Pedal power: Activists ‘stick it’ to oil companies
By Daily Press staff
Imagine a day in LA without any cars on the road.
Of course it won’t happen, but organizers of today’s scheduled “Bike to Work Day” can still dream.
The timing of Bike to Work Day may not have come at a better time for the individuals who started an Internet campaign asking the American public to refrain from buying gas today. The boycott is part of a national protest of escalating gas prices — which in Santa Monica have risen to as much as $2.54 a gallon.
Today has been formally declared by the campaign as “Stick It Up Their Behind Day” and the message has been sent to millions of people via e-mail this week. The theory is that if no one buys any gas in a 24-hour period, the losses to the oil companies will be so tremendous that they might reconsider their pricing. Writers of the e-mail message estimate it would hit the entire industry with a net loss of more than $4.6 billion.
“Remember one thing, not only is the price of gasoline going up but at the same time, airlines are forced to raise their prices, trucking companies are forced to raise their prices, which effects prices on everything shipped,” the e-mail message reads. “Things like food, clothing, building materials, medical supplies, etc. Who pays in the end? We do.
“We can make a difference. If they don’t get the message after one day, we will do it again and again.”
The city of Santa Monica is celebrating National Bike to Work Day today to recognize those who commute emission free, such as biking, scooters, skates and walking. A fully catered lunch with a gift bag will be given away, along with prizes, at the Ken Edwards Center, 1527 4th St. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free lunch will be guaranteed to the first 80 people.
Bike to Work Day is recognized nationally on Friday, the culmination of Bike to Work Week, held May 17-21. For the 48th year, the League of American Bicyclists has promoted the effort, part of National Bike Month.
It may seem like an unrealistic request to fulfill in a city where virtually everyone has a love affair with their cars, but the Metro bus line is pitching in to help the cause by offering free rides on buses and Metro Rail trains.
Nearly all Metro buses are equipped with bike racks in the front. Cyclists can always ride for no additional charge anytime on Metro buses equipped with bike racks.
Cyclists also can bring their bikes on Metro Rail and Metrolink trains for no additional charge. Since Metro Rail trains may be full during weekday rush hours, Metro doesn’t allow bikes on its trains from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. unless trains are moving in a direction opposite the peak hour flow of commuter traffic on the Metro Blue and Green lines, or either direction on the Metro Gold Line. On Metro Red Line subway trains, bikes are not allowed in either direction during peak hours from Union Station to Wilshire/Vermont. No other restrictions apply.
Metro is promoting the 10th annual Bike to Work Day in Southern California by offering a bike and other prizes to those who register online at metro.net/bike-towork before that day and pledge to ride their bike to work or school.
In the past nine years Metro has provided an estimated $83 million for 109 bikeway projects in Los Angeles County. These include bike paths along the Los Angeles River, in Whittier, Bellflower, the San Fernando Valley, Santa Monica, Long Beach and other cities, as well as bike bridges or underpasses, bike lanes on surface streets and signage.
It’s estimated that bicyclists make 2.4 percent of all the daily travel trips in Los Angeles County. Metro’s goal by the year 2025 is to double the number of bike trips to 5 percent to ease traffic congestion in the face of a growing population and the influx of more motor vehicles.
For more information on Bike to Work Day and Metro-supported bike programs, log on to metro.net or call (213) 922-2811.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 19, 2004. Read the original PDF.