ELYSIAN VALLEY SLOW RIDE: AN INFORMATIVE, FUN FAMILY FRIENDLY, BIKE-PEDESTRIAN GATHERING
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The development of the L.A River Greenway continues to bring more users to the shared path, making clean air and safe use even more imperative. Residents, who used this area long before it officially opened for bikes feel sidelined as weekend cyclists race through. The monthly Slow Ride seeks to educate by example while advocating that clean air policies be implemented for the health and safety of all users. As more and more people use this area for recreation - whether on foot or in strollers, by bike or kayak - community dialog, clean air and safe strategies for all stakeholders becomes even more imperative.
Why a Slow Ride? On Saturday, October 8, 2016, a longtime Elysian Valley resident was struck and severely injured by cyclist on the Los Angeles River Path. According to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, “Due to inadequate available width, no separate pedestrian path is available (like the Orange Line Bike Path), thus pedestrians are legal and welcome users of the Los Angeles River Bike Path.” http://bike.lacity.org/our-bike-paths-are-made-for-sharing/
We believe that getting cyclists to abide by the rules of this shared path and ride for conditions such as riding slowly and thoughtfully enough to navigate around the many pedestrians who use this pathway – human and canine, young and old – is the first step towards making the Elysian Valley neighborhood stretch of the Los Angeles River Path safe for all users. Another aspect of safety on the shared path is air quality: Elysian Valley’s stretch of the Los Angeles River Greenway is critically impacted by freeways and the persistent problem of noise and air pollution from Metrolink’s Central Maintenance Facility on San Fernando Blvd in Cypress Park. To that end, community members who are both pedestrians and cyclists, join together in an Elysian Valley Slow Ride to enhance awareness of shared access, the need for breathable air, promote safety, and build community by creating dialog around issues that affect us all.
April Slow Ride, 2017, Conversation and camaraderie at Cafecito Organico / LA River Cafe
