Potholes lining the city streets frustrate Renee Luthra. She commutes to campus by a combination of public bus and bicycle from the university apartments.
The post-doctoral scholar in the UCLA International Institute said the potholes threaten her safety. The alternative is riding on the sidewalk, but Luthra said she doesn’t want to interfere with pedestrian space.
Experts in public health, urban planning, sustainability and transportation will address cycling-related issues like those experienced by Luthra at the “Creating a Bikeable UCLA” event, which will be held at the California NanoSystems Institute today.
The goal of the conference is to identify problems with and solutions to bicycle infrastructure on campus and in the greater Los Angeles area. Speakers will also promote the health and environmental benefits of cycling.
Renee Fortier, executive director of UCLA Events and Transportation, will outline current initiatives that support biking on campus and share plans for future programs. In March 2006, UCLA Transportation finalized the UCLA Bicycle Master Plan, which outlines existing bicycle policies and facilities on campus, as well as goals for improving the infrastructure.
The department has implemented several programs and facilities such as the John Wooden Center’s Community Bike Shop and Rental Center, Fortier said.
The Bruin Commuter Club offers incentives for staff and students who primarily use alternative transportation, such as cheaper daily parking rates. In the next academic year, UCLA Transportation plans to extend the benefits to include a $50 voucher for bike repair services and accessories, Fortier said. The department has also been involved in campus and public advocacy campaigns to support cyclists, such as the “Give Me 3″ ad campaign and “Share the Road” signs.
Last year, the department sent a letter to city officials recommending streets for potential bike lanes, Fortier said. Councilman Paul Koretz of the Los Angeles City Council collected the recommendations and submitted them to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Safety, both in L.A. and on campus, is another key component of the conference, organizers said.
Mihai Peteu, print lab manager for the Design | Media Arts department, commutes by bike most days from West Los Angeles to UCLA. Otherwise, he takes the bus.
“Westwood is just a total circus,” Peteu said, referring to unkempt streets and the constant flow of buses and cars in the right lane, where bikes usually ride.
UCLA Transportation is working to implement new infrastructure on campus like bicycle channels along the stairways in central campus and a bicycle “hub” program. The bikes could be borrowed from and returned to any hub on campus.
Lack of bike lanes and signage, as well as inadequate education, pose the largest obstacles to L.A. cyclists, said Chris Millbern, supervisor of the Community Bike Shop and Rental Center and fourth-year ecology, behavior and evolution student.
He added that drivers often don’t recognize cyclists’ place on the road. Some act aggressively by honking and passing bikes unsafely on the street.