Monday, 7/7/97 Biking in a car’s world Bicyclists support
proposed improvements to encourage alternative ways to commute
By Matt Grace Daily Bruin Contributor Commuters jam in endless
lines of traffic along the arteries that lead to UCLA – but roughly
1,000 UCLA faculty and students avoid the daily grind by pedaling
to work instead of pushing the gas pedal. Sporting protective
helmets and a change of clothes, these traffic dodgers cruise past
stalled cars, reducing stress and saving time, money and the
environment. "The advantages were so great, that I decided to do it
all the time," said Fred Frankel, an associate professor of
psychiatry at UCLA who commutes from Santa Monica via bicycle. "I
am able to stay in shape without doing anything extra," Frankel
said. "I have not paid for parking since 1991," Frankel continued.
"I don’t know how many thousands of dollars I’ve saved over the
years." Virginia Park, an urban planning graduate student, has also
become addicted to the stress-free bicycle commute before and after
school. "It’s a great way to relax and be ready for my day," said
Park, who commutes from Venice. "I get so stressed when I drive in
traffic." The average person does not have the self-confidence to
bicycle in traffic, Park said. And most places offer inadequate
facilities, such as showers and bike racks, for those who wish to
ride their bikes. Many potential bike commuters are scared away for
these reasons, said Jerry Kurilich, project director for
Specialized Coronary Outpatient Rehabilitation (SCOR), a club for
heart patients that uses cycling as rehabilitation for heart
ailments. Kurilich is involved in a five-county summer venture
aimed at teaching 18,000 Southland adults the skills needed to
safely navigate traffic. Adult cyclists will be taught techniques
that will elevate their self-confidence, provide healthful exercise
and offer an efficient and fun commute alternative. As people
become more comfortable, they will slowly stop driving their cars,
Kurilich said. Companies and schools then will be forced to
accommodate the influx of new riders. In addition to the commuter
project, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is funding
a multi-million dollar project to create the Westwood Veloway, a
1.5-mile elevated bike path connecting UCLA to Santa Monica.
Although still in the planning stages, the roadway will provide a
safe route through Westwood, Park said. Two percent of the campus
population commutes by bicycle, said Charles Carter, marketing
coordinator for UCLA Transportation Services and Communications.
That number has remained relatively consistent over the years. "If
the Veloway gets built it will be an incredible incentive for
people to ride their bikes," Carter said. But the Veloway has been
on the drawing board for a few years, and no specific dates have
been set for completion. In the meantime, Frankel suggests slowly
easing into riding a bike to school or work. "You really have to
give it a try for a couple of weeks because it’s scary at first,"
Frankel said. "Westwood is a terrible place to ride (a bike)," Park
admitted. But some bike routes avoid the congested center of
Westwood. Along with other commuters, Park is currently working on
UCLA Bicycle Commuters, an organization that will provide safe and
efficient routes to campus in the future. The group will also
attempt to improve the riding conditions around UCLA. "It would be
great to have bike paths on campus," Park said. Potential commuters
may be discouraged by the lack of security, poor distribution of
bike racks and limited access to lockers, Park said. The ultimate
responsibility to create a healthy environment rests with schools,
businesses and the city, Kurilich said. Southern California has a
population of more than 14 million, and weather conditions that
encourage bicycling, Kurilich said in the SCOR newsletter. "We have
a tremendous opportunity to substitute bicycles as the preferred
mode of commuting to work, shopping or for recreation," Kurilich
said. PATRICK LAM/Daily Bruin Free from parking woes, a bicyclist
weaves through Bruin Walk’s foot traffic. Related Links Bicycle
Commuting in Los Angeles, about bikes in a car city Commuting Tips
on Bicycling