Larchmont’s Last Stand

Well, not the Boulevard’s last bike rack, but its last meter converted to a bike rack…the city, for reason’s no one has yet explained to me despite numerous inquiries, is removing the paystations placed along the boulevard a good while back and reverting to parking meters.

I have noticed Larchmontians slouching with befuddled expressions in front of paystations, scratching their heads, collaring passersby for advice, so maybe they are in fact incapable of learning this new but uncomplicated way to offset their vast parking subsidies.

Be that as it may, the paystations are being replaced with meters on sticks, and that means that the old sticks, which had been converted to post-and-ring bike racks, are being mercilessly uprooted.

Which will lead to a loss of thirty-three bike racks on a block that sees hordes of people pedaling in, and where both inverted-U and post-and-rings racks are often almost completely occupied.

There isn’t room on the sidewalk (claims LADOT) for many more standard racks. No one is quite sure what they’re going to do.

Except, of course, call a meeting to let us “help” with the problem.

A typically unannounced meeting, whose existence was finally revealed to me after ten or more email exchanges with LADOT, LACBC (who knew nothing of this), and councilmember LaBonge’s office.

Yup, the same LaBonge who wants to shunt Valley cyclists off Lankershim, where all the destinations are, and onto Vineland, where there’s…nothing much at all.

And, of course, the meeting is tomorrow morning at 8:30AM!

I am booked, and can’t go. But if any of you can get there, please show up.

Bike parking is being gutted in a place where the plethora of racks inspired dozens of shoppers and diners per day to pedal in on two wheels to enjoy the relaxed village atmosphere.

Now they will have to stay away, or crowd the little village with still more car congestion.

Here are the meeting details: