Tag Archive for Los Angeles County

Caltrans posts surprising PCH draft master plan, LA County raises penalty for street takeovers, and a long list of bike events

April 17, 2025 / / Comments Off on Caltrans posts surprising PCH draft master plan, LA County raises penalty for street takeovers, and a long list of bike events
Day 107 of LA’s Vision Zero failure to end traffic deaths by 2025. 

………

SoCal’s killer highway could finally see some much-needed changes.

If we can wait that long.

Admittedly, I didn’t have high hopes for the state transportation agency’s Pacific Coast Highway Master Plan Feasibility Study, given their long auto-centric history focusing more on what can’t be done to improve safety than on what can.

But the draft document seems to offer significant safety changes on the 22-mile long stretch through Malibu, though with one key caveat.

As Streetsblog’s Damien Newton puts it, the draft master plan “covers twenty years of projects that could be completed, should funding become available.”

Okay, make that two caveats, given a lack of funding and the extensive timeline.

The plan calls for protected bike lanes for nearly the full length, other than a nearly three-mile stretch where the roadway is considered too narrow, with too many driveways to provide safe protection.

It also includes numerous pedestrian improvements, as well as calling for narrowing traffic lanes to 10′-6” wide, the minimum standard for Complete Streets, according to Caltrans.

Other possible traffic calming improvements — key word “possible” — include, according to Newton, “gateway signage, speed tables at high-traffic crossings, trees, and angled parking,” as well as potential traffic circles and roundabouts, including at the entrance to El Matador State Beach.

But as noted above, the problem — other than coming up with the funding, which could be difficult given the current environment — is the extensive timeline.

As a list of short-term projects makes clear, most of the proposed changes will come 10 t0 20 years from now, if they happen at all.

A major problem given what Newton terms the “staggering” 1,245 deaths and serious injuries from traffic violence in just a five year period, from 2018 to 2023.

Which means the improvements will likely come too late for many bike riders who have taken their chances riding the coast highway for all those years, myself included.

But it could leave a much safer and more livable highway for those who follow.

Photo from Caltrans press release.

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LA County supervisors passed a motion doubling the penalty for participating in a street takeover.

Which is nice, and needed. But it probably won’t actually stop anyone.

Thanks to Damian Kevitt for the heads-up.

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The most impressive thing about this one is watching the guy recover from a death wobble after descending a flight of stairs, more than once.

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We’ve got a long list of Twitter/X posts to catch up on, so my apologies in advance if Elon’s meddling on the site prevents them from embedding properly.

The San Diego Bike Coalition wants to pump up your tires and offer light refreshments this morning.

https://twitter.com/sdbikecoalition/status/1912538639462199489

Streets Are For Everyone reminds us about the bike ride and protest to mark the 3rd anniversary of Andrew Jelmert’s death at the hands of a speeding hit-and-run driver on Griffith Park’s Crystal Springs Drive this Saturday, as promised safety improvements continue to be caught in LA’s typical red tape.

https://twitter.com/StreetsR4Every1/status/1912234183696781562

BikeLA, aka the former Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, is joining Metro for a belated Earth Day Community Climate Action Day on Saturday, April 26th.

BikeLA is also inviting advocates to join them for a Handlebar Happy Hour at Santa Monica Brew Works on Monday, which is the actual Earth Day.

Mark your calendar for the next CicLAvia on Sunday, June 22nd, as Historic South Central meets Watts.

https://twitter.com/CicLAvia/status/1912627142824706228

The Militant Angeleno reminds us that ActiveSGV is hosting a five-mile open streets event following CicLAvia the same day, running from South Pasadena to San Gabriel from 3 pm to 8 pm.

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The war on cars may be a myth, but the war on bikes just keeps on going.   

Toronto bicyclists are challenging Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s new law allowing the province to rip out bike lanes in the city, arguing that the law violates the country’s national charter; Bloomberg says the controversy demonstrates why the best bike lanes always get the blame.

A London bike rider complains about gates on the the city’s bike network that are intended to keep out motorbikes and quad bikes, but instead deter elderly and disabled people from riding a bike, arguing the “anti-bike” gates turn Low Traffic Neighborhoods into low bicycling ones.

The owner of a Scottish pizzeria demands that the city rip out new bike lanes in front of his shop, even though it’s part of an $8 million project to increase pedestrian traffic and boost the city’s “café culture and night-time economy,” which should benefit him, too.

