Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) November 12, 2014
Neighborhood Watch Meeting
7PM, November 12th
3530 Cody Rd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
In the canyons above West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Bel-Air, there has been a recent severe spike in traffic. The neighborhood watch group on Cody Road, Sherman Oaks, has become increasingly alarmed over sudden traffic jams on the narrow streets. The canyon roads were never intended to be thoroughfares.
LAFD ordinances state: “If you live near a curve on a narrow street, it is unsafe to park near the curved area if it will prevent an emergency vehicle from passing. If your street is less than 36’ wide, it is unsafe and illegal for vehicles to be parked on both sides of the street. Parking is allowed on one side only.”
Due to the widths and curves of most of the canyon roads, parking is only allowed on one side. However, the spike in traffic on these roads is causing back-ups for blocks, which would hinder passage of emergency vehicles during a natural disaster.
After reaching out repeatedly to local Fire Station Captain, LAPD, and the Office of Councilman Tom LaBonge, residents were informed that it is happening throughout the canyon roads. A few of residents have spoken to the drivers stopped in traffic in front of their houses, and discovered that smartphone traffic apps are directing traffic to the areas.
Even the signage prohibiting turns onto these streets during high-traffic hours and police enforcement would do little stop this trend. Smartphone traffic apps do not take local laws and ordinances into consideration when sending the traffic to these areas.
In an ongoing effort to gain a "Bigger Picture" of the traffic issues in Los Angeles and how smartphones and apps are proving to disrupt rather than enhance people's lives, a Neighborhood Watch meeting is being held tonight and Mayor Garcetti and the press are invited to attend:
Officials expected to attend:
Officer Steve Slinsky, LAPD Traffic Division
Captain Gribbons, LAFD Station #99 (Mulholland & Beverly Glen)
Erich King from Councilmember Tom LaBonge's office
Other Officials invited but unconfirmed to attend the meeting tonight include:
Steven Butcher, Field Rep for Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, 46th District
Department of Transportation - We invited Brian Gallagher, the Senior Transportation Engineer from the Valley District Ops Division.