Note: This article was first printed 21 June 2014 and is reprinted here for sake of perhaps saving someone’s life. Things have not gotten better since June of last year.

There were many pictures and examples for each situation but pictures and examples have been omitted for sake of brevity. Readers have their own examples of bad conduct in mind that will flash pictures. No need to add more. Readers know what is going on here.

Most of the California Vehicle Codes (CVC) were taken from Department of Transportations’ website, bicycleLA.org. Municipal codes were taken from the LAMC website. Captain Brian Johnson, formerly of Pacific Division, provided the change to CVC 21650 regarding crosswalks.

Are pedestrians endangered?
All pedestrians in this area know they are an endangered species trying to walk these once friendly, quiet cement paths called sidewalks. Now, the sidewalk stroller is bombarded by unruly skateboaders and bikers on a mission. Is the pedestrian destined to become extinct? That is another question.

Are vehicle drivers endangered–or at least their insurance, their sanity?
Vehicle drivers are in increasing danger from bikers who flaunt the rules in front of drivers just to get ahead of some other vehicle. Bikers, who obviously don’t know the rules of the road or just ignore them, jot in and out of traffic as they see fit causing cars to suddenly stop to save the rule-offending biker. Whose insurance is it that is in jeopardy? One would ask whose life is at stake, but we all know, and yet the biker continues to taunt and test the driver.

A Sunday stroll to the water or to visit a neighborhood with a friend or with an animal is on its way out. The motorists’ sanity and insurance is in severe danger too. Bikers and skateboarders are the ones causing this.

Don’t know how it is in other parts of town, but west of Lincoln in Venice with 16 M tourists a year and a congested set of roadways, it is chaos! Just plain chaos. Severe, endangering chaos.

Bikers and skateboarders are not following the rules laid down for them. They are both everywhere endangering themselves and others. Area has beautiful bike paths. Major streets have been greened for their pleasure. Yet, they continue to ride on a sidewalk, ride on a road paralleling a bike path.

This article has the official rules for bikers and skateboarders.

To the right of the road, stop at the sign, stop at the light
Both bikers and skateboarders must follow the vehicle rules of the road and stay to the right of the road, ride with the flow of traffic, and must stop at all stop signs and lights. They should also be giving hand signals … really!!!

Bikers-CVC21650
Bicyclist must travel on the right side of the roadway in the direction of traffic.

Bikers –CVC 21200
Bicyclists have all the rights and responsibilities of vehicle drivers.

Skateboarders-LAMC 56.15.1(c)2.
Traffic Controls. Persons riding on skateboards on public roadways shall obey all speed limits, stop signs, signal lights, and other traffic controls that govern right-of-way. .

Skateboarders-LAMC 56.15.1(c)3
Yielding to traffic in same direction. Persons riding on skateboards on public roadways shall ride close to the far-right edge of the roadway, and shall yield to vehicles approaching from the rear by moving to the right curb or shoulder of the roadway.

How many bikers and skateboarders do you see abiding by these simple rules? How many bikers and skateboarders do you see weaving thru traffic like a string blowing in the wind? Do they have to walk their bike at an intersection? Ask two policemen. If you get two different answers, you will be joining the chaos.

Stopping at a stop sign is a useless waste of time to both. How many have you seen of either skateboarders or bikers who do such. Ever see anyone give a hand turning signal? In fact, there is a movement by bikers to be allowed to slow down and cruise thru all stop signs.

Even though I just listed a couple rules for skateboarders, there are no rules for skateboarders according to skateboarders. They have grown up being king of the sidewalk and the road. Seeing people jump off the sidewalk is one of the joys of boarding apparently. Weaving thru vehicle traffic is an adrenalin trip. They love to see vehicle drivers suddenly go pale when they pop up in front of a car.

On the Sidewalk
Bikers and skateboarders can ride on the sidewalk but they must yield to pedestrians. What does that mean? Have you ever seen a biker or skateboarder yield to a pedestrian? Does yielding mean shouting obscenities at a pedestrian, running into them, making them jump off the curb into street, or gather their kids or animals to provide the perpetrator a safe passage?

LAMC 56.15.1 States:

No person shall ride, operate or use a bicycle, unicycle, skateboard, cart, wagon, wheelchair, roller skates, or any other device moved exclusively by human power on a sidewalk, bikeway or boardwalk in a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. (Amended by ordinance 166,189.)

“Willful or wanton” … now what does that translate to? Is that enforceable? Does a policeman have to be there and witness the pedestrian hovering on the fence or his blood splashing on the sidewalk? This is a subjective statement, not something legal and binding in court without blood and witnesses.

Crosswalks-Walk or Ride thru
Does all this “wanton and willful” mean he walks his bike at the intersection or does it mean he rides his bike thru the intersection? Skateboards do not have such a distinction for using the pedestrian crosswalk.

CVC 21650 (g) was added in 2013

This section does not prohibit the operation of bicycles on any shoulder of a highway, on any sidewalk, on any bicycle path within a highway, or along any crosswalk or bicycle path crossing, where the operation is not otherwise prohibited by this code or local ordinance.

The tax payers have given bikers million-dollar bike paths, yet bikers ride on the sidewalk. They ride on Admiralty Way where less than 100 feet there is a bike path. Why do they do that? If they were a car going 20 mph in a 40- to 45-mph zone, they would get a ticket. They ride on the road in groups slowing down traffic and endangering vehicles trying to pass. Law says ride to the right. The City has even eliminated a vehicle traffic lane in some areas of town to give bikers a right of way. Yet, they ride on the sidewalks and unauthorized streets when a bike path is assessable.

How many readers have tried to enter an intersection and had a biker fly the wrong way off a sidewalk and stop you? How many have had accidents caused by such action?

It goes on and on and on but it is becoming critical to the sanity of the vehicle driver and the safety of the biker and the skateboarder. The rules of “willful and wanton” lack legality and definity. The biker and skateboarder do not abide by any of the rules. Perhaps, they don’t know the rules or want to know the rules.

It is Update’s Opinion that:

the Council Office should take action to prohibit bikes and skateboards from the sidewalks west of Lincoln. Note: Am sure Councilman Mike Bonin is thinking “Are you kidding?”

the County should prohibit bikers from Admiralty Way. There is a bike path available less than 100 feet. Note: Carol Baker, Division Chief, Community and Marketing Services for Beaches and Harbors, said that will never happen.

the police should enforce the biker and skateboarder laws to keep them on right side of road and stopping at traffic signs, and of course, when they see a biker confronting a walker on sidewalk enforce “willful and wanton.” Note: Los Angeles Police Division officers have many more things to do than ticket bikers.)

Both Councilman Mike Bonin and Mayor Eric Garcetti speak of “bicycle use” and “neighborly neighborhoods.” Mayor Garcetti selected Seleta Reynolds, who was previously with the San Francisco “Livable Streets” office, to head the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.

Let’s work together to bring order out of chaos.

Let’s make a concentrated effort to put bikes and skateboarders on the bike path and abiding by the stop lights and going with the flow of traffic on the streets. Let’s get pedestrians back on the sidewalks. Let’s make neighborhoods neighborly again. Let’s give vehicle drivers a break instead of an obstacle course.

Biker Rules–California Vehicle Code (CVC)

Bicyclist Rights (CVC 21200) Bicyclists have all the rights and responsibilities of vehicle drivers.

Alcohol and Drugs (CVC 21200.5) It is against the law to ride a bicycle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Equipment (CVC 21202 and 21204) Bicycles must be equipped with at least a brake which allows operators to execute to a wheelskid on dry, level, clean pavement. Handlebars must not be higher than the rider’s shoulders. Bicycles must be small enough for the rider to stop, support it with one foot on the ground, and restart safely. At night bicycles must be equipped with a white headlight or white light attached to the rider and visible from the front. Bicycles must also have a rear red reflector and white or yellow pedal reflectors. There must be a white or yellow reflector on the front of the bicycle visible from the side, and a red or white reflector on the rear of the bicycle visible from the side. All riders must have a permanent, regular seat. Bicycle passengers under 40 lbs. must have a seat which retains them in place and protects them from moving parts.

Use of the Roadway (CVC 21202) Bicycles traveling slower than the normal speed of traffic must ride as close to the right side of the road as practicable except: when passing, preparing for a left turn, to avoid hazards and dangerous conditions or if the lane is too narrow.

Hitching Rides (CVC 21203) Bicyclists may not hitch rides on vehicles.

Carrying Articles (CVC 21205) Bicyclists may not carry items which keep them from using at least one hand upon the handlebars.

Motorized Bicycles (CVC 21207.5) Motorized bicycles may not be used on trails, bike path, or lanes.
Note: Motorized does not include electric vehicles.

Bicycle Lane Use (CVC 21208) Bicyclists traveling slower than traffic must use bike lanes except when making a left turn, passing, or avoiding hazardous conditions.

Obstruction of Pedestrians (CVC 21210) Bicyclists may not leave bicycles on their sides on the sidewalk or park bicycles in a manner which obstructs pedestrians.

Bikeway Obstruction (CVC 21211) No one may stop on or park a bicycle on a bicycle path.

