Make Griffith Park Safer for All Users! #ToNotThroughGriffithPark
At 3:45 pm on the 16th of April, Andrew Jelmert was struck and killed while cycling in Griffith Park. He was pedaling the final stretch of a 67-mile training ride in preparation for a 545-mile ride from San Francisco to LA benefiting the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. He was killed by a speeding driver who also appeared to have been drinking. This occurred close to where our Executive Director, Damian Kevitt, lost his leg, and very nearly his life, to a hit and run driver in 2013. The driver was never caught.
Andrew was a Realtor at Deasy Penner Podley, working in their Silverlake-Echo Park offices. He was known to be humble and giving. His husband and partner of 28 years, Andre Goeritz, said, “Andrew, his life was all about giving, is all about love. It was all about just selfless service. And you know, to have been killed in that way — it just seems unfair.”
What exactly occurred was reported by the LA Times: Grieving cyclists call for a safer Griffith Park after 77-year-old killed.
Streets Are For Everyone is demanding that the City of Los Angeles and specifically the Department of Recs and Parks, return Griffith Park to the community, making it safe for the people who use it the most, not the speeding cars who use it as a cut-through. Please phase out private cars traveling through Griffith Park (excluding Park Rangers and public shuttles).
Griffith Park is the largest park in the United States which still allows private cars. It is a haven for the community and a popular destination for cyclists, runners, walkers, golfers, and families with young children - to get out for some physical activity and get-togethers. Yet the few bike lanes that exist do not have barriers separating riders from cars. The posted speed limit is 25 MPH, but many drivers go 40-60 MPH while using Griffith Park as a way to avoid the crowded 5 Freeway.
Los Angeles is the hit-and-run capital of the United States. In the City of Los Angeles, our pedestrian fatality rate is 4 times the national average. Per the Los Angeles Police Department, in 2021, there were 289 people killed (a 21 percent increase) and 1,465 severely injured (a 30 percent increase) compared to 2020. Cyclist deaths had a 13 percent increase, and severe injuries were also up by 22 percent compared to 2020.
There has been talk about phasing cars out of portions of Griffith Park for many years and efforts to make the park safer. We appreciate the fact that the current City Councilmember for District 4 has been making plans in order to accomplish this, but these plans need to result in action. #ToNotThroughGriffithPark
How Can You Help?
1) Sign our petition to Make Griffith Park Safer for all Road Users. Re-share our petition on all your social networks.
2) Text the link to the contacts on your phone. You may have a lot, so maybe share 10 a day till you get through everyone! :)
3) Share the petition with like-minded groups on Reddit or start a discussion about it.
4) Go on NextDoor and share with your neighbors.
5) Join the Griffith Park Action Team. SAFE and a group of volunteers is strategizing ways to make the Park safer for all. Contact us at Info@StreetsAreForEveryone.org for more information or to get involved.
