Radical Bikers Take Over Freeway
May 15th, 2008The Crimanimalz take over a LA Freeway during a recent commute.
Reports Chuck Squatriglia for Wired in “Radical Cyclists Take To LA Freeways To Say Bikes Are Better“:
For the second time in two months, a bunch of Los Angeles bike advocates calling themselves Crimanimalz took to one of the busiest freeways in the world to make the case that, when your freeways are gridlocked, bikes are better.
About 30 cyclists rode onto the Santa Monica Freeway (I-10) at the height of Friday’s rush-hour commute and went east to the San Diego Freeway (I-405), where they rode north to the Santa Monica Boulevard exit, moving easily through traffic. In all, they rode more than two miles.
“There’s thousands of cars and you’re just flying by,” said one of the group, called RichToTheIE, by phone on Wednesday. “It’s an amazing feeling.”
I’m planning to ride my bike to work to get into better shape and to save on some energy expenses, but I don’t think I’m planning on trying to take I-65 or I-80 / I-94 anytime soon! I’m actually going to ride a little out of my way to avoid traffic — it might take a little longer and a few more miles, but it will make the bike ride more enjoyable.
I’m also not planning to get all radicalized in support of bike riding. Biking will just be a utilitarian exercise to improve my health, burn off some stress, save some E85, and get a better sense of the surrounding area that one can’t get while zooming by at 45MPH.
If you watch the video below showing Crimanimalz take over the LA Freeway, make sure to keep an eye out for the guy on the bike that made of three or four stacked bike frames rolling in between cars stuck in the traffic jam. I’d be afraid of tipping over and falling off of an overpass if I was riding a bike that extended 10+ feet into the air.
Video: Radical Biker Crimanimalz take over LA Freeway May 9
May 15th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Neat video. That would’ve been fun. It’s much more effective in a group I’m sure, than trying to bike down I-65 or 80/94 by yourself
I only work maybe 5 miles from my house. I really should ride my bike. I only have to cross one road: Taft/Main St. just north of the government center. Everything else is sidewalk for me.
I’m just concerned about being sweaty all day in a professional office environment, and the County has crappy showers. Besides, this building used to be a TB clinic and I doubt they cleaned it very well, most of the rooms upstairs still have patients’ names and the bathrooms are disgusting!
May 15th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Hi Dan,
I’ve actually seen people riding bikes along the sides of US 41 / SR 63 in the middle of nowhere. I wonder if it is legal since it’s illegal to ride non-motorized vehicles on limited access highways. (The Crimanimalz’s video shows the police talking with two of the riders at the very end — the Wired story says they were given a warning to not do it again).
My office has shower facilities, so I’m a little ahead of the game. We also have lockers, so I could plan ahead and have an extra set of work clothes available.
I probably won’t do it every day — there are times when I’ll need to car to go out on the road, but on days when I know I’m going to be in the office all day, it will be a good thing. I’ll probably just take off earlier in the morning — maybe 6:30 a.m. or so when it is a little cooler — so I can ride at a leisurely pace and not get all sweaty.
I remember riding my bike everywhere when I was a kid — once I get going, it won’t be a problem to keep going. The hardest part is just getting started.