Comments on: Boldy Going: Ballona Creek Bikeway http://la.metblogs.com/2008/08/22/boldy-going-ballona-creek-bikeway/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:51:39 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: The loneliness of the long distance rider « BikingInLA http://la.metblogs.com/2008/08/22/boldy-going-ballona-creek-bikeway/#comment-52966 The loneliness of the long distance rider « BikingInLA Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:17:44 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/?p=14301#comment-52966 [...] I can only hope to achieve when confronting an aggressive driver, and risks life and limb to reclaim the Ballona Creek Bikeway. A writer from Ontario, CA (no, the other one) offers advice for safe cycling, but I don’t care [...] [...] I can only hope to achieve when confronting an aggressive driver, and risks life and limb to reclaim the Ballona Creek Bikeway. A writer from Ontario, CA (no, the other one) offers advice for safe cycling, but I don’t care [...]

]]> By: cybele http://la.metblogs.com/2008/08/22/boldy-going-ballona-creek-bikeway/#comment-52914 cybele Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:26:13 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/?p=14301#comment-52914 I have to admit that this is making me more nervous about biking on city streets: http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2008/08/another_melrose_robbery.php (Yes, at least three of those robberies are on my bike route home from work. Maybe I need a new bike route.) I have to admit that this is making me more nervous about biking on city streets:

http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2008/08/another_melrose_robbery.php

(Yes, at least three of those robberies are on my bike route home from work. Maybe I need a new bike route.)

]]> By: WILL•I•AM CAMPBELL http://la.metblogs.com/2008/08/22/boldy-going-ballona-creek-bikeway/#comment-52910 WILL•I•AM CAMPBELL Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:57:48 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/?p=14301#comment-52910 I carry pepper spray in a mount on my downtube. I carry pepper spray in a mount on my downtube.

]]> By: tropicostation http://la.metblogs.com/2008/08/22/boldy-going-ballona-creek-bikeway/#comment-52909 tropicostation Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:56:18 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/?p=14301#comment-52909 The idea of abandoning a rare piece of multi-million dollar biking infrastructure due to the actions of a few thugs infuriates me. When you see suspicious activity or people on the bike path that clearly don't belong there, report it to the police IMMEDIATELY and make sure an officer comes out. Program the direct numbers of local police departments into your phone so the numbers are available instantly and you don't have to call 911 from your cellphone, which is usually a pain. When I'm on my bike, I also always carry pepper spray on my backpack strap. I started carrying it after a friend told me some crazy drunk guy started chasing him in Griffith Park. The idea of abandoning a rare piece of multi-million dollar biking infrastructure due to the actions of a few thugs infuriates me. When you see suspicious activity or people on the bike path that clearly don’t belong there, report it to the police IMMEDIATELY and make sure an officer comes out. Program the direct numbers of local police departments into your phone so the numbers are available instantly and you don’t have to call 911 from your cellphone, which is usually a pain.

When I’m on my bike, I also always carry pepper spray on my backpack strap. I started carrying it after a friend told me some crazy drunk guy started chasing him in Griffith Park.

]]> By: Matt Mason http://la.metblogs.com/2008/08/22/boldy-going-ballona-creek-bikeway/#comment-52908 Matt Mason Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:23:03 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/?p=14301#comment-52908 Cybele -- I had to wield the bike frame against dogs before I got the airhorn. It worked against dogs, but dogs don't have hands and fingers to grab the bike frame. Cybele — I had to wield the bike frame against dogs before I got the airhorn. It worked against dogs, but dogs don’t have hands and fingers to grab the bike frame.

