In an effort to increase car-free mobility throughout Downtown Los Angeles, City Councilman Ed Reyes has proposed a plan to make some of our neighborhoods more bicycle-friendly.

Reyes, whose 1st District includes City West, MacArthur Park, Chinatown and Dodger Stadium — said at a recent City Council meeting:

“We have the Gold Line and Red Line here. Now, we need to tie in the loose ends by creating a bike network linking people to key spots like work, school, shops and museums. This motion will complement the overall network of infrastructure for public transportation.”

In addition to establishing bike-way infrastructure, a new program will be organized to allow bicycle rentals online or at Metro offices.

As a Downtown resident who chooses not to own a car, I can fully appreciate the push for cycling as a viable form of transportation. Often I find that bicycling is more practical, faster and fun than driving. I’ve also been able to experience a unique side of the city by taking side streets I wouldn’t otherwise travel.

However, a critical component of this master plan will have to include wide-spread availability of bicycle racks, since it is illegal to lock up at parking meters. Fortunately, we’re beginning to see these types of streetscape enhancements become more common. Though there is always the folding bike option.