Los Angeles the city of freeways,smog, and bike lanes? (Oxnard: 2015, property taxes)

[forever200]

"Los Angeles: city of freeways, smog, and...bike lanes? That's where Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa wants to take his town. In one of the less likely transformations in the global effort to cut carbon dioxide emissions, Los Angeles plans to spend $230 million on 1,700 miles of bicycle paths. Most of the program will be completed by 2015 and includes changing rooms, showers, and bike storage areas operated by the city and private partners. It comes on top of subsidies for installing solar panels and incentives for planting trees and switching to electric vehicles. "We have to make a change," says Michelle Mowery, senior coordinator for the bike program. "We can't fit any more cars in." "

Fighting Carbon Emissions: Cities Take the Lead - BusinessWeek [Anonymoused]

What are your thoughts on this article?

[californio sur]

Great article! And very encouraging but Los Angeles is very spread out. With the emphasis on light rail\ subways combined with green technology and bike-friendly environment, Los Angeles will be a much improved city.

Do you bike? Did you read about the large bikers gathering in Hollywood last week to protest the BP oil spill? The cops beat up a few bikers for no reason and have been suspended!

[user_id]

This is good, unlike so much of the country you can bike throughout the year in Los Angeles. California can benefit from this sort of thing far more than other areas.

One issue though is who exactly gets to pay for it? Currently bikers don't contribute at all to this sort of infrastructure, where as people that own and use automobiles pay registration taxes and fuel taxes.

[DowntownVentura]

Originally Posted by user_id

This is good, unlike so much of the country you can bike throughout the year in Los Angeles. California can benefit from this sort of thing far more than other areas.

One issue though is who exactly gets to pay for it? Currently bikers don't contribute at all to this sort of infrastructure, where as people that own and use automobiles pay registration taxes and fuel taxes.

If I had to guess, very little comes from registration fees and gasoline taxes. I think most local roads are financed with property taxes.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

I would guess that most of the people could stand to ride a bike a couple times a week. We are getting fatter it seems. My wife and I went to our old club and were amazed at all the heavy people. What is up with that?

Heck I only live 6.5 miles from work. I could do it. Then again I am in the Oxnard area and work in Ventura.

[smokingGun]

I think biking is impractical considering the vast distances most ppl have to travel to get to work. Also it just won't work in the heat of summer when it's over 100 degrees & roasting. No one wants to get hot & sweaty & stinky just commuting or running errands. I think culturally we've got different standards of hygiene compared to other bike-centric cities in Asia or Europe... just sayin!

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Originally Posted by smokingGun

I think biking is impractical considering the vast distances most ppl have to travel to get to work. Also it just won't work in the heat of summer when it's over 100 degrees & roasting. No one wants to get hot & sweaty & stinky just commuting or running errands. I think culturally we've got different standards of hygiene compared to other bike-centric cities in Asia or Europe... just sayin!

So true. Lucky me I live and work on the coast and we just don't have that many 100 degree days. High 80's from time to time. Also we have places to shower at work so I really don't have any excuse. For the most part and for most people I would say that it is not something that can be done because of the distances involved to get to work. Not sure if busses or trains can assist those that want to ride a bike or not. While I don't have an excuse I see your point.

[MIKEETC]

I bike for recreation and exercise but I can't seriously consider biking to work or anywhere else I'd expect to interact with people. I once rode my bike to class about 8 miles away and when I got there I was sweating so much you would have thought I had poured a glass of water on my head.