To the editor: Kudos to Marc Papas for his venture and selling biking! And disgrace on the Los Angeles Occasions for the headline and framing of, ”Is Los Angeles the world’s finest biking metropolis?” and “L.A. is definitely bikeable” (“Is Los Angeles the world’s finest biking metropolis? He’s biked 5,840-plus miles in a single yr to search out out,” Aug. 4).
Claiming that Los Angeles is “bikeable” as a result of a younger male triathlete who’s unbothered by excessive warmth has the spare time and ambition to bike each road as a private problem is ridiculous. By the identical logic, Mt. Everest is a “hikeable” hill. Sure, folks do it — however it’s extremely onerous, and lots of people die making an attempt, so most individuals don’t do it.
Papas’ venture is exceptional as a result of L.A. isn’t bikeable. It’s a problem for all however probably the most match, courageous and decided to experience on most streets. Papas himself is quoted as wishing for a lot of extra bike lanes.
On this world, the headline is all most individuals will learn to kind an opinion. A deceptive headline like this one is a weapon for anti-biking folks to make use of towards the onerous work and progress that advocates for protected streets and energetic transportation choices have been making for a few years. If The Occasions says L.A. is bikeable, then there’s no purpose to vary something.
However we desperately want change; all of us have to have quite a lot of protected, clear, inexpensive, non-congesting, environment friendly choices for getting round in our every day lives.
Papas’ venture ought to be celebrated for the tough and harmful aim it’s — not used as a canopy for what L.A. isn’t.
Misch Takemoto, Los Angeles
