Bikers, walkers driven to unseat motorists

from: Alvarez, Fred. "Bikers, Walkers Driven to Unseat Motorists," Los Angeles Times, 16 September 2005.

The parking lot at the Ventura fairgrounds was virtually empty Thursday for the start of California's major conference to promote bicycling and walking. But that's exactly what event organizers expected.

Scores of participants hiked, pedaled and skateboarded to Walk and Roll California 2005, a two-day strategy session aimed at getting people out of their cars and on their feet or bicycle seats.

"We practice what we preach," said conference organizer Gail Payne, a Berkeley-based transportation planner who specializes in cycling and pedestrian issues. "Our mission is to make sure bicycling and walking are safer and more accessible throughout California."

In a land where the car is king, that is no easy task. But conference organizers say their efforts have been aided lately by skyrocketing gas prices and an emerging battle against obesity, issues that have made cycling and walking more attractive to the public.Still, those gathered Thursday at the oceanfront fairgrounds say they have plenty of speed bumps to maneuver. . . .