Sometimes, it’s the people on two wheels behaving badly.   

A New Zealand dog nearly lost his leg when he was struck by an ebike rider, which completely severed a tendon in the pup’s leg, after the dog’s owner says two men “came flying around the corner” doing at least 18 mph on their ebikes, and only said “get your fucking dog under control” before riding off; however, the 73-year old ebike rider says he was only doing 10 mph, and never saw the dog.

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Local 

South Pasadena warns about bike thieves, noting that most of the city’s stolen bikes were secured with flimsy cable locks that are easily cut; they also suggest noting your bike’s make, model, color, cost and serial number, as well as attaching an AirTag to your bike. Which gives us another opportunity to recommend free lifetime registration with Bike Index, which securely records all that information, along with photos of your bike — before anything happens to it. 

 

State

An engineering grad student at UC San Diego, and a handful of other bicycle enthusiasts, spend their Sunday’s bringing bicycles back to life with Bikes del Pueblo in San Diego’s City Heights neighborhood, working on a sliding scale that allows people to pay what they can afford.

Bicycling says the new Levo 4 e-mountain bike from Morgan Hill-based Specialized predestines a future where ebike features that are now included in the cost of the bike will cost you extra. But they hid the story behind their paywall for members only, so you’re on your on if the magazine blocks you.

 

National

A Texas man was killed when he allegedly went through a red light on his ebike, and crashed into the side of an ambulance.

New York is installing new, smaller traffic signals mounted on the side of the road at eye level for people riding bicycles to make streets safer for bike riders and other street users, while politely not saying they’re hoping bicyclists will actually obey them.

At least one city is funding Vision Zero, with the new budget proposed by Philadelphia’s mayor for the coming year containing $5 million earmarked for Vision Zero, along with another $5 million for a protected bike lane.

 

International

A British writer says electric road bikes are as dead as wool jerseys and leather helmets. Or maybe not.

The European Union could change the definition of ebikes, with a new proposal limiting them to having “bicycle-like characteristics,” with a maximum 1:6 power boost ratio, and a top speed of just 10 mph.

The bike-centric Netherlands is pushing a new campaign to get people to wear bike helmets, in a country where almost no one does; the campaign notes an average of two hundred bike riders a day end up in emergency rooms with head injuries.

Melbourne, Australia is about to open a new, eye-catching green bicycle bridge as part of the city’s bicycle superhighway; one bicyclist described it as like “riding through a disco.”

A police interview with Australian Olympic champ Rohan Dennis just hours after the death of his wife, fellow Olympian Melissa Hoskins, reveals it began with a typical argument over kitchen renovations, before she fell under his SUV trying to hold onto the door handle as he sped away.

 

Competitive Cycling

Mountain biking events at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are now set to be held in the San Gabriel Mountains at Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas.

 

Finally…

If you’re going to intentionally swerve your car at a bike rider, maybe don’t stream it live on Twitch. Your new retro-style camper could be made from recycled milk cartons, complete with a built-in set of pro mountain bike tools.

And get ready for waxed chains and new kits that are easier to poop in.

Okay, maybe not actually poop in.

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Be safe, and stay healthy. And get vaccinated, already.

Oh, and fuck Putin. 

Category: Morning Links / Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Update: 80-year old Long Beach resident Enrique Barajas killed by hit-and-run driver while riding bike on Atlantic Ave

January 22, 2025 / / Comments Off on Update: 80-year old Long Beach resident Enrique Barajas killed by hit-and-run driver while riding bike on Atlantic Ave

Enrique Barajas deserved better.

Then again, anyone who still rides a bicycle at 80 years old deserves better than to be killed by a cowardly hit-and-run driver.

According to investigators, Barajas was riding north on Atlantic Ave near Pleasant Street around 12:15 pm Monday, when he attempted to merge from the bike lane into the traffic lane. He was sideswiped by the driver of an SUV traveling in the same direction, who continued on without stopping.

The Long Beach native was taken to a local hospital where he died the next day.

The crash could have occurred where the bike lane ends as the road bed narrows under a railroad underpass, forcing anyone using it to move into the right lane.

However, some of the news reports indicate that Barajas was merging into the left lane when he was sideswiped by the SUV driver, who was traveling in the right lane. That suggests that Barajas may have been attempting to merge into the left lane to make a turn when he was struck on the right side, rather than the left.

