Memorial Day 2018: Bicycles at the National Cemetery

"Sir," they shouted after me, "SIR!" as I rode my bicycle from Veterans Avenue into the National Cemetery. For 364 days in the year that gate is closed, very closed. But today, Memorial Day, the gate between Kinross and Weyburn was wide open for cars to enter and exit.

For those who remember the National Cemetery before 9/11, when this gate was always open, Memorial Day has also become a memorial for the damage done to our Los Angeles communities by preventing pedestrians from using a pleasant and safe route between Brentwood and Westwood. Today, the closed gate has become the major obstacle for improving non-motorized access in West LA. The closed gate forces pedestrians on the Wilshire corridor, where high speed traffic, refuse, homeless people, interstate off-ramps and on-ramps make walking most unpleasant and exceedingly dangerous. Indeed, the closed gate forces people into cars.

"Sir" they shouted after me, "SIR!" "You have to dismount you bicycle."

And so I did, wondering, yet again, why drivers are given a wide open gate on this special day, while cyclists must dismount. Is there something more dangerous, or less ceremonial about a bicycle?

It was a beautiful day in a beautiful cemetery. I walked my bike to the proceedings and counted the bicycles I encountered. Perhaps next year, for memorial day, all these cyclist will not be greeted with a dismount command, but will be allowed to drive their bikes carefully, just as the cars, and to advance slowly and respectfully among the visitors.

Perhaps the Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs of the National Cemetery Administration Randy C. Reeves will grant those veterans who arrive on a bicycle the same access to the roads in the cemetery that is given to cars. Or Congressman Ted Lieu might raise the issue in advance of next years proceedings.

On my quick round I counted 15 visitors who should have received a warmer welcome than "Sir, you have to dismount." Here are the images to prove it.

Come again said Tom Rock, the director of the cemetery, come and visit us again, but he was clearly stressed as he directed slow moving traffic (cars) to move onto Sepulveda, no left turns, just straight and right, "thanks for coming." Perhaps next year there will be a better welcome for people on bikes attending the proceedings.

UCLA Bicycle Academy submits Public Comments to VA National Cemetery Advisory Meeting

On June 22/23, 2016 the Veterans Administration will hold its annual meeting of the Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials. Rather arcane stuff you may think, but when you find yourself screaming against the noise of speeding cars on Wilshire Blvd under the I-405, that is precisely the place where you need to bring your discontent. You are looking for a safe walking route between Brentwood and Westwood and find yourself forced, without alternative, onto the margins of a vulcano of motordom, traffic roaring past you, above you, around you, barely missing you as you need to cross one freeway ramp, another freeway ramp, one more freeway ramp, one yet one more freeway ramp. Before 9-11, a pedestrian gate at the eastern side of the National Cemetery would safely deliver you to Kinross & Veteran, avoiding the pedestrian nightmare that unfolds every day under the I-405. Now is a good time to re-open this gate.

The notice for the meeting in June invites public comment. Here is what the UCLA Bicycle Academy has submitted:

Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Robert MacDonald
Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, Ronald Walters 
Members of Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials
Robin.Cooper@va.gov


The UCLA Bicycle Academy was founded in 2008 as a group of UCLA faculty and staff. Our aim is to improve bicycle and pedestrian access to campus. 

For 14 years, pedestrians and cyclists at UCLA have complained that access to UCLA from the West is virtually impossible. Brentwood and Westwood are divided by the I - 405. But they are also connected by the green expanse of the VA West LA site and the LANC. A short walk or a pleasant bike ride before 9/11 has since become a stressful, unsustainable drive across the intersection of Wilshire Blvd and I – 405, ranked the busiest in the nation. After 9/11, a minor change at the LANC has created a major impact for vulnerable road users. Over 14 years, it led to the untold waste of resources, air pollution affecting our communities, and preempting healthy commute modes. The reason: The cemetery closed a pedestrian gate at the intersection of Veteran and Constitution Ave.

