Stastistics are scare but abundant anecdotal evidence suggests the number of Angelenos who bike to work or around LA on errands is soaring. Bike retailers there are reporting a strong rise in sales, and transit officials say the number of bikers who ride to bus or train stops is up sharply. The cycling population has been labelled "eclectic, sensitive and aware citizens, intent on living a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly lifestyle". Bike vs driver relations in LA have been notoriously uneasy however and surviving as a cyclist in a car-obsessed culture like LA's can be a challenge, and often a hazard. One recent incident has really got people talking :

On July 4th, two experienced cyclists suffered serious injuries after an altercation with a motorist, who allegedly slammed on his brakes in front of them, causing them to crash into his vehicle. One of the men's face went through the car's back window while the other suffered a serious shoulder injury. The driver was arrested on suspicion of assault.

In an effort to raise city-wide awareness about cyclist rights and road sharing a "Cyclists Bill of Rights" has been set out by the Bike Writers Collective. Click the thumbnail below for enlarged jpg of the bill :

The bill was put to LA City Council by Councilman Bill Rosendahl on July 11th after winning unanimous backing from fellow councillors. It calls for transportation, planning and public works officials as well as the LA bicycle advisory committee, city attorney and police department to draw up reports recommending "how to incorporate the principles enshrined in the cyclists' bill of rights into the city of Los Angeles bicycle master plan".

A council spokesmen said "If it's adopted it will ensure that bikes have all the rights and responsibilities that a car or motorcycle would have." The date of the bill's hearing at the Council's Transportation Committee is as yet unconfirmed. Watch this space, the result of this motion is likely to affect policy in other major urban centres, potentially globally.