bicycling in L.A. (West Hollywood, Freedom: university, store, bus)

[Lou_the_grad]

I'd be in the areas not too far from UCLA, perhaps as far as Palms or West Hollywood.

Is biking safe, even past dusk? Should I worry about my bike getting stolen? Do cars deal well with people on bikes, or will I be afraid to ride in the streets? Thanks!

[EscapeCalifornia]

Be prepared to constantly dodge self-important, aggressive aholes in BMW's and SUVs and airheads on the phone.

[BRinSM]

i ride for leisure, exercise, and to commute in LA in the ballpark of 100 miles per week. there is an inherent danger in cycling in any city, but i've found that LA is a good place to ride as long as you are a confident rider. the westside of the city has pretty wide streets that are pretty easy to navigate, but i would still try to find streets with bike lanes. also, it never hurts to wear brightly colored clothes and have lights on your bike, even during the day. LA's public transit website Metro | around | LA Metro Home has a page somewhere in there that shows all the streets with bike lanes in the city/county.

also, i know you mentioned west hollywood, traffic in that area to ucla, can be terrible and it's not even that close. palms would be a much more convenient option and also has multiple bus lines that run to ucla for rainy days (which luckily aren't all that often). good luck and have fun!

[Lou_the_grad]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

also, i know you mentioned west hollywood, traffic in that area to ucla, can be terrible and it's not even that close. palms would be a much more convenient option and also has multiple bus lines that run to ucla for rainy days (which luckily aren't all that often). good luck and have fun!

Thanks for letting me know. West Hollywood seemed like a fun, vibrant district. but you are right, it's quite far from the university. If traffic is a problem, then that might be a deal breaker too, as it would affect both commuting by bus or traveling by bike.

[Santa's Neighbor]

I find most motorists in LA to be pretty considerate of cyclists. Some of the big boulevards are unpleasant for cycling, but I never really felt unsafe on them traffic-wise (but I'm used to urban cycling). Many motorists are even over-deferential at four-way stops and will not proceed until the cyclist has gone, even if the car has the right of way. Of course, I think some of those motorists are busy texting and don't notice they have the right of way... ;-)

[Cupcake77]

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[impala666]

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[SandyCo]

Yes, you should worry about your bike getting stolen. Always make sure you have a good lock on it whenever you go into a store or a library, even for a few minutes. It takes just seconds for a thief to steal it. As far as bicycling around L.A., you can do it but please be careful of inattentive drivers who are oblivious to anything around them except other cars!