L.A.'s Transit Agency Gives Bike Safety a Lift

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has kicked off a new bicycle safety campaign designed to raise awareness of cyclists' legal right to take a full traffic lane.

1 minute read

March 19, 2013, 9:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


With a new Bicycle Master Plan in effect, bicycle infrastructure expanding across the city, and bike-share on the horizon, support for two-wheeled transport is growing in Los Angeles. Now L.A.'s transit agency is getting in on the act with an extensive safety campaign aimed at educating drivers, reports Steve Hymon. 

This week Metro kicked off "a bold new campaign to increase bicycle safety in Los Angeles County," said an authority press release. "The campaign, called 'Every Lane is a Bike Lane … Bicyclists may need a full lane; Please share the road' will include messages on the back of 75 Metro buses, 135 billboards and spots on 21 local radio stations throughout the region.  The campaign will run between March and May, leading up to Bike Week L.A. May 13-17."

"Public officials also held a photo-op Monday to help spread the word," notes Hymon. "If you’re a motorist and don’t like it, I have this gentle suggestion: perhaps you can join cyclists in calling for more bike infrastructure to be built that helps separate cyclists from vehicular traffic."

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