On the Re-Orientation of Los Angeles

Allison Arieff recounts her conversation with Aaron Paley, whose CicLAvia car-free festival has fast become a local institution. In what is well-known as the nation's traffic capital, popular enthusiasm for car alternatives has rapidly increased since the 1990s. From the article: "Where public transit in L.A. used to be the mode of necessity for those who couldn't afford a car, it's become a lifestyle choice for increasing numbers of residents. Former mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and his successor, Eric Garcetti, have promoted an aggressively bold campaign to make transit a cornerstone of the region's growth and development."

Demographic shifts, age, and race/ethnicity in particular, have driven changing attitudes. Gentrification around the walkable ideal is another worry. Paley argues, "In L.A., you have this weird symmetry at either end of the wealth spectrum. In richer neighborhoods, residents want everything to stay just as it is, and this form of NIMBYism prevents transit stations from opening and affordable housing from being built. And in disadvantaged areas, the fear that good transit might lead to gentrification has led to the opposition to new lines in transit-dependent areas."

In spite of clear challenges, Paley is confident: "If we can figure out how to move to the next incarnation — a place with viable transportation alternatives — then we'll offer a new model to emulate for all those cities that followed our lead into the car century. There are a lot more cities that look like L.A. than look like San Francisco, Paris, Copenhagen, or Manhattan."