Please don't park your bike like this.

I was walking around Los Angeles City College and  I was happy to see many students riding their bike and taking public transport instead of driving.

But sometimes when we're doing great in one area we sort of forget about other areas.

I was not happy with this sight:

A bike chained to and blocking the wheelchair ramp at the front of the campus.

There are quite a few differently-abled people who attend LACC and the Braille Institute is right next door, so being mindful of people who may not have the ride a bike option and only have the option to get around via wheelchair, cane or their legs is very important.

Now at this entrance in it's photographed state if a person were in a wheelchair they would have no easy options. They would have to choose the time consuming option of going all the way around to the side entrance.

That's not fair. It's not fair that someone in a wheelchair has to be late to class, because someone thought it would be ok to chain their bike to another person's path to equal access.

If your campus needs more bike parking let the administrators know that, because blocking access and taking another person's rights away, because it is more convenient is not very eco, in fact it's pretty freakin' selfish.

Browne

Comments

[Ed Greenberg]

I saw a similar situation outside REI in Santa Monica. Multiple bicycles chained to the railing of the handicap ramp. Bad bad bad.

[browne]

I think alot of people truly don't know or understand what the ramps are for. I think the public needs to be educated in regards to the modifications some stores make for differently abled people.

I've seen carts in the supermarket piled up in the disabled parking spot, the spot where your wheelchair comes out. I think people are more ignorant than selfish, but not educating yourself on the needs of others (especially if you're all self-righteous and eco) is pretty selfish.

You have to make your life universal and you can't have it just be about you.

[Gary K.]

Ed Greenberg,
I know what you are talking about with the REI ramp in SM. I'll write them soon about offering either indoor or outdoor bike parking. For an eco friendly co-op that sells bikes and bike parts, I find it surprising that they don't have bike parking of their own. I have a list and map I am building of bike issues in Santa Monica, and I will add them to the list. Once I get more data I'm going to present the information to the City Council and the businesses listed.