Our research found that the National Institute of Building Sciences issued a report to the VA in 2002 which offered detailed risk assessments of “VA facilities that must remain mission operational during periods of emergencies or national crisis.” Compiled in the aftermath of 9/11, the report included national cemeteries among the facilities which deserve highest levels of security protection. This assessment justified the closure of a pedestrian gate of the LANC. 

There are plans to expand the LANC, but for the well delimited geography in question, the cemetery is not active. There are no new interments. It is not clear to us what “mission operational” means for an non-active cemetery. We would like to ask the Secretary and the committee to consider if a non-active cemetery still deserves the high security classification suggested in the 2002 report. If this classification can be suspended, we would like to start a conversation about a pilot program for controlled non-driving access at the closed gate, without impacting the special ceremonial requirements of the site. We refer to the arrangements made for commuter cyclists at Arlington National Cemetery, which is an active cemetery. We believe that a controlled access pilot

• could benefit a large number of  (homeless) veteran wheelchair users who will soon reside on the VA site and currently have no safe (ADA) route to access educational and recreational facilities in Westwood 
• could offer employment opportunities for veterans
• could receive support from UCLA because it would facilitate non-driving traffic between the VA hospital and UCLA Medical school, which have very close relations.  

As part of a court settlement, the VA has recently released a masterplan for the VA site adjacent to the cemetery. The site will house many homeless veterans. The plan includes a traffic study which has failed to consider the specific transportation needs of a population which has rarely access to a private car. Many homeless veterans are wheelchair users, pedestrians or use a bicycle for transportation. The closed cemetery gate poses a insurmountable barrier for them trying access destinations in Westwood. The only alternative route crosses freeway on-ramps, is extremely hostile and dangerous for vulnerable road users, and has been the site many serious and fatal collisions.

Please submit your own comments to Robin.Cooper@va.gov

Preliminary Draft Final Master Plan Comments 2015

Regulations.gov: Preliminary Draft Final Master Plan: West Los Angeles VA Medical Center; FR Doc No: 2015-26945 is looking for comments

Deadline 7 December 2015: 

Here is what we had to say (link):

These comments pertain to transportation issues around the West LA campus. More specifically, they are focused on permeability issues for those who are walking, cycling or use wheelchairs for their trips. The comments are made without access to the traffic study by Crain and Associates, which has not yet been released. 

Circulation around the site is defined by the intersection of Wilshire and Interstate 405. This area is on the top of the national list of congested and high volume intersections. The recent widening of the I-405 and of Wilshire Blvd have created a very hostile and dangerous environment for those who use a wheelchair, who walk, or who ride a bike. The underpass under the I-405 is not in compliance with ADA regulations as the path of a wheelchair user is repeatedly obstructed by pillars, and other street furniture. Sight-lines are very poor. 

Residents of the VA Campus, many of whom will not have access to a car, must have an easy way to visit Westwood cinemas or to attend a class offered by UCLA Extension, shop at the farmers market or to visit a doctor. There will be only very limited car parking on the site and private car ownership for resident veterans is not encouraged. Non-motorized permeability and circulation from the VA campus to Westwood is essential for a success of the site. Without easy permeability for all modes between the VA campus and Westwood, the VA campus itself could become a ghetto. 

The most direct path from the VA Campus to Westwood is on Constitution Ave. This road leads through the National Cemetery. Prior to 9/11, a gate at the end of Constitution Ave provided easy access to Westwood. Since 9/11, this gate has been closed "for Security Reasons." The argument for the closure of the gate was made in a security briefing entitled Recommendations of the National Institute of Building Sciences Task Group in September 2002. It made the point that VA facilities, especially the hospital, are a special protected asset in case of a national emergency, but it did fail to provide any evidence why a non-active cemetery (e.g. closed to new interments) should require enhanced protection.  

The following site users will profit from facilitating non-motorized permeability towards Westwood: 

1) Wheelchair users who want to participate in educational, social or professional opportunities in Westwood. 