Helmets (CVC 21212) Bicyclists and passengers under age 18 must wear an ANSI or Snell approved helmet when a passenger or riding upon a bicycle.

Direction of Travel (CVC 21650) Bicyclist must travel on the right side of the roadway in the direction of traffic.

21650 (g) was added March 2013 and this is an indication they can ride in the crosswalk
This section does not prohibit the operation of bicycles on any shoulder of a highway, on any sidewalk, on any bicycle path within a highway, or along any crosswalk or bicycle path crossing, where the operation is not otherwise prohibited by this code or local ordinance.

Freeways (CVC 21960) Bicyclists may not ride on the freeways where prohibited.

Toll Bridges (CVC 23330) Bicyclists may not cross a toll bridge unless permitted by signs.

Head Phones (CVC 27400) Bicyclists may not wear earplugs in both ears or a headset covering both ears, except hearing aids.

Biker Rules–Los Angeles City Municipal Code

LAMC 26.01a
Bicycle Defined “any device upon which a person may ride which is propelled in whole or in part by human power through a system of belts, chains, or gears and which has either two or three wheels…”

LAMC 56.15 BICYCLE RIDING – SIDEWALKS.
(Amended by Ord. No. 148,990, Eff. 12/17/76.)
1. No person shall ride, operate or use a bicycle, unicycle, skateboard, cart, wagon, wheelchair, roller skates, or any other device moved exclusively by human power, on a sidewalk, bikeway or boardwalk in a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. (Amended by Ord. No. 166,189, Eff. 10/7/90.)

2. No person shall ride, operate or use a bicycle or unicycle on Ocean Front Walk between Marine Street and Via Marina within the City of Los Angeles, except that bicycle or unicycle riding shall be permitted along the bicycle path adjacent to Ocean Front Walk between Marine Street and Washington Boulevard. (Amended by Ord. No. 153,474, Eff. 4/12/80.)

3. No person shall operate on a beach bicycle path, or on an area of a beach which is set aside for bicycle or unicycle use, any bicycle or tricycle which provides for side-by-side seating thereon or which has affixed thereto any attachment or appendage which protrudes from the side of the bicycle or tricycle and is used or designed to carry another person or persons thereon.

4. For the purposes of this section motorized bicycles as defined by Section 406 of the California Vehicle Code shall be included within the terms “motor vehicle” as defined in Section 415 of the Vehicle Code and as used in Section 21663 of the Vehicle Code.

Skateboarder Rules–Los Angeles City Municipal Code

LAMC 56.15.1 USE OF SKATEBOARDS
(Amended by Ord. No. 182,389, Eff. 3/17/13)
(a) “Skateboard” defined. As used in this chapter, a skateboard is any board or other flat object which has wheels attached to it by any means whatsoever and which is intended to be propelled by pushing, pulling, body movement, or gravity and to which there is not affixed any device or mechanism for steering.

(b) Skateboarding prohibited at specified locations. The City Council may, by ordinance, specify certain public roadways, public sidewalks, public parking lots and other public property, or portions thereof, on which skateboarding shall be prohibited.

(c) Skateboarding on public property. Persons riding on skateboards on public roadways, public sidewalks, public parking lots and other public property shall comply with the following requirements and restrictions:

1. Skateboarding in the upright position. Persons riding on skateboards shall do so only in the upright, standing position. Using, pushing, propelling or riding on a skateboard in a sitting, prone, kneeling or lying position is prohibited.

2. Traffic controls. Persons riding on skateboards on public roadways shall obey all speed limits, stop signs, signal lights, and other traffic controls that govern right-of-way.

3. Yielding to traffic in same direction. Persons riding on skateboards on public roadways shall ride close to the far-right edge of the roadway, and shall yield to vehicles approaching from the rear by moving to the right curb or shoulder of the roadway.

4. Uncontrolled intersections. When approaching an uncontrolled intersection, persons riding on skateboards on public roadways or public sidewalks shall yield to vehicles that are so near as to present a hazard and shall not cross the intersection at a speed in excess of ten (10) miles per hour.

5. Manner of operation. No person shall operate a skateboard recklessly or in such a manner or at such a speed as to cause or threaten to cause injury to himself or herself or to others, to create an obstruction or to present a hazard to the free use of public property by other pedestrians or motorists.

6. Attaching to or towing by vehicle. A person operating a skateboard shall not attach the same or himself or herself to any motor vehicle on the roadway. In addition, a person shall not knowingly drive a motor vehicle that is towing a person riding upon a skateboard.

(d) Penalty for violations. It shall be unlawful for any person to violate or fail to comply with the provisions of this section. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an infraction and shall be subject to fines as established by the City Council.