclers are intentionally flauting the law. As usual in our under-policed city, there is little to do about it except mutter under one’s breath, knowing full well that the police are always somewhere else. I wonder if some of these confrontations between bicyclers and the police come about because the cyclers have gotten used to violating a lot of small stuff (like not stopping at stop signs and not riding to the right) and then the police ticket them for it.
By the way, the more recent problem is the skateboarders, who ride right down the middle of 4 lane streets. They usually are careful enough to get out of the way when cars approach, but it is a worry.
I say we TAKE BACK LOS ANGELES and ban bicycles all together. We don’t have enough police to spare for these lawbreakers when there is real crime going on! Either obey the laws or get off the streets!
Anyone who has the guts to ride a bicycle in the City of Los Angeles and surrounding communities has my repect and admiration. I own two two bikes and they get very little use because I’m not only scared out of my wits to ride them anywhere on our streets, but, I am also terrified to walking across our streets as well. Most drivers get in their cars and behave like crazy maniacs. Forget about courtesy, they have no regard for anyone! I don’t want my life to be in their hands.
This is another laughable comment. 11:43 is afraid of:
1)riding a bike in L.A.;
2)walking in L.A.;
3)driving in L.A.
My advice to Steven Box and Bike “advocates,”
don’t do us bikers any favors. Pulling LAPD, City Hall and City Concil into the biker world will only lead to laws on helmets, sidewalk riding, tickets and fees. So do us a favor, Steve Box – go find another “cause,” please.
Anything City Hall and LAPD touches turns toxic.
My advice to Steven Box and bike “advocates.”
Go find another “cause.” Bringing City Hall, LAPD andand City council into our relatively
unknown and unlegislated biker world will only create problems. Tickets, helmets, fees etcetc etc. Just leave it alone, Jake, it’s Chinatown.
Do us other bikers a favor and leave these toxic creeps at Spring St out of our business.
Great responses. Thank you!