By TED LUX
How do we reduce air and noise pollution, and lower health care costs in our city? What are a few tools we can provide to Angelenos so that collectively we become healthier citizens? How can we effectively reduce traffic on our busy streets and freeways? And, what can we do to shape Los Angeles and position it to become a world-class health-conscious city?
There’s no doubt a much more extensive light-rail system connecting various points of our city is needed. How about a rail-line along the 405 from the Westside connecting the Valley? How about a tram from Century City to Santa Monica? How about an “Express” from downtown L.A. to Pasadena or even Malibu? Those would all be great benefits for us to enjoy, but that’s not what I have in mind.
Our city needs extensive and safe bike paths built throughout town. Certainly we’ve got some nice lanes now such as along the beach from Pacific Palisades to Redondo Beach or around Griffith Park or from the Marina into Culver City. But in order to take Los Angeles to the next level of greatness, we need much more. We need paths constructed away from cars that can take cyclists safely to most points in our city. People should be able to commute by bike to school or work in greater volume. We should be able to ride for pleasure on world-class bike trails which we don’t have today. And, I should know there’s been a lot of mileage put on these 51-year-old legs. Can you imagine how great it would be for this area to have a tree-lined bike path from Santa Monica to Century City, continuing through Beverly Hills, Mid-Wilshire and ending in downtown Los Angeles near the Staples Center? How about one from the heart of Westwood through Hollywood and beyond? How about a path from downtown to the Rose Bowl?
Today, there’s no doubt the undertaking would be an expensive proposition. A new bond measure would need to be proposed, voted on and approved. But, I look at it this way: The cost of a $750 million to $900 million bond measure to construct several great bike paths will be more than off-set by billions saved on health care costs annually. We will be a leaner and healthier lot as more of us straddle our bikes and cycle. And, because of that, insurance premiums should come down across the board, and doctor bills, too. In economic terms it would be a tremendous use of “public capital.”
Imagine the other great benefits to our city because we’re pedaling more and driving less. Traffic and noise pollution would be reduced. Our air quality could vastly improve. The paths would provide greater enjoyment for more L.A. families. It just seems to me that our city has a lot to gain and little to lose from the proposition. Life quality would be raised in Los Angeles.
And think about it: Just as auto sales are slumping and dealerships are closing and jobs lost, the bicycle business would be booming and employment created.
Ted Lux has been involved in real estate lending in the L.A. area for more than 20 years. He is author of the investment book “Exposing the Wheel Spin on Wall Street.”