2) Medical Staff: Large numbers of UCLA medical staff, faculty and students work at the Veterans hospital. There is a constant flow of traffic between both locations. The distance between both medical establishments is only about one mile. Yet since the closure of the gate the only way to travel the distance is by using a car. This is unsustainable, takes much longer, and deprives users of what could otherwise be a refreshing stroll through a serene natural environment.

3) Those who enjoy walking for their trips and have any kind of business in Westwood 

4) Young people who will be living on the site will also be able to use this route to access destinations (schools etc) in Westwood

5) A large number of veterans use bicycles for transportation. A recent survey of the site has found more than 100 bikes parked there. The bicycle route along Wilshire is extremely dangerous. On Sepulveda, no sidewalk is present and traffic travels at 60 mph. The only safe route to Westwood for veterans would be through the gate at Constitution Avenue.

The final masterplan should include language that commits the VA planning authority for the campus to negotiate with the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) to achieve a controlled opening of the gate for those who walk or use a wheelchair or ride a bike. Wheelchair ramps to overcome the curb at the gate itself need to be installed. Creating a controlled access point at this location also coincides with a strategic goal of the NCA, which is committed to provide innovative employment opportunities for veterans.

Ryan Snyder has made similar comments here.

Update: The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition has also submitted comments relating to circulation for those users of the site who walk or use a bike. The LACBC writes: 

The VA campus in West Los Angeles is constrained by the 405 Freeway and Wilshire Boulevard, which functions like a freeway, with limited connectivity to Brentwood and Westwood. In the past, bicyclists seeking to avoid dangerous conditions on Wilshire Boulevard were permitted to ride through the VA campus and the cemetery on Constitution Avenue, however this access was closed in 2002. Additional development on the VA campus adds additional pressure to traffic on Wilshire Boulevard, making the need for an alternative bike-friendly route even more important. LACBC requests that the master plan take into account non-motorized circulation to destinations in Westwood and Brentwood and propose routes through the campus that are accessible to the public. We believe that this is a reasonable mitigation measure for additional traffic from more intense use of the VA campus and seek your assistance in establishing safe and welcoming routes for West Los Angeles residents who bike and walk. The traffic circulation study for the master plan has yet to be released. We request notification upon its availability, as well as a meeting with project staff to discuss these circulation issues.  

The complete letter is here, - thank you very much LACBC for participating in this important issue. 

Urban Master Plan: Planning the Future of the West LA Campus

The Department of Veterans Affairs, Long Beach Office VANLO, has issued Solicitation # VA26215R0653 for an Urban Master Plan and Enhanced Leased Services for the VA West Los Angeles Healthcare System Campus. Submissions are due May 4, 2015.

This solicitation fulfills one of the conditions of the settlement Valentini v McDonald "to engage a reputable urban planning firm by 6/15/2015, to assist the VA in developing an optimal New Master Plan for the West LA campus."

This process primarily concerns the VA and its duty to care for homeless veterans in the LA area. The wider public also takes a legitimate interest in the process, given the size and importance of the site. The VA has committed to "use the campus in a Veteran centric manner." (Veterans Homelessness Strategy & Action Plan)

In order to assist in the process, I want to highlight some elements which are so far missing from the Scope of Work. The document seems unaware of the widespread use of wheelchairs and bicycles among the veteran population, especially among homeless veterans. Homeless veterans have developed their own transport solutions, and the masterplan must acknowledge and plan for them. A recent photographic survey of the northern part of the site has found more than 100 bicycles parked in the front of buildings all over the site. A well developed bicycle network on the site and and robust connectivity to the surrounding communities should be an essential part of this masterplan. Active transport uses (walking, cycling) are also well aligned with the therapeutic goals of the VA (exercise, independence, well-being, community)

Those charged to evaluate proposals for the site should make clear that planning for all modes and all abilities, including pedestrians, wheelchair users, and those who ride bicycles, is essential for the success of the project. Proposals should be tasked to explicitly address existing challenges for circulation on and access to the site for active and healthy modes. This should include ADA compliant road facilities (eg the incline on Constitution Avenue) and the re-opening of the cemetery gate (closed since 9/11) as a safe option for veterans in a environment dominated by fast and furious interstate traffic.

Point 16b of the Scope of Work alludes to the involvement of UCLA health professionals with the VA Health system. Given the vicinity of both institutions, many employees and staff are currently using active modes (walking, cycling) between UCLA and VA locations. The planning process must be explicit in this respect in order to support and expand these non-motorized trips between UCLA and the VA.

Already during public comment to the WLA Masterplan 2011, the public has submitted comments that highlight the need to plan for all modes of transportation. Since that time, a large number of federal and state regulations have been adopted that confirm and extend the principle that mobility planning must cover all modes, explicitly including non-motorized modes. Caltrans has adopted a new mission statement which aims to "promote health through active transportation and reduced pollution." The state agency has also issued far-reaching Complete Streets guidance. The DOT has issued similar statements which require a comprehensive planning perspective which encourages and favors active modes. Sadly, there is no reference to these standards in the Scope of Work.

In addition, the VA (www.move.va.gov) and the federal government (www.fitness.gov) have issued physical fitness guidance which should be reflected in the masterplan. Public health benefits of active modes for users and for the community have been widely acknowledged (www.publichealth.va.gov). The site of the WLA Campus has often hosted such activities, for instance the annual VA2K Walk and Roll event, now in its 5th year. The VAGLAHS also works on sustainability issues in order to combat climate change and to achieve energy savings (www.green.va.gov). On the WLA site itself a number of parking facilities have been fitted with solar roofing. Planning for active and sustainable modes of transport promotes these environmental aims and should become an explicit part of the Scope of Work for VA26215R0653.

The Settlement: Valentini v McDonald

28 January 2015, the Department of Veterans Affairs reaches a historic breakthrough on the way to end homelessness among Los Angeles veterans. The lawsuit, initiated by the Annenberg foundation and taken forward by the ACLU, led to a memorandum in which both parties commit to make the West LA site a effective part in ending homelessness, just as originally intended when the land was gifted to the nation. 

Under the agreement, Secretary McDonald will also launch an accelerated process to develop a new long-term Master Plan for the future use of the West Los Angeles campus. This Master Plan, which is targeted to be completed by October 16, 2015, will prioritize the provision of bridge housing and permanent supportive housing.  It will also describe an exit strategy for third-party land use agreements that do not comply with applicable laws, and do not fit within the Master Plan.  Representatives from the veterans’ community will be actively involved in providing input to the Master Plan, along with other stakeholders, including the local community.

Attorneys for homeless veterans agreed to pursue a dismissal of the lawsuit Valentini v. McDonald, which was filed in 2011. Plaintiffs are represented by the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, Public Counsel, and Inner City Law Center, with the pro bono support of Arnold & Porter LLP, Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, and Harvard Law School Professor Laurence H. Tribe. 

Vincent Kane has in the meantime been appointed as the special representative for the VA, a non-profit to work with community partners has been promised, and a urban masterplan for the site is on the horizon. Promising times!

A Gallery of Wheels

A Gallery of Bicycles

Memorial Day 2007: A family on two wheels attends ceremonies at the West LA National Cemetery

More bicycles at the same event

Cars, motorcycles, and bicycles


Over 100 Bicycles encountered "in the wild" on the VA site (January 2015). Many more are probably parked in garages, inside buildings, out of sight. While the voice of those who ride a bike may be hard to hear, these images testify to a high level of bicycle use.

Bicycles are a solution for a large number of ills that affect our society and our lives. It is important to give them a safe space on our roads, and to encourage more people to use healthy wheels.

Without the right leadership, without good planning, this can be difficult to achieve. Those who do not see the whole picture are then left to pick up the pieces. The outcome is often very sad in so many ways. Instead of encouragement, we have prohibitions.

Bicycle riding on the sidewalk is prohibited (VA signage)