]]> By: Matt Mason http://la.metblogs.com/2008/08/22/boldy-going-ballona-creek-bikeway/#comment-52907 Matt Mason Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:16:24 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/?p=14301#comment-52907 On numerous bike rides over the years through nowhweresville portions of Portugal, Canada and the U.S., I had another problem -- vicious dogs. I've been chased many times. If I was going up a hill with full panniers & could not ride fast, it would be a big problem. I tried many biker tricks, including ammonia in my water bottle (not so great when I was thirsty and reached for the wrong bottle). The thing that worked the best was an airhorn, the kind boaters use. It was a lightweight little plastic horn over the little tank of compressed whatever. It was VERY loud, and would stop the most vicious dogs right in their tracks. Would such airhorns work against vicious human thugs? I think a blast from one would stop me from approaching someone. If not, what light weight, LEGAL weapons could we carry while biking? Mace? Pepper spray? Nunchucks? Guns (registered, of course)? We could bitch and moan about this on blogs, or we could defend ourselves and kick some serious thug ass if necessary (and again, legally). On numerous bike rides over the years through nowhweresville portions of Portugal, Canada and the U.S., I had another problem — vicious dogs. I’ve been chased many times. If I was going up a hill with full panniers & could not ride fast, it would be a big problem. I tried many biker tricks, including ammonia in my water bottle (not so great when I was thirsty and reached for the wrong bottle). The thing that worked the best was an airhorn, the kind boaters use. It was a lightweight little plastic horn over the little tank of compressed whatever. It was VERY loud, and would stop the most vicious dogs right in their tracks.

Would such airhorns work against vicious human thugs? I think a blast from one would stop me from approaching someone. If not, what light weight, LEGAL weapons could we carry while biking? Mace? Pepper spray? Nunchucks? Guns (registered, of course)? We could bitch and moan about this on blogs, or we could defend ourselves and kick some serious thug ass if necessary (and again, legally).

]]> By: cybele http://la.metblogs.com/2008/08/22/boldy-going-ballona-creek-bikeway/#comment-52906 cybele Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:58:28 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/?p=14301#comment-52906 Is there a martial art where you pick up your bike by the frame and wield it like a bat'leth? Cuz I wanna be a black belt in that. Is there a martial art where you pick up your bike by the frame and wield it like a bat’leth? Cuz I wanna be a black belt in that.

]]> By: WILL•I•AM CAMPBELL http://la.metblogs.com/2008/08/22/boldy-going-ballona-creek-bikeway/#comment-52901 WILL•I•AM CAMPBELL Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:43:34 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/?p=14301#comment-52901 Ataki, I'd guess the path on culver Boulevard would be a good partial alternate since it only goes as far east as Centinela. Venice Boulevard's bike lane is probably a more complete option. As to your request for such luxe services from a bike shop, I've personally never heard of one that offers pick-up and delivery. The shop I'm familiar with in the Eagle Rock area if you're able to drop it off yourself is Budget Pro Bikes in the strip mall adjacent the Eagle Rock Plaza. Ataki, I’d guess the path on culver Boulevard would be a good partial alternate since it only goes as far east as Centinela. Venice Boulevard’s bike lane is probably a more complete option.

As to your request for such luxe services from a bike shop, I’ve personally never heard of one that offers pick-up and delivery. The shop I’m familiar with in the Eagle Rock area if you’re able to drop it off yourself is Budget Pro Bikes in the strip mall adjacent the Eagle Rock Plaza.

]]> By: ataki http://la.metblogs.com/2008/08/22/boldy-going-ballona-creek-bikeway/#comment-52900 ataki Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:36:40 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/?p=14301#comment-52900 One other thing, and unrelated, so I apologize, but does anyone know of a good bike shop in the Eagle Rock/Mt. Washington area that will pick up my bike, clean and tune it, and deliver it to me? One other thing, and unrelated, so I apologize, but does anyone know of a good bike shop in the Eagle Rock/Mt. Washington area that will pick up my bike, clean and tune it, and deliver it to me?

]]> By: ataki http://la.metblogs.com/2008/08/22/boldy-going-ballona-creek-bikeway/#comment-52899 ataki Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:35:25 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/?p=14301#comment-52899 It sucks to read these reports about this bike path. I used to take it from PDR to just past the 90 FWY, so I didn't ride this stretch of it, but I never had any issues. Is the path on Culver Boulevard a suitable alternate? It sucks to read these reports about this bike path. I used to take it from PDR to just past the 90 FWY, so I didn’t ride this stretch of it, but I never had any issues. Is the path on Culver Boulevard a suitable alternate?

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