Recently a new development has cropped up in the busy downtown area of Los Angeles: no not 85 degrees, although that was pretty cool, I now get a chance to get fresh baked goods and increase my waistline with the store just a stone's throw away. No not food trucks, those abound aplenty in downtown LA, especially around the hours of 11am-2PM. No, not an underground tunnel system, although that'd be AWESOME to avoid the heat in the summer (actually probably every other city should get that before LA, it hardly ever rains or snows or otherwise become inpassable). There's a brand new Macy's plus other stores fancy shopping mall near us. Not not Whole Foods, that's been around awhile and legitamizes Los Angeles as a real downtown, at least in hipsters' eyes; no not the new Korean Airlines building, that's still under construction and won't be complete until 2017, although every day I'm reminded of its gradual progression and construction (by the loud noises of steel and workers yelling). No not the new slide on top of the US Tower Building, that was cool while it lasted I heard but now someone's suing so it'll probably go on hiatus if not permanently abandoned (damn lawyers and this litigious society). Come to think of it, there have been A LOT of new developments in downtown LA since Eric Garcetti took over as mayor, and from what I heard from his interview with Freakonomics, he seems like a knowledgable guy who generally cares about the city. Which is probably why the housing prices are increasing, probably.
No, what I'm talking about is the brand spanking new bicycle system in downtown LA where one can rent a bicycle from one of the many tands around downtown LA and ride it to another spot and drop off that bicycle in that area. It debuted in the summer and is probably meant more for tourists than office workers, but it is an interesting option, if not for the fact it's a little overpriced at $3.50 for 30 minutes or sign up for the monthly plan. Downtown Los Angeles is actually a surprisingly nice downtown in certain parts, near Grand Park and city hall and Little Tokyo, but venture too far off the grid near Skid Row and it becomes extraordinarily nasty. If I were just visiting LA though and visiting the city for the firt time like I've done for many other cities in the US I'd grade it pretty high, except for the fact there are really no big buildings, no skyline. But the scenery is nice. The best view of LA, contrary to what 500 Days of Summer would assert (Angel's Flight, which is actually now closed to the public so you can't even get there anyway) is behind the Ketchum YMCA on Grand on the bridge to the Bonaventure Westin Hotel........a serene look down Flower Street all the way down to the I-10 on a clear day south, and Dodger Stadium and the Chavez Ravine to the north. Really pretty cool and worth it for a visitor to rent a bike to get to these places without wasting too much time. Surpringsly hilly in downtown LA though, too, which can be a good thing or a bad thing on a bike, depending on if you're going uphill or downhill. (Best to start on highest ground like Grand Ave. near the Walt Disney Hall, then roll downhill.
Regardless of the views, though, biking in LA just doesn't seem like a great idea from a safety perspective: lots of skateboarders, other cyclists, pedestrians all sharing the road with real cars, with no bike lanes and skinny sidewalks. No strict helmet law for people over 18, so you're free to ride carelessly and dangerously. LA drivers have a reputation of being crazy, and I must admit trying to drive with buses police cars and pedestrians and now bicyclists added to the mix is just tedious and open to accidents. This isn't Shanghai or other parts of China, LA is built for cars, and I understand the city's desire to shift to other modes of traffic than carz (great job getting a light rail all the way to Santa Monica, that was awesome!) but I'm not sure but until there are some bike lanes and bike-suitable roads it just seems like trying to throw stuff against a wall and see what sticks.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
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