The Racks Add Not Only Convenience, But Safety
Cyclists no longer have to take their bikes with them on the sand or chain them to a sign when they visit Venice Beach.
By the end of next week, as many as four circular concrete bike racks will be installed at the northwest corner of the Venice Pier parking lot. The racks were installed by the L.A. County Department of Beaches and Harbors, according to Venice Electric Light Parade Founder and bicycle advocate Marcus Gladney.
The impetus for the racks happened nearly a year ago, when Gladney witnessed how an absence of the frames is not only inconvenient, but dangerous.
One day in July of last year, a handicapped woman walked out of her car using her walker. As she was passing a handicapped parking sign, where someone had chained up their bicycle, the woman’s walker got caught up on one of its wheels, causing her to nearly fall to the ground before her family saved her.
After the incident, Gladney made a social media post describing the situation along with his concerns. That post, according to him, found its way to officials who, almost a year later after “paperwork and zoning matters”, have begun installing the racks.
“I could’ve believe this pier had been here over a hundred years and there weren’t any bike racks anywhere. So when people go out to the sand to have a beach day, they take bikes with them or chain them to places they shouldn’t be,” said Gladney, who said he’s also working with officials to add signage stating that bikes chained to handicapped signs will be confiscated.
“Any place I deem necessary to need bike racks, I’ll put out a post about it, and we’ll (county and city officials) be able to work together to make it happen,” said Gladney.
