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I was riding west on the BC path at a little after 1pm yesterday, when there was actually fairly heavy traffic on the path. Under the 405 two gang members (this is what the police believe) threw another bike in my path, causing me to crash, and then sprayed me with pepper spray and took my backpack. I rode to the LAPD station on Culver Blvd., despite barely being able to see, and reported the incident since it was clear that there would be more victims. The attackers then used my backpack (which had a heavy On-Guard lock in it as well as several books) to assault at least two other cyclists (and possibly more, according to the detective I spoke with), pulling a knife on one (this is also what the police told me). My backpack was recovered by one of the victims who turned it in and called me. It turns out this is the second time he has been attacked in this manner on the BC path, this first time being left unconscious for nine hours. I did a search of the CICLE and LA Bicycle Coalition websites and found other stories of such assaults in nearly the same spot as recently as May and going back to 2006. The LAPD was helpful, but I got the sense that the BC path was not a high priority, even though the crimes there are likely related to gang activity in Mar Vista Gardens. The officer who took my report did not even know what I meant when I said I was riding on the Ballona Creek bikepath under the 405 (he kept repeating the question, “but what STREET were you on?”).
MOM-RIDA-Raquel08.21.08 - 10:37 am
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Clarification
BC = Ballona Creek not Brittish Columbia
This happened under the 405 at 1PM in broad daylight!
marino08.21.08 - 10:38 am
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I thought, by writing 'BC', you meant British Columbia.
This is actually Ballona Creek bike way under the 405.
Wow, and in broad daylight.
tern08.21.08 - 10:38 am
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Wow a brazen daylight attack.
skd08.21.08 - 10:40 am
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Perhaps fighter-escorts are in demand.
Tandems with heavily-armed, stokers?
bentstrider08.21.08 - 10:46 am
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These kinds of brazen daylight attacks have been going on for years on that bike path. When I first moved to LA, a road bike group I was riding with said to stay away from the Ballona Creek path for just that reason. Some roadies had the same thing done to them. One was tackled while riding, another had a bike thrown in front of him to make him crash. Both were assaulted, mugged and nice road bikes were stolen. Fucking low-life filthy gangbangers. IMHO, stick to the streets where being more visible makes you a lot safer.
0gravity08.21.08 - 10:55 am
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Marino, GYWA* to FO** what "BC" S4***
*Glad you were able
**figure out
*** stood for
Agent Orange08.21.08 - 11:07 am
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WTF,
I've heard this is going on on the 605 bike path near Carson St. Riders are being closelined and bikes are stolen.
dannyzuko08.21.08 - 11:10 am
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I really hate to hear this shit.
Its funny, this past weekend I was doing a tour de bikepath and rode the BC path, and then all the way down to Redondo beach and back. The only place I saw any lawenforcement was on the last mile of bike path in redondo where the cops were driving their cars on the bike path going 5mph blocking anyone from using it.
a few weeks back I had to find a small spot to stand to let an LAPD cruiser pass by on the BC Path. It was the tightest fit I've ever seen a car in.
I like to see police on the paths, its great, but wouldn't using some motorcycles be more appropriate? Maybe even, should i dare say, Maybe use a .... Bike.
Maybe we need some Vigilante Rides.
U-locks, Pepper Spray, Stun guns, zip ties
thegodofthor08.21.08 - 11:23 am
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I've been hearing about these for years. Its seems to go in waves over there. Most of the time its fine, but i'm not a fan of riding alone on it day or night unless with a group. I have plenty of other places i can ride without being possibly hassled.
stevo408.21.08 - 11:38 am
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It's worst when school's out. We had a string of robberies and burglaries up through Labor Day last year. It comes and goes the same time every year, it doesn't help that noone's making any decent money either.
turdfurguson08.21.08 - 1:23 pm
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Someone is paying attention.
This week I passed a cop on a bike, a little north of Carson on the San Gabriel Bike Path.
I hope this means they are now patroling the area regularly.
In 20+ years of cycling around here, I have never before seen the law patroling a bike path on a bike.
If I see him again, I'll be sure to stop and ask what's up.
Creative Thing08.21.08 - 2:09 pm
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ALWAYS HAVE YOUR GHETTO MEMBERSHIP CARD LOCKED AND LOADED;)
X-Large08.21.08 - 2:21 pm
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