Meanwhile, a Long Beach website raises the possibility that the driver may not have known that they struck Barajas. However, they should have known they hit something after seeing damage to the side of the vehicle.

Anyone with information is urged to call Long Beach Police Detective Johnson at 562/570-7355, or anonymously at 800/222-8477 or lacrimestoppers.org.

This was at least the fourth bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the first that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County.

It also appears to be the first caused by a hit-and-run driver.

Update: James forwarded the following information about the location of the crash. 

This area is essentially a highway with narrow bike lanes, on street parking which puts all or most of the bike lane in the door zone as well as intersection designs that assume bicycle riders can and will mingle with high speed car traffic at intersections.  It’s basically Huntington Beach but with on-street parking and narrower bike lanes.  He apparently  was hit while moving into the “number one lane” in an area where a parked car could conceivably force you into traffic.

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , ,

41-year old man struck by two drivers, killed while riding bicycle on Lincoln Blvd in Santa Monica early Sunday morning

November 20, 2024 / / 2 comments

Our terrible, horrible, no good, very bad November is showing no sign of letting up.

Now another bicyclist has been killed on the mean streets of Southern California, the sixth so far this month — an average of just over one every three days.

According to multiple sources, the victim was riding south on the 1800 block of Lincoln Blvd in Santa Monica around 12:30 am Sunday, when he was struck by a driver, knocked off his bike, and hit by another driver.

The victim, identified as 41-year old Los Angeles resident Bradley Allen Proudfoot, died at the scene. The Santa Monica Daily Press reports he was believed to be homeless.

Both drivers remained at the scene, and neither showed signs of impairment, according to police investigators. There’s no word at this time on the cause of the collision, or who may have been at fault.

Anyone who with information is urged to call the Santa Monica Police Department at 310/458-8427.

However, this is more evidence that Lincoln remains one of Santa Monica’s deadliest corridors, despite a decades-long effort to fix it.

This is at least the 51st bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 16th that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Bradley Allen Proudfoot and his loved ones. 

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , ,

Bicyclist apparently killed in Sunday Pico Rivera crash; few details, and no official confirmation at this time

November 15, 2024 / / One comment

There’s no official confirmation yet, but I’ve received word of a bicycling death in Pico Rivera.

A local resident reports driving past the aftermath of a collision involving a bicyclist on Whittier Blvd at Acacia Ave on Sunday afternoon.

They forwarded a couple photos, which I’ve included below. While they don’t show the victim, that damage to the vehicle is graphic, so be forward if that’s not something you want to see.

In one, you can clearly see a mangled bicycle in the street, 30 to 40 feet in front of a car with a shattered windshield, suggesting the victim was struck at some speed.

According to a Facebook post, the victim didn’t survive.

He’s identified in the post only as a young man; a commentator describes him as her nephew. But as with anything else on Facebook, that may or may not be accurate.

Unfortunately, that’s all the information we have at this time. So if anyone knows anything, please let me know.

But at least the driver stuck around this time.

Assuming this is confirmed, it is at least the 49th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 15th that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and his loved ones. 

Thanks to JQ for the heads-up. 

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , ,

Update: 42-year old Oscar Guardado killed riding bicycle in South LA hit-and-run; 17th SoCal bicycling hit-and-run death this year

November 7, 2024 / / Comments Off on Update: 42-year old Oscar Guardado killed riding bicycle in South LA hit-and-run; 17th SoCal bicycling hit-and-run death this year

Sometimes it seems like they just don’t want us to know how deadly our streets really are.

Far too often, when people riding bicycles in Los Angeles are killed or seriously injured in traffic violence, it never makes the news.

Or even a lousy LAPD press release.

Not even for a hit-and-run, where notifying the public could help identify and capture the suspect — which is why we have hit-and-run alert systems on both the local and state level that somehow never get used.

Yet that was the case yet again last month, when 42-year old Oscar Guardado was killed in a hit-and-run while riding his bike in LA’s West Adams neighborhood.

According to a fundraising page posted by his daughter, Guardado died on October 27th when he was struck by a drunk driver, who fled the scene afterwards; unfortunately, it’s only raised $825 of the modest $7,000 goal for funeral expenses.

Guardado’s death was confirmed by the County Medical Examiner’s office.

An attorney’s promotional page places the crash on the 2200 block of South Normandie Ave, at 10:12 pm, but does not say how they came by the information.

Unfortunately, that’s all we know right now.

There’s no word on how the crash occurred, whether an arrest has been made, or how they know the driver was under the influence.

There’s also no word on how many other cases like this could be out there that we’ve never heard about, either.

This is at least the 47th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 14th that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County.

Seventeen of those SoCal deaths we know about have been hit-and-runs.

Update: The LAPD has finally gotten around to letting us know about this crash. 

At a press conference on Monday, November 17th — a full 20 days after the fatal hit-and-run — detectives confirmed that Oscar Ernesto Guardado was stuck by a driver at Normandie Ave and W 23rd Street at 9:55 pm on the night of October 27th.

The suspect vehicle is described as a black four-door sedan, but there’s no description of the driver at this time. Security video shows there may be other witnesses to the crash who have not yet come forward. 

Anyone with information is urged to call LAPD Sgt. Garbiel Nily of the South Traffic Division at 323/421-2500, or call the South Traffic Division Watch Commander after business hours at 323/421-2577.

As always, there is a standing $50,000 reward for any fatal hit-and-run in the City of Los Angeles.

Although the odds of finding the suspect would have been much higher had the department made this announcement in the hours after the crash, rather than weeks later. 

Meanwhile, the crowdfunding page to help pay for Guardado’s funeral expenses has still raised only $1,400. If you have any extra money lying around, maybe you can give them hand.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Oscar Guardado and all his family and loved ones.

Thanks to someone who prefers to remain anonymous for the heads-up, and for putting the information together. 

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , , , ,

Update: Male bike rider killed in Covina collision Monday morning; few details available

September 30, 2024 / / Comments Off on Update: Male bike rider killed in Covina collision Monday morning; few details available

This was a bad day for SoCal bike riders.

Starting with a fatal crash in Covina.

According to SGV CityWatch, the victim was struck by a driver while riding his bicycle in the 1000 block of West Cypress Street, near Homerest Ave, just before 7:30 am Monday.

He was unresponsive when first responders arrived on the scene, and declared dead at the scene.

And yes, the driver stuck around this time.

Unfortunately, that’s all we know at this time. No word on how the crash happened or who the victim may have been — although CityWatch notes the crash occurred near Covina’s Northview High School, just 12 minutes away by bike.

This is at least the 41st bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 13th that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County. And it’s second in the county in just three days.

Update: Our worst fears have been realized. 

The San Gabriel Valley Tribune has confirmed that the victim was a 17-year old student at Sierra High School, Alexander Lopez, who lived in Covina. 

“We were deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of one of our high school students,” the Azusa Unified School District said in a statement. “Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to his family and the entire community during this difficult time.”

According to the paper, Lopez was killed at 7:23 am, when he was rear-ended by a the driver of a white pickup while riding in the right lane. He died at the scene. 

Actually, the paper didn’t mention that the truck actually had a driver until the final paragraph, when they mention that the driver wasn’t arrested yesterday, and the investigation is ongoing. 

My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and his loved ones.

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , ,

Update: Elderly woman on bicycle killed in Lakewood collateral damage crash; driver allegedly ran red light and hit school bus

September 27, 2024 / / 5 comments

Once again, an innocent person on a bicycle has become collateral damage, courtesy of a reckless driver.

All because she was exactly where she was supposed to be, doing exactly what she was supposed to do.

But had the misfortune of sharing the road with someone who wasn’t.

Multiple sources are reporting that the woman was riding near Del Amo Blvd and Norwalk Blvd in Lakewood around 8:30 Friday morning, when a Honda driver allegedly ran the red light and crashed into a school bus that was turning left onto Norwalk.

The car then ricocheted into the victim, who was waiting on her bike for the light to change.

The victim, who died at the scene, was publicly identified only as an elderly woman.

No one else was injured; however, the driver of the school bus, which was reportedly empty, was taken to a hospital for treatment of anxiety.

There’s no word on whether the Honda driver was arrested for allegedly causing the crash, or even ticketed for running the red light.

This is at least the 40th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 12th that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County.

Update: The victim has been identified as 66-year old Tami Hayworth; a comment below from Janine Huddleston says that Hayworth was her aunt, adding that she had a huge heart and a kind soul, and the best person she knew. 

