Hollywood Rides A Bike: Los Angeles' Local Bicycle Routes

Los Angeles magazine has gone to the bikes!

The April 2012 issue is devoted to the bike paths, the rugged routes and the hidden cycling adventures across this expansive city.

In honor of this cool, cruising issue, Steven Rea has provided images from his upcoming coffee table book, "Hollywood Rides A Bike."

The rare photos of Elizabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth and Brigitte Bardot will not only get you excited to hop on that two-wheeler, but they might even inspire your upcoming summer style.

Comments

[LMPE]

08:18 PM on 02/25/2012

Well, biking is a lot healthier, not to mention better for the environment.

[alguien]

02:11 PM on 02/22/2012

except that brigitte bardot had absolutely NOTHING to do with hollywood.

[Mattcat25]

11:53 AM on 02/22/2012

In comparison to other places LA isn’t a Bike Friendly City (or, collection of Cities). But, things are improving slowly, and ridership has increased and should continue to gain more participation because, you can’t beat the weather! (In comparison to other places).
80 degrees today in LA…

[alguien]

02:12 PM on 02/22/2012

one of the most beautiful bike paths in LA-along the river-is just outside my house.

[inLA]

10:42 AM on 02/22/2012

So many people commenting that LA isn't a bike town -- apparently have never lived here or ridden on the many bike paths, routes, and lanes around the city.

And access for bicycles is one of the major's projects -- resulting in more lanes and safer routes for bikes.

As someone who rides regularly, I'm glad to see the improvements.

[Fritzwood]

10:34 AM on 02/22/2012

Bardot never made a film in hollywood....but a nice shot.

[Westof405]

09:25 PM on 02/21/2012

LA is about as unsafe as it gets for bikes. People hate bikes because they take up their precious road space, so they have no interest in giving you the right of way. Re-striping Main Street in Venice and taking away traffic lanes to create bike lanes is just going to make people madder and traffic worse.

A few pictures of stars riding around a studio lot is not going to change that. The picture of Bardot was probably taken in France. Note that not one of these photos was taken in the past 50 years. There may be newer ones in the book, but this selection says nothing about modern LA or Hollywood.

[inLA]

10:37 AM on 02/22/2012

LA has built a lot of bike lanes in the city. I used to ride to work every day. It's a lot safer than cities without bike lanes, bike paths and bike routes.

[Marklar]

06:03 PM on 02/27/2012

I live in Venice and ride my bike more than I use my car. People in cars have been mostly aware, but I have had a couple near run-ins with cars pulling out of parking spaces. If the parking was away from the curb with the bike lane between the curb and sidewalk, things would be safer, but I am very happy with the bike lanes in my hood.

[Recalled]

09:18 PM on 02/21/2012

Better question is: ARE THERE ANY bike lanes on the streets or hey... a bus lane? NO. Mayor Villazapata is too busy leaving motels discretely.

[inLA]

10:39 AM on 02/22/2012

Are you kidding?

Villaragosa has been more of the bike advocate than any previous mayor. We have bike lanes, routes and paths being added all over the city.

Do you even live here?

[LMPE]

08:21 PM on 02/25/2012

Villazapata? What's the meaning of that? Trying to scare people by associating Antonio Villaraigosa with someone of whom most Americans only have a loose understanding, sort of like mentioning Saul Alinsky without noting who he was?

BTW, Pancho Villa is a hero to Mexico's poor.

[GoDogGo]

06:38 PM on 02/21/2012

"LA is a bike town"?! Funny, given that the only photos shown are shot on studio lots which are the only places in LA where bikes have ever been a) accepted or b) safe. 

Share the road folks. Bikes own those lanes just like cars.

[Recalled]

09:19 PM on 02/21/2012

That would involve city planning and a mayor. Which LA has none of.

A bike lane might mean LAPD can't spend a leisurely day giving cyclists tickets to generate revenue for a corrupt city.

[GoDogGo]

09:41 PM on 02/21/2012

Actually, the city has shown quite a lot of leadership on just those issues. It's motorists (who operate without an ounce of knowledge or an iota of police oversight), and the LAPD (who are just as ignorant as the motorists and 10x as disrespectful) that are the real problems for cyclists. Without police enforcement of existing laws and without an education campaign for motorists to get a clue, it'll never change.

[socalcde]

06:05 PM on 02/21/2012

I could ad the photos of my daughter after she got hit by a car while riding in Highland Park. I do not consider LA a bike riding city.

[TaurusRose]

11:01 AM on 02/22/2012

Know what you mean!
My husband grew up taking breakneck rides down the Angeles Crest Hwy.
I'm glad he's still alive(!) and I won't let him ride his bike except along the beach.