Parks, Homes, Bikes, Trains? Debating RR Rights of Way

Recently, we have seen a number of proposals to alleviate the horrific traffic problems in Los Angeles, including a lunkheaded notion to use the L.A. River as an adjunct freeway, and a (facetious) proposal to create the world’s most expensive bike path. But is the idea of a city bike path really so off-the-wall?

Obviously, opening the L.A. River to automobile traffic would be environmentally disastrous as well as counterproductive: it would only encourage more commuters to drive, worsening the problems of smog without lessening congestion.

Why not convert the existing banks of the L.A. River to a two-way bicycle path? The idea is hardly farfetched. In Europe, many freeways have bicycle paths along them. Converting the river banks to bicycle paths would encourage people to bike rather than drive. The cost would be minimal indeed, and planting trees along the banks of the river would both beautify the area and help clear the air of pollutants.

MARK G. ROBERTS

Los Angeles