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Tami Hayworth and her loved ones. 

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , ,

Update: Man riding BMX on sidewalk killed by wrong-way, hit-and-run driver in South LA’s Florence-Firestone neighborhood

August 28, 2024 / / Comments Off on Update: Man riding BMX on sidewalk killed by wrong-way, hit-and-run driver in South LA’s Florence-Firestone neighborhood

Nope.

Nothing suspicious here.

A man was struck and killed by a wrong-way, hit-and-run driver while riding his bike on a South LA sidewalk early Thursday morning.

According to Fox-11, the man was riding on the 7900 block of Alameda Street in the Florence-Firestone neighborhood just after 1 am Thursday, when an unknown driver jumped the curb on the opposite side of the roadway, traveling against traffic, and striking the victim on the sidewalk.

The driver sped off following the crash, leaving the victim, who hasn’t been publicly identified, to die at the scene.

My News LA places the location at 7927 Alameda.

Video from Fox-11 shows the victim’s blurred body lying on the sidewalk, next to his backpack and cellphone, with his BMX bike in the street nearby.

There’s no description of the suspect vehicle at this time, let alone the person behind the wheel.

But considering that the driver struck someone on a raised sidewalk, on the opposite side of a two-way street, it suggests they may have lost control at high rate of speed, or while driving distracted or under the influence.

Or that the crash may have been intentional.

Hopefully we’ll learn more soon.

This is at least the 35th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the tenth that I’m aware of in Los Angeles County.

Thirteen of those SoCal deaths have come at the hands of heartless cowards who didn’t have the basic human decency to stick around afterward.

Update: The victim has been identified as 37-year old Julio Castellon, while the location has been corrected to be the Florence-Graham neighborhood of South LA. 

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Julio Castellon and all his loved ones.

 

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , , , , ,

Breaking news: Man riding bicycle killed in Hyde Park hit-and-run; 12th SoCal bike rider killed by hit-and-run drivers this year

August 3, 2024 / / Comments Off on Breaking news: Man riding bicycle killed in Hyde Park hit-and-run; 12th SoCal bike rider killed by hit-and-run drivers this year

Yet another Southern California bike rider has been killed by a heartless hit-and-run driver.

KABC-7 is reporting that the victim was already dead by the time police arrived following the crash at W. 63rd Street near Overhill Drive in the Hyde Park neighborhood of South Los Angeles, just before noon Saturday.

He was identified only as a man in his 40s. His killer was apparently nowhere to be found.

Unfortunately, there’s no word at this time just how the crash happened, or any description of the driver or suspect vehicle. Hopefully we’ll learn more soon.

This is at least the 32nd bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the ninth that I’m aware this year in Los Angeles County; it’s also just the fifth in the City of Los Angeles — at least that we know about.

Twelve of those SoCal deaths have been the victims of heartless cowards who didn’t have the basic human decency to stick around afterward.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and his loved ones. 

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , , ,

Man riding bicycle killed by suspected car thief in Irwindale crash, collateral damage in police chase

July 10, 2024 / / Comments Off on Man riding bicycle killed by suspected car thief in Irwindale crash, collateral damage in police chase

Collateral damage.

A man is dead because a suspected car thief fled from police in Iwindale, slamming into the victim as he rode his bike, even after the cops wisely gave up the chase.

You know, just another “oopsie.”

The victim was riding near Arrow Highway and Rivergrade Road shortly after 8:30 pm yesterday when he was struck by the fleeing driver.

He died at the scene.

He was identified as 50-year old San Gabriel resident Raul Castaneda.

Police arrested 29-year old Hanford, California resident Jonathon Del Carmen Calixto on suspicion of murder, among other charges.

The indent began when police in El Monte received a report of someone stealing a vehicle from Longo Toyota on Peck Road. They began to chase the suspect, but called it off after about a minute.

Calixto continued to flee, apparently at high speed, before crashing into the victim less than six miles away.

He was arrested while attempting to escape on foot after abandoning the vehicle some distance away.

There’s no way to know if the victim would be alive today if police had simply attempted to track the vehicle from the start, rather than initiating a dangerous chase.

But it might be worth trying next time.

This is at least the 28th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the eighth that I’m aware of already this year in Los Angeles County.

My deepest sympathy and prayers for Raul Castaneda and all his loved ones.

Category: Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: , , , , , ,
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