A groundbreaking pilot program has been launched in South Los Angeles, bringing 250 electric bikes to the area and offering residents a new, sustainable mode of transportation. Spearheaded by a coalition of community-based organizations, the initiative, named South Central Power Up, seeks to address transportation challenges in South L.A., where reliable public transportation is often lacking, and high gas prices place a significant financial burden on residents.
“How often do we get to experience electric bikes in South L.A.?” said Adé Neff of the Ride On Bike Shop located in Leimert Park. His shop is one of the community organizations working on the South Central Power Up program. “Electric bikes are all over the city. But they’re not within South L.A.”
Another group in the coalition, the People for Mobility Justice, is led by Lena Williams, who said, “We’re offering opportunities to folks that will allow them to have more autonomy and agency over their travel and commute.”
The e-bike rental program represents a significant milestone in efforts to expand access to affordable and environmentally friendly transportation options. Participants in the program undergo safety training before borrowing an e-bike for at least a month, with the option to renew the rental for free during the first six months. Following the initial period, participants can continue to rent the bikes for a small fee, providing a flexible and cost-effective transportation solution for residents.
The introduction of e-bikes to South Los Angeles is expected to have far-reaching benefits for the community. Beyond offering residents a convenient means of travel, the program aims to reduce reliance on traditional modes of transportation, such as cars, which contribute to air and climate pollution. With the majority of car trips being relatively short, e-bikes present a sustainable alternative for daily commutes and errands, potentially alleviating the environmental impact of conventional transportation methods.
“The streets of South Central are notoriously dangerous, whether you’re walking, biking, driving,” Lena Williams said. “But I think there is something super, super important about actually just taking up space—people being seen in this way that says, ‘This is what we’re doing. The streets are intended to be multi-modal and we want to show the ways that we can coexist.’”
However, the success of the pilot program hinges on addressing key challenges, including the lack of infrastructure for bikes in Los Angeles. Potholes, limited bike lanes, and aggressive drivers pose safety concerns for cyclists, particularly in South L.A. Without adequate infrastructure, the full potential of e-bikes to transform transportation habits and reduce greenhouse gas emissions may be limited.
“We’re creating a program in a community where a program like this, the infrastructure for it, wasn’t ever really thought of,” said Miguel Miguel, the policy director for the Pacoima Beautiful grassroots group. “It’s almost like we’re trying to paint the wall right before we fix the drywall. So some of the challenges have been like, we’re offering this service, but how do community members now utilize the actual transportation network to be able to go from point A to point B.”
Despite these challenges, the South Central Power Up initiative represents a significant step forward in efforts to promote sustainable transportation and address environmental justice issues in South Los Angeles. By providing residents with access to electric bikes, the program aims to empower communities, improve air quality, and create a more equitable and resilient transportation system for